Posted on 03/04/2002 4:12:08 AM PST by RCW2001
MSNBC reporting unknown casualties, CNN reporting multiple casualties... Developing...
The helicopter, either a Chinook or an MH-47 transport helicopter, was taking part in operations against suspected al-Qaeda and Taleban fighters reported to be holed up in mountains south of Gardez in Paktia province.
Pentagon sources said at least six soldiers were killed in the incident.
US officials declined to give further details because a search and rescue mission may still be under way.
It is the first US aircraft shot down in action since the anti-terror war began in Afghanistan last October.
The incident comes as the largest coalition force assembled so far in Afghanistan - about 1,500 in total - remain heavily engaged in ground battles with al-Qaeda and Taleban forces.
Troops from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany and Norway are involved alongside US special forces and Afghan fighters.
On Friday, one American soldier and three Afghan anti-Taleban soldiers were killed and several more wounded in heavy fighting in the Gardez region.
Please put your serious cap on! The nipponese were at least rational.
![]() |
|
|||
|
||||
|
||||
|
That commy Tommy Dashole needs to crawl under a rock and stay there - the president has work to do! The hell with the fringe leftists - we have a war to fight and win!
![]() |
|
![]() |
Pentagon sources say an American helicopter has been shot down over eastern Afghanistan. At least six people aboard the craft were killed, while more than 1,000 U.S. troops are battling al Qaeda near Gardez. More... |
Sounds like you were in the wrong line of work. The CH-47 is one of the safest helicopters in the air. They have no more engine failures than any other helicopter. I was an instructor pilot in the Chinook for many years and have a different perspective. I've almost died in one also, but she's also the one that brought me back home.
But he warned "the Afghanistan problem did not come to an end" with the defeat of the Taliban. "It needs a lot of work, a lot of cooperation. These people are very dangerous, and you have to watch them, even in the United States."---President Hosni Mubarak
The entire country IS the front lines.....the raghead next to you could be the enemy. A raghead could get on a roof in Kandahar and fire one off and blend back in, in seconds.....
i am not disputing your point just making another one...
|
|||||||||||
![]() |
|||||||||||
![]() |
|||||||||||
A US Chinook helicopter has been shot down in Afghanistan, leaving at least six people dead, US military sources have said. |
The helicopter was downed as 1,500 Allied troops continued their assault on several hundred heavily-armed Taliban and al Qaeda guerrillas in the east of the country.
The fighters are holed up in a cave network in Paktia province.
Bombing raids
Since the attack began on Saturday, US jets have carried out a series of bombing raids.
The operation appeared to be the largest joint US-Afghan attack since American and British planes kicked off military activities in Afghanistan in October.
Australian, Canadian, French, Norwegian, Danish and German troops were fighting alongside their American and Afghan allies as Chinook helicopters moved personnel from rear positions to the battlefield.
Pro-US Afghan troops approached enemy hide-outs from three directions to isolate the Taliban and al Qaeda fighters and prevent them from escaping.
![]() |
|||
|
Not possible. There is no concensus of any kind on leadership in Afghanistan. It's primative, tribal societal structure precludes the possibility of those from one tribe permanently allying with those from a competing tribe. (the different "leaders" are in competition for personal power)Temporary alliances to further personal goals which on the surface seem to coincide are common, but end as soon as those goals are acheived, conflicting personal goals come to the fore and naturally get in the way.
The warlords are not leaders. For the most part - I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, there might be an exception we haven't heard of yet - they are power hungry mini dictators.
Dictators are not leaders. They are tyrants.
Tempting, if we could selectively kill al Qaeda and Taliban and leave the innocents in this war alone.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.