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US military plane crashes in Afghanistan with up to nine dead - but Pentagon DENY it was shot down by the Taliban
Daily Mail ^ | Published: 05:18 EST, 27 January 2020 | Updated: 15:20 EST, 27 January 2020 | Chris Pleasance for MailOnline

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 ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; foreverwar; kag; maga; trump
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To: Zathras

Why are we still there?

************

I think Eisenhower addressed that in his farewell address. Recall his admonitions about “misplaced power” and the military industrial complex.


21 posted on 01/28/2020 6:33:41 AM PST by Starboard
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To: oldplayer

You make a good point.


22 posted on 01/28/2020 6:35:58 AM PST by Starboard
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To: Alas Babylon!; American_Centurion; An.American.Expatriate; arthurus; ASA.Ranger; ASA Vet; Ax; ...
The plane could be a Bombardier E-11A aircraft, which the US military uses for electronic surveillance over Afghanistan.

MI Ping

23 posted on 01/28/2020 6:40:32 AM PST by ASA Vet (Make American Intelligence Great Again. Bring back ASA.)
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To: Starboard
I think Eisenhower addressed that in his farewell address. Recall his admonitions about “misplaced power” and the military industrial complex.

As a % of national output, military spending is down 50% from Eisenhower's time. The civilian spending has doubled. There's a private sector-government cabal, but it's not in defense.

The real reason we're there? Genocide is not an option, but standing aside as future 9/11's are plotted in Afghanistan is not an option either.

24 posted on 01/28/2020 6:42:14 AM PST by Zhang Fei (My dad had a Delta 88. That was a car. It was like driving your living room.)
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To: Zhang Fei

but standing aside as future 9/11’s are plotted in Afghanistan is not an option either.

************

So we’re there forever?


25 posted on 01/28/2020 6:52:24 AM PST by Starboard
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To: Zhang Fei

I don’t know anything about warfare tech, but could the plane have been brought down by a laser from a satellite?


26 posted on 01/28/2020 7:14:43 AM PST by ryderann
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To: Zhang Fei

“The real reason we’re there? Genocide is not an option, but standing aside as future 9/11’s are plotted in Afghanistan is not an option either. “

Absolutely correct! I think our defense spending should go even higher. Its not just the Idontgivea@#$@#astan countries we need to worry about. A strong nation is a free nation politics aside.


27 posted on 01/28/2020 7:22:58 AM PST by Nuke From Orbit
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To: Starboard

[So we’re there forever?]


Afghanistan is a special case. Leaving aside that it was a godforsaken wasteland even before we showed up, it had been at war for 20 years prior to 9/11, thanks to the Russians. We stood up a brand new government. It takes a while for everyone to settle into their roles (i.e. be resigned to the fact that not everyone’s going to be top dog), and that’s without a major guerrilla war going on. Short of genocide, I expect fairly low-level guerrilla war to go on for decades. But the government will slowly get its act together and we will eventually settle into perhaps an annual stipend of a few hundred million dollars, much like we disburse to Pakistan.

The Afghan government isn’t uniquely incompetent. The problem is that unlike say, the Colombian government, which has fought a guerrilla insurgency for 50 years, but has been fairly stable in recent decades, the Afghan regime is brand spanking new as governments go. So the funding will taper down as the government gets its act together to the extent one can in that region of the world.

If you’re interested, the numbers for spending in Afghanistan and Iraq are on page 16 of this Congressional Budget Office document:

https://www.cbo.gov/system/files?file=2018-10/54219-oco_spending.pdf


28 posted on 01/28/2020 7:36:11 AM PST by Zhang Fei (My dad had a Delta 88. That was a car. It was like driving your living room.)
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To: Zhang Fei

The latest, unconfirmed report is that it crashed due to failure of the onboard oxygen system. Pilots were unconscious due to hypoxia. The aircraft belly landed on autopilot. 4 were onboard.


29 posted on 01/28/2020 8:14:31 AM PST by gandalftb
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To: gandalftb
That would be very surprising. Pressurized fuselage and the pilots should of regained conscious below 10,000 feet.
30 posted on 01/28/2020 8:22:51 AM PST by mad_as_he$$
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To: mad_as_he$$

They were likely dead if oxygen failed.
..........
The intact fuselage indicates a survivable landing.
...........
The onboard BACN electronics has a self-destruct, likely the source of the fire.
.............
We would have had a QRF onsite if there might have been survivors.


31 posted on 01/28/2020 8:31:03 AM PST by gandalftb
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To: Zhang Fei

It’s not?


32 posted on 01/28/2020 8:40:39 AM PST by VTenigma (The Democrat party is the party of the mathematically challenged)
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To: VTenigma

[It’s not?]


VTenigma for President. I’d vote for you.


33 posted on 01/28/2020 8:41:55 AM PST by Zhang Fei (My dad had a Delta 88. That was a car. It was like driving your living room.)
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To: Zhang Fei

I will serve gratefully!


34 posted on 01/28/2020 8:49:23 AM PST by VTenigma (The Democrat party is the party of the mathematically challenged)
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To: gandalftb

[The latest, unconfirmed report is that it crashed due to failure of the onboard oxygen system. Pilots were unconscious due to hypoxia. The aircraft belly landed on autopilot. 4 were onboard.]


Don’t they have sensors to warn them of impending problems?


35 posted on 01/28/2020 8:52:01 AM PST by Zhang Fei (My dad had a Delta 88. That was a car. It was like driving your living room.)
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To: gandalftb

I read this am that the Towelaban attacked the QRF team which was apparently mostly Iraqi.


36 posted on 01/28/2020 8:55:29 AM PST by mad_as_he$$
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To: Repealthe17thAmendment

Indicates a low angle impact.


37 posted on 01/28/2020 10:00:49 AM PST by Hulka
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To: mad_as_he$$

You can see by the video the Taliban all over.
............
If there were a QRF, there would be nothing but dead Taliban and a large crater.
............
We would have sanitized the site by air assets. We love large gatherings of the enemy.


38 posted on 01/28/2020 10:04:12 AM PST by gandalftb
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To: Starboard

Not really.

MIC was something he recognized and respected and acknowledged as a need. He cautioned politico’s and The People to make good use because the days of changing from making washing-machines to war machines overnight was no more.

His real admonishment was directed at academia.

(I’ve read his notes and drafts and they provide true insight about what his thoughts truly were. He was not hostile to the defense industry).


39 posted on 01/28/2020 10:07:55 AM PST by Hulka
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To: Zhang Fei

Post 39. . .you are correct.


40 posted on 01/28/2020 10:08:47 AM PST by Hulka
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