Interesting anecdote, but utterly irrelevant. And if you've ever operated a Cat D-9 or the equivalent you would know why.
I operated 'dozers for four years in the Marine Corps. That was my job. And I'm telling you Rachel Corrie's death was no accident.
I'd like to know if the lawyer who handled the Corrie's case had called any experienced bulldozer operators as expert witnesses. But, inasmuch as it was an Israeli court, testimony from Jesus Christ and his mother wouldn't have changed anything.
If that case could be tried in a neutral court, and if each juror were allowed to ride with the operator, the sonofabitch who murdered Rachel would be convicted.
I'll tell you what Mike... I worked around Cat D9's myself, and I assure you they
cannot always see you. I used to have to guide them in to push out side dump trailers at a dump, and you don't
mess around with those things if you have a brain. Once they got in close I had to stand
way outside the blade and communicate to the driver where he could see me, and tell him how much room he had left. Either you aren't being exactly truthful, or you didn't work very closely around D9's.
i'm inclined to believe the marine (which would be a first or me)...buy let's put this aside for the moment, whether rachel corrie's death was deliberate or an accident. that doesn't matter really. we should not even be going there....and you actually provided your own answer.
i have driven tracked vehicles before...APCs and an occasional SP How...and in tight spots involving placement of the vehicle, there was always someone around to insure we were getting things in the right place aand watching out for our fellow troops...and the utmost care was given around civilian noncombatants.
here we have an army that lays claim to not only being the most moral army in the world but also the best trained. HOW IN THE HELL COULD THEY RUN OVER THIS YOUNG AMERICAN WOMAN?
no matter what you think of her politics, ideals, or behaviour, there was absolutely zero reason that she had to die. what kind of friggin' incompetent military allows something like this to happen. the house wasn't going anywhere and who was directing the operator of this rome plow. she could have been arrested, removed, anything but die.
she was an american citizen who died needlessly and some of you so called "americans" actually have the gall to make jokes about her death...to defend the foreign army that needlessly, negligently, and callously at best...and perhaps even deliberately at worst.
and hoss, you should be ashamed of yourself. i find it hard to believe that we were in the same U.S. Army. there is absolutely no excuse for this woman's death and any right thinking troop would say so and lay the blame right on israel's doorstep...but you took the soup, didn't you?