Pubdate: Fri, 17 Jan 2003
Source: Times, The (LA)
Copyright: 2003 The Times
Contact:  http://www.shreveporttimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1019
Author: Michelle Pinkard

DEFENSE PUTS 'GO PILLS' ON TRIAL

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE - Pilots using stimulants in combat is the Air 
Force norm, a government official testified at a high profile hearing here 
Thursday.

The hearing, similar to a civilian grand jury, will determine if two F-16 
pilots should face courts-martial for a bombing that killed four Canadian 
soldiers in Afghanistan on April 17.

Majs. Harry Schmidt and William Umbach used dexamphetamines or 'go-pills,' 
to stay alert during their patrol on the night of the incident. They 
spotted what they believed to be hostile fire and Schmidt dropped a 
laser-guided, 500-pound bomb. Four Canadians paratroopers were killed, 
eight were injured.

The pilots, who defense lawyers say probably won't testify, face up to 64 
years in prison.

The proceeding, called an Article 32 hearing, is being held at Barksdale 
Air Force Base because of the men's affiliation with the 8th Air Force 
headquartered here. Extensive testimony about communication procedures, 
fatigue issues, and alternatives to bombing was also given Thursday.

Col. Lawrence Stutzriem, assistant director of plans and programs with Air 
Combat Command, was the first person in three days of testimony to say 'go 
pills' are used by pilots to stay alert. Further testimony on the issue by 
Stutzriem was cut and considered irrelevant by the presiding officer in the 
case.

Defense attorneys claim the military endorsed drugs can impair judgment and 
are hanging a significant part of their strategy on the controversial 
issue. The lawyers have declared its usage a key factor in the fatal bombing.

Col. Peter Demitry, an Air Force surgeon general and subject matter expert 
in the counter fatigue program, said fatigue is a killer for aircrews. 
Stimulants have been used as a counteractive measure for more than 60 
years, Demitry said.

Government officials say using the drug saves lives and enhances 
performance. "It's legal, ethical and moral," Demitry said about stimulant 
use. "It's a life and death measure for our people."

Stimulant use is voluntary and no one is pressured to take them, Demitry 
said. However, he says performance is enhanced when they do.

On other issues, Stutzriem reluctantly testified that pilots have the right 
to respond if they perceive they are in danger, and also that communication 
procedures in Afghanistan could have been better.

He said no one knew the Canadians were training on the night of the 
incident, though it was common knowledge that friendly forces use the 
compound. The area was also designated a restricted operation zone, meaning 
pilots can engage but they have to get permission first, witnesses said.

He also testified that colleagues were concerned about not being able to 
distinguish between friendly and enemy forces before April 17.

"Throughout the war, everyone wanted to have a better defined role of where 
friendlies were," Stutzriem said.

Stutzriem said he talked to many people about the need for a ground liaison 
officer to cover the region. Though the suggestion may have been 
disregarded, the officer would have improved ground to air communications, 
he said.

"It's a very good idea," he said. "But, there is no regulations that says 
you have to have a ground liaison officer."

During a redirect, Stutzriem said there were reasons why the pilots should 
have known friendly forces were at the compound, just a few miles from 
Kandahar Airfield. The field is a major logistical hub, and U.S. forces own 
space around it. Tarnak Farms, the bombing site, falls within the space, 
Stutzriem said.

In discussing other options the pilots could have taken, Maj. John Milton, 
who is in the same squadron as the accused, said pilots can fly higher or 
faster to minimize threat conditions. He said Schmidt's actions appeared as 
if he were protecting Umbach when he declared self-defense.

Milton said, even experienced pilots don't execute perfectly every time.

Defense attorneys are expected to cross-examine Milton today.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom