U.S. Copter Crashes South of Baghdad

AP on Yahoo ^ | 4/1/06 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A U.S. helicopter crashed southwest of Baghdad on Saturday, but the status of the crew was unknown, the U.S. military said.

A U.S. statement said the helicopter had been conducting a "combat air patrol" but did not give the type of aircraft, the number of crew members or the precise area where it went down.

[blueminnesota]

Damn.

[leadpenny]

Prayers for those on board.

[BARLF]

Prayer bump

[NormsRevenge]

Will update as info comes in..

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((Meanwhile , elsewhere in Irag, John McCain's burned out StraightTalk Express bus to the WH was spotted near Abu Ghraib prison on the side of the road.))

A U.S. Marine walks past a burned out bus near the Abu Ghraib prison, west of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, April, 2006. Elsewhere, gunmen attacked a minibus carrying Shiites northeast of Baghdad, killing six men and wounding one woman, and at least 19 others were killed, many in drive-by shootings. (AP Photo/Jacob Silberberg)

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We fight enemies that are ruthless in their determination to undercut and overwhelm up by their sheer hatred and force of arms.

Condolences to the families of those ambushed today in Iraq on this minibus.

[NormsRevenge]

up=us

[Chgogal]

Prayers. Many, many prayers.

[new yorker 77]

MSM INSTALLMENT OF THE DEAD FAILURE REPORT.

[samadams2000]

I want a 1000 to 1 ratio.

[samadams2000]

True heroes.

[phil1750]

A good friend of the family arrived in Iraq this week. I ask everyone to pray for her and all our troops.

[leadpenny]

What does that mean?

[new yorker 77]

It means that the MSM only finds value in reporting on our soldiers if they die or screw up.

We should have the names of silver star, silver cross and bronze star recipients on the tip of our tongues.

Instead we have Lindie England and Cindy Sheehan.

[Patriot from Philly]

I blame the Bush Administration for that. He could have a hero of the month media update, but he doesn't. He's allowed the media to define this war, so it's body counts, abuse, Jill, Cindy.

Where are the heroes, the sacrifices.

[leadpenny]

There are plenty of sources for all those things.

This thread is about a downed chopper from a news source you obviously chose to look at.

Quite frankly I don't see the value in questioning their motives.

[NormsRevenge]

---REUTERS---


US helicopter down near Baghdad, no word on crew

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060401/ts_nm/iraq_helicopter_dc


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A U.S. military helicopter went down southwest of Baghdad on Saturday, the military said in a statement, saying it was unclear if there were casualties.

A militant group said it shot down a helicopter in the same area and residents said they heard gunfire.

"A ... helicopter went down southwest of Baghdad at approximately 5:30 p.m." the military said. "The status of the crew is unknown."

A spokesman declined to say how many were aboard or the type of helicopter involved.

"The aircraft was conducting a combat air patrol," the statement said. Combat patrols are typically flown by two-seater reconnaissance or attack helicopters.

In an Internet posting, a group calling itself the Rashedeen Army said it had shot down a U.S. helicopter near the town of Yusufiya, an area that sees considerable Sunni insurgent activity just southwest of the capital.

"The lions of Islam from ... the Rashedeen Army succeeded in downing a helicopter that belongs to the U.S. occupation forces in the Yusufiya district," the little known group said in a statement posted on a Web site often used by militants.

The posting came some time before the military statement.

Residents in Yusufiya said they heard shooting in the area at the time, shortly before dusk.

Insurgents have shot down several military helicopters since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 and losses of heavy troop carriers have accounted for some of the largest casualty figures.

Some helicopters have been brought down by rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire and the military is also aware of the threat of surface-to-air missiles.

There have been 2,327 U.S. military deaths in the war, but monthly casualty rates have fallen for five straight months.

In March, 29 U.S. military personnel died in action the lowest monthly toll since 20 in February 2004, which was the lowest of the three-year war.

(Additional reporting by Inal Ersan in Dubai)

[leadpenny]

Thanks for the update.

[new yorker 77]

If you don't find value in the obvious, then you contribute to the urine and excrement that the MSM spews on the US Military.

A downed chopper is tragic, but it only makes top headline news because it is negative.

Soldiers saving lives with a chopper will never get top of the fold.

The MSM motive is always suspect.

This thread is a perfect forum for stating the obvious.

I find value in the success of these men and women.

That's top of the fold valuable truth that is not reported.

[leadpenny]

Do a search. I'm sure you can find and post stories you like to see on FR.

Beyond that, start your own news service.

[NormsRevenge]

Yur welcome,, Im out the door for now. later.