Posted on 01/28/2020 5:45:57 AM PST by Zhang Fei
The Pentagon has denied the Taliban shot down a US military plane over Afghanistan killing everyone on board, despite the terror group claiming responsibility.
Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the militant group, said that high-ranking American officers were among the dead after the aircraft was brought down in Dih Yak district around 1.10pm local time.
US officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said there were no indications so far that the plane had been brought down by enemy activity.
One of the officials said there were believed to be fewer than 10 people on board the small military plane.
It comes after footage was posted online by a Taliban-affiliated journalist showed wreckage of the plane with a US Air Force symbol on the side.
Footage taken by journalist Tariq Ghazniwal shows the burning remains of a jet lying in the snow as several people stand around filming.
Whilst most of the jet is a charred wreck, a USAF symbol is clearly visible on an engine attached to the tail fin of the plane.
The plane could be a Bombardier E-11A aircraft, which the US military uses for electronic surveillance over Afghanistan.
The highly-specialised aircraft work alongside drones to provide 24/7 support for US forces by linking incompatible communications systems together, which is especially vital when carrying out airstrikes.
The US Defense Department confirmed that a military jet crashed in Ghazni province in Afghanistan, but rejected Taliban suggestions that it was shot down.
Afghanistan US Forces spokesman Colonel Sonny Leggett confirmed in a statement that the aircraft was a US Bombardier E-11A, a type of jet used as an airborne communications node in the region.
'While the cause of crash is under investigation, there are no indications the crash was caused by enemy fire,' Leggett said.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
If it was shot down, all hell will break loose.
RIP
Well, if the Taliban wants to claim responsibility, that’s good enough for me. Send in the drones! Or better yet, unload a few B-52s.
Why are we still there?
Cut the internet and satellite access and let them all die
[Why are we still there?]
Well it’s an option, just not the best one overall maybe.
Well it’s an option, just not the best one overall maybe.
I don’t know much about how to interpret crash sites, but it sure looks like these are much larger pieces of wreckage than usually seen.
Why are we there? Bueller? Anyone?
[Well its an option, just not the best one overall maybe.]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herero_and_Namaqua_genocide
The zeitgeist is such that it is not an option for an American president. That may eventually change, but that is not our current situation.
[Why are we there? Bueller? Anyone?]
“. . . believed to be fewer than 10 people on board the small military plane.”
Small compared to what? A B-52?
I always have to wonder about the overall accuracy of articles after I read something like that. These planes are almost 100 feet long with a wingspan about the same. Take-off weight is right at 100,000 pounds.
That isn’t my definition of a small plane. Maybe it’s just me.
What a bunch of (rude word for intercourse)-faces! Suddenly the daily mail believes the taliban just so it can say that the Pentagon DENIES that it was.
USFOR-A Spokesman Col Sonny Leggett @USFOR_A
A U.S. Bombardier E-11A crashed today in Ghazni province, Afghanistan. While the cause of crash is under investigation, there are no indications the crash was caused by enemy fire. We will provide additional information as it becomes available.
12:56 PM · Jan 27, 2020
The reports of it being shot down are skeptical due to the relative intact fuselage.
[Small compared to what? A B-52?]
You wanna bet?
That actually looks (pre fire) survivable.
Two people onboard a big plane stuffed full of electronics, can’t rule out an onboard fire.
[You wanna bet?]
Sadly those Americans died for nothing.
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