I think that the theories of “conspiracy” are probably stretched. Here is why:
If you were a Taliban soldier, some of whom have been fighting “invaders” since I was a boy you would begin to pick up on the tactics of your enemy.
As a guerrilla warrior you would know where the troops are being dispatched from. Would you not set a person up to watch the airfield?
When you attack a group with overwhelming force, they in turn would call for help. Your person watching the airfield (or the entrances to the valley) would call and let you know when the chopper is coming. That would give you pretty decent time to prepare for the arrival in a choke point.
And, then its a lucky shot.
If you think like an insurgent, it seems pretty straightforward.
What you cannot do is make the assumption that these fighters are stupid. Poor does not equate to stupid.
They seemed pretty smart when they were knocking USSR choppers out of the air.
I hate that our guys are dead, and I hate that they sent in so many on a chopper. But I think the simplest answer is usually the most likely to be correct.
You know, you are probably correct in your well-thought out post.
It really speaks volumes to the level of crap that we are experiencing right now, where so many of us out here (myself included) have to the very first thought cross our minds that this assclown in charge set up our own boys to get whacked. And what’s REALLY horrible is that it’s an entirely plausible and believable scenario, knowing his background, the backgrounds of his comrades, and who he was raised by and who he hung out with all his life.
What an effed up state of affairs we’ve come to.
God rest the souls of those warriors, and grant their families some measure of peace.