Staff Reports
A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet is taking a good long rest at the bottom of the Red Sea, courtesy of one of its own. Thankfully, the pilots are safe and sound after a friendly fire incident that raises eyebrows higher than the stock market under a GOP administration. Accidental missile launches might be a regular Tuesday for the current administration, but it’s little comfort if you happen to be the pilot ejected from a fast-falling aircraft.
The incident unfolded when the USS Gettysburg, a guided-missile cruiser, mistook the jet for a target out in the wild blue yonder and fired upon it. One can’t help but chuckle, imagining the crew thinking they were channeling their inner Top Gun rather than making a massive blunder in a combat zone. Both pilots managed to eject and are now safe, with only minor injuries reported. It begs the question of whether this is just another day at the office for Biden’s military, where the “friendly” in friendly fire is becoming less of a descriptor and more of a warning label.
What adds to the absurdity of this situation is that these jets and ships are meant for high-stakes operations, part of a campaign to deal with Iran-backed Houthi rebels half a world away. The Red Sea is supposed to be a secure space where sailors can focus on protecting trade and terrorizing the terrorists. Instead, it looks like they reached for their inner “stormtrooper” accuracy instead of honing in on their mission objectives. One has to wonder if the Gettysburg was confusing the Super Hornet with a Houthi drone, which might say something about the level of training under current leadership.
The Biden Administration's Last Hurrah in Incompetence Occurs in the Red Sea https://t.co/SMGAtc1Toc
— Rosehead (@Rosehea92496012) December 22, 2024
As expected, this incident has sparked a flurry of speculation and criticism about military operations under the Biden administration. The optics here aren’t great; a friendly fire occurrence paints a picture of a military more prone to mishaps than triumphs. Late-night comedians will have a field day with this blunder, while ordinary Americans shake their heads, wondering if a simple training exercise could be done without accidentally scrambling the jets.
Those fortunate pilots will surely think twice before they board another F-18 under the watchful eye of the current military leadership. Perhaps next time they’ll ask for a flight plan and a clearer definition of what constitutes a “friendly” ship in the area. One thing is for sure; with blunders like these, it’s tough to maintain confidence in a military that’s been stumbling through confusion like a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars.” Any bets on how long before the White House spins this into a lesson about the importance of friendly collaboration?
