Posted on 08/06/2011 9:56:11 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
A US helicopter crash in eastern Afghanistan has killed 31 US special forces and seven Afghan soldiers, President Hamid Karzai's office says.
US media reports that many of those killed were from the elite Navy SEALs.
Neither the US nor Nato have confirmed the cause, but witnesses, officials and the Taliban say it was shot down.
The incident is believed to be the biggest single loss of life for US forces in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001.
The Chinook helicopter went down overnight in Wardak province, the statement from President Karzai's office said.
It was returning from an operation against the Taliban in which eight insurgents are believed to have been killed.
A senior official of President Barack Obama's administration said the helicopter was apparently shot down, Associated Press news agency said.
An official with the Nato-led coalition in Afghanistan told the New York Times the helicopter was shot down with a rocket-propelled grenade.
...
ABC News said 25 Navy Seals were on board, plus seven Afghan special forces soldiers, five crew and one interpreter.
AP says most of those killed were from Seal Team Six - the same unit which killed Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan May.
The size of Team Six is not known.
...
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
Deepest Heartfelt Condolences and Sympathies to All those who have sacrificed so much, from the families, friends, colleagues, and commanders they leave behind.
Such a tragedy. I pray that we are not so transfixed with our economic problems in this country that we ignore the tremendous loss of heroes we have just witnessed. May each of these brave freedom fighters be honored by all whom they defended and may they receive their just rewards. God, please comfort and defend their families now and always. Rest in peace, faithful patriots.
Prayers up for the families, friends and fellow soldiers of these fallen Heroes.
Is it inappropriate for me to put on a foil hat? I've never been a conspiracy theorist, but the last couple of years it seems like up is down and right is left.
*solace
How tragic! Prayers and condolences to the families and friends. Great loss for America. God help us.
The loss of every American life is a terrible tragedy. That we lost some of the most elite fighters in the world is also a strategic blow to our nation. I have been sick all morning, but upon hearing of the losses of our special forces heroes has impacted me even more sharply.
The last 24 hours are among the worst moments of American history. We are economically and strategically more vulnerable today than we have been during many of our lives.
What a horrible loss. May God Bless them and their families.
The real shame will be we may not ever get to know who they were for a long time.. we still have active personnel that could be compromised in future missions were they identified.
They are truly ‘Unknown Patriots’ if you will, they are the blood and muscle of our nation and its resolve to ‘Do the right thing’ no matter how many bad guys need to get crunched.. no matter the sacrifices.
A Tragedy, indeed.
Prayers of Peace and Comfort
The Beirut Marines of ‘83 will be there to receive their brothers in arms and share their eternal reward.
This is heartbreaking. I honestly don’t know why we are continuing with Afghanistan.
We did what we needed to do after 911, and that was to punish the Taliban. Our men and women did that very effectively. Now, lets declare victory and leave that waste hole.
Surely all the leaks from Washington DC, obama “visit” to Ft Campbell and invitations to the WH to meet the SEALs, sensational “insider” press exposes about the tactics and planning and operations behind the bin laden operation.......and obama’s spiking the football....had nothing to do with compromising the operations of these men
nah...
I struggle with this myself. But if fight we must, then pull out all the damn stops and let us show not how it’s done, but how Americans do it. No nation building, no nothing. Just limit, limit and limit.
Dear God, what an incalculable loss to our nation - and brought about by 6th century savages, at that!
I have a contractor friend over there that would agree. He gets so frustrated trying to actually work with them. It’s such a corrupt country! They screw everything up that they put their hands to. He wishes we were out of there, too.
As a mom of a CH-53 pilot who is stationed in AFG this really brings it pretty close to home.....
I know the attitude of my son and how these pilots feel it is an honor to fly these brave men....
My heart, my prayers go out to all who love and know these warriors and my prayers go out to this country......
We are very proud of your son but much saddened by the loss of his brave comrades.
Shot down with what, exactly?
This does seem too coincidental doesn’t it. If so I hope the pos is tortured to death.
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