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.
Thank you for your wisdom, Steel....and your service.