Posted on 08/06/2011 8:58:24 AM PDT by freespirited
A NATO helicopter was shot down in the eastern province of Afghanistan last night, killing 31 U.S. special forces and seven Afghan soldiers.
The aircraft, belonging to NATO's International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, went down in the Maidan Wardak province, according to a statement from the office of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The helicopter was completely destroyed, shot down by the Taliban, Shahidullah Shahid, a spokesman for the Maidan Wardak province said in a phone interview.
The incident marks the biggest single loss of life for U.S. forces in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001, Associated Press reported. Establishing the type of weapon used is key to gauging whether a new and more sophisticated threat has emerged in Afghanistan, Mark Pritchard, a U.K. Member of Parliament and vice-chairman of the Conservative Parliamentary Defence Committee, said by phone.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Thanks for the ping, LH.
Prayers for the heroes and their families.
Comment at the SF Cron article:
“The current front page story about the tragic loss of lives in Afghanistan appearing in the Washington Post deletes material found in an earlier version of the story. Here is the deleted material found in an earlier version:
“Meanwhile, in the southern Helmand province, an Afghan government official said Saturday that NATO troops attacked a house and inadvertently killed eight members of a family, including women and children.
NATO said that Taliban fighters fired rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire at coalition troops during a patrol Friday in the Nad Ali district.
“Coalition forces responded with small arms fire and as the incident continued, an air strike was employed against the insurgent position,” said Brockhoff. He added that NATO sent a delegation to meet with local leaders and investigate the incident.
Nad Ali district police chief Shadi Khan said civilians died in the bombardment but that it was unknown how many insurgents were killed.”
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/08/06/national/w085739D47.DTL#ixzz1UH47OJzd
You are wrong on two counts. First, the creep is hardly missing - you can always find him at the nearest golf field. Secondly, he is not defending anything and not allwing others to do it.
:-)
Do you remember the Seals on TV after the bin Laden operation begging (literally pleading, imploring) the media and (the national command authority) others to just shut up about the mission?
This shootdown has all the marks of operational methods having been deciphered by bad guys given critical clues by media and politicians.
Someone should be held to account!
The politicians damn insistence on fame and glory for themselves after bin Laden has gotten our guys killed.
Any idea how critical knowing that a helo went down for lack of lift near that bin Laden compound would be to a techie backed up by Russian or Chinese intel. Could they analyze that info to decipher no fly areas, altitudes, etc.?
Could they leak Mullah Omar info and just wait along NOW predictable corridors for the SpecOps guys to take the bait?
I’m sickened by this. Obama’s ego could be the cause of this loss.
I am puzzled as to why so many special forces were concentrated in one helicopter?
If you are doing a general troop movement, I can see it, but this was apparently part of a military operation.
I would think you would send a bunch of smaller helicopters carrying no more than 5 or 6 combat troops each and thereby minimize the risk that something like this could happen.
Quite possibly true.
Very sad we have a narcissist for a CINC that believes he deserves the credit for our brave warriors deeds.
See my #33
Wardak province is a central, high traffic area for rotor wing aviation, and well as lots of SOF raids. The locals and insurgents watch us non-stop. I was once mortared in Wardak as our Blackhawks landed. They had eyes on the LZ, and timed when we flew past to when they launched. The incoming started right as we were touching down.
Even if this flight was shot down (which seems to be unclear at this point), it was by insurgents who know our tactics. When they hold meetings, there's a chance we'll show up and kick in the door. You don't need CNN to tell you that. I'm not sure what operational methods the CNN could provide to tell a weapons team which hill to set up, when, in ambush for who.
One of the Afghan soldiers tipped off his buddies about the next target? Yeah, happens all the time. You have to watch those guys like hawks to make sure they're not texting as soon as they find what the mission is. That sort of intel is actionable.
Unless MSNBC is publishing Opords, the most likely culprit is either an internal OPSEC violation or a local sentry team that got a lucky hit on a packed bird.
Anyway, it's one thing to be upset, but another to let anger carry us away from reasonable conclusions.
We don't even have to bomb them (unless they resist), just salt every province that is known for growing opium, salt it enough where NOTHING will grow for a generation.
God gave them the land to provide substinence, and they have used it to grow poison, poison that destroys mind and spirit, so F 'em.
If we were to plan on salting the fields, you can bet a few select politicians would buy every oz of salt prior to the salting.
“We don’t even have to bomb them (unless they resist), just salt every province that is known for growing opium, salt it enough where NOTHING will grow for a generation. God gave them the land to provide substinence, and they have used it to grow poison, poison that destroys mind and spirit, so F ‘em.”
In theory, it’s an excellent idea. But you know how stupid American politicians are. If we destroy the Afghans’ food source, we’ll just end up sending them a bazillion dollars a year and help them re-build. We bombed Japan, and then supported them financially. We’re still are supporting them with our troops, etc.
As you say, “so F ‘em.” I’m for that!
Thanks Lancey. My brother has the book. Been meaning to read it. I know about this one.
Thank you for your wisdom, Steel....and your service.
Aye, ideas are nothing more than whimsical fancies without the wherewithall and sticktoitness....but we can dream with the best of 'em ;~)
Thanks for the ping, LH. My thoughts and prayers are with all the heroes and their families at this heartbreaking time.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.