Special forces friendly fire deaths probably avoided with A-10s?

Military.com:

Five U.S. Special Forces troops and an Afghan soldier were killed Monday in a friendly fire incident reportedly involving bombs dropped by a U.S. Air Force B-1B bomber supporting a close air support mission.

"The casualties occurred during a security operation when their unit came into contact with enemy forces," the International Security Assistance Force said in a statement.

"Tragically, there is the possibility that fratricide may have been involved," ISAF said of the incident that occurred during a counter terror mission in southeastern Zabul province near the Pakistan border.

At the Pentagon, Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, said: "We do have reason to suspect that friendly fire was the cause here, specifically friendly fire from the air."

Kirby declined to confirm several reports that the airstrike called in to back up the troops was from a U.S. Air Force B-1B bomber. However, the tragedy was likely to re-ignite the debate in Congress over the Air Force's plan to retire the A-10 Thunderbolt – for decades the military's premier close air support platform.

Kirby said he could not comment on the circumstances of the airstrike pending an investigation, but stressed that "there's been no change in our position" as a result of the incident that the A-10 fleet should be retired.

"To draw the line between this incident and our desire to retire an aging platform is a bit of a leap," Kirby said.

Several members of the House and Senate have been arguing against the Air Force's decision to cut funding for the A-10 from the National Defense Authorization Act.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said last month that the aircraft was an infantry favorite.

"We listened very carefully to the U.S. Army," McCain said of the A-10 supporters. "They are the ones who need the close air support, they are ones who are in grave danger without it."
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However, B-1s were not designed for close air support missions, the aircraft was built for long range bombing missions during the Cold War. The A-10 was designed for danger close fire. The most recent incident has left A-10 supporters saying potential friendly fire incidents could be avoided if A-10s remain in the Air Force fleet.
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The A-10 is clearly a superior close air support asset.  Its design makes it more accurate and less vulnerable.  If my troops were under attack, I would definitely prefer to be supported by A-10's.  The argument that it is an old platform has not stopped the Air Force from keeping ancient B-52's in their inventory.  Many of the other aircraft they have are about the same age as the A-10.