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Title: NATO helicopter crashes in Afghanistan, killing 31 U.S. troops
Source:
reuters.com
URL Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011 ... violence-idUSTRE7750UW20110806
Published: Aug 6, 2011
Author: Michelle Nichols
Post Date: 2011-08-06 07:06:38 by Ferret
Keywords: None
Views: 2384
Comments: 134
(Reuters) - A NATO helicopter crashed in central Afghanistan overnight killing 31 U.S. soldiers and 7 Afghan troops, the Afghan president said on Saturday, a devastating death toll and easily the worst single incident for foreign troops in 10 years of war. A brief statement from the presidential palace said the helicopter had crashed in central Maidan Wardak province, just to the west of the capital, Kabul, and identified the Americans as special forces troops. Afghan President Hamid Karzai "shared his deep sorrow and sadness" with U.S. counterpart Barack Obama and the families of the U.S. and Afghan victims, the statement said. The Taliban claimed to have shot down the troop-carrying Chinook helicopter during a firefight and killed 38 soldiers. The Islamist group also said in a statement that eight insurgents had been killed in torrid fighting. The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed a helicopter had crashed but gave no further details. The high casualties come only two weeks after the start of a gradual process of handing security responsibility from foreign forces to Afghan troops and police, and at a time of growing unease about the increasingly unpopular and costly war. That process is due to end with all foreign combat troops leaving Afghanistan by the end of 2014, but some U.S. lawmakers have already questioned whether that handover is fast enough. Incidents with heavy death tolls are sure to raise even more questions about the transition process and how much longer foreign troops should stay. The crash was by far the worst incident of the war for foreign troops and easily surpassed the worst incidents of battlefield losses. In April 2005, another CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed, killing 15 U.S. servicemen and three civilian contractors. Another Chinook crash in June the same year killed 17 U.S. troops. WORRYING U.S. and other NATO commanders have claimed success in reversing the momentum of a growing insurgency in the Taliban heartland in the south, although insurgents have shown a worrying ability to adapt their tactics and mount major attacks in other areas. Those gains, however, have come at a price, with 711 foreign troops killed in Afghanistan in 2010, easily the deadliest year of the war for all concerned since the Taliban were toppled by U.S.-backed foreign troops in late 2001. The crash in Maidan Wardak means that at least 374 foreign troops have been killed so far in 2011, more than two-thirds of them American, according to independent monitor www.icasualties.com and figures kept by Reuters. Neither ISAF nor the U.S. military in Afghanistan confirmed whether there had been any casualties in the crash despite repeated telephone calls, much less any nationalities that might have been involved. The majority of foreign troops in Wardak, which comes under ISAF's eastern regional command, are American. Despite the alarming military toll, ordinary Afghan civilians have continued to bear the brunt of the war, with civilian casualties also hitting record levels in the first six months of this year, according to U.N. figures. Earlier on Saturday, Afghan police said a NATO air strike killed eight civilians in southern Helmand province on Friday. ISAF confirmed there had been an air strike in Helmand's Nad Ali district and said it was investigating whether civilians had been present at the time. Civilian casualties caused by foreign troops hunting Taliban fighters and other insurgents have long been a major source of friction between Kabul and its Western backers. Nad Ali district police chief Shidi Khan said the air strike was called in after insurgents attacked ISAF troops in the area. The victims of Friday's air strike in Helmand were members of a family that had fled fighting in neighboring Uruzgan province, police said. ISAF said the civilians may have been held hostage by the insurgents. The most contentious of the first seven areas to be handed over was the Helmand provincial capital of Lashkar Gah. Helmand province has been the site of some of the most vicious fighting of the war. Far more foreign troops have died there than in any other province and there are still several Helmand districts dominated by the Taliban. In the past month, insurgents have carried out a string of destabilizing assassinations of high-profile southern leaders, including president Karzai's half brother, and several large attacks killing police and civilians. A U.N. report last month said 1,462 civilians were killed in conflict-related incidents in the first six months of 2011, up 15 percent on the first half of 2010. It blamed insurgents for 80 percent of those deaths. (Additional reporting by Mustafa Andalib in GHAZNI and Mirwais Harooni and Haseeb Sadat in KABUL; Editing by Paul Tait and Ron Popeski) World
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#1. To: Ferret (#0)
Right - of course that was after ordering 31 replacements !
“Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of the day, but a series of oppressions begun at a distinguished period, unalterable through every change of ministers, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing us to slavery”. Thomas Jefferson
Good. Thirty one less NWO Hessians.
Seems 25 of them were Seals.
Our SEALs are patriots and fine warriors. They don't create their own orders or exercise a policy agenda. Our disapproval should focus on the neocon establishment in the District, not our finest warriors.
I agree with your sentiment. Unfortunately, this war fueled Empire will continue until the costs are insurmountable. These men were dupes. Brave and dedicated, but dupes nonetheless.
These guy's killing days are over. If people would stop putting soldiers that are fighting these Jew wars on a pedestal it just might discourage them from fighting in them. I certainly don't see them as heroes. Fools maybe, but certainly not heroes.
God is always good!
In other words, they don't think for themselves. What good are people that don't think for themselves?
God is always good!
not a one of them would have died there had baalzabush and mammyjammyobammy not been such liars.
Even so, let's blame the civilian authorities, the president and Congress, for the policies that sent them there and have kept them there on a doomed nationbuilding exercise.
NATO Crash: 38 Killed Including 25 Navy SEALs in Helicopter Crash in Afghanistan - ABC News By MARTHA RADDATZ (@martharaddatz) and MIKE BOETTCHER Aug. 6, 2011 A helicopter crash in Afghanistan killed 31 Americans, including as many as 25 Navy SEALs in one of the worst single-day U.S. losses of life since the war began, a senior military official told ABC News early this morning. A total of 38 people were on board the Chinook helicopter when it crashed overnight in the eastern Afghan province of Wardak. Initial reports indicate up to 25 Navy SEALs were on the aircraft at the time. It was also carrying seven Afghan Special Forces troops, one interpreter, five member helicopter crew and one dog. Troops were apparently involved in a raid at the time.
They don't create their own orders or exercise a policy agenda. Our disapproval should focus on the neocon establishment in the District, not our finest warriors. Until they train their weapons on the true enemy of US, rather than innocent people, fuck them and the Humvee they rode in on. If you have the time rent the Tillman documentary. It's dead on.
raid, so is that like new speak for planned political murder these days?
They are there to take orders and do or die. Save the hate for the usual boobs in Congress, the neocon shills, the defense contractors and mercenary outfits, the Pentagon, etc.
The military is nowhere near the problem of the pols, the prez, the military-industrial complex, the neocon thinktanks and the spook agencies.
I feel the same. Now my distaste for this all voluntary killing machine called the US military didn't come overnight. I make a sharp distinction between these kids and those of years ago who were drafted and didn't have access to the material we have today, thanks to the 'net. The latter men have my full respect.
TC, I have little doubt they will turn on the American populace when ordered to do so. They unfortunately have a track record of such. They are the Palace Guard and they will put one between your eyes on command. Heroes? Not so much.
The kids of "years ago" were led into battle by the same f'n politicians that we look at today. Its easy as hell to blame the grunts, but if all of them were gone the problem would still be there. DAMN THE ELITISTS, ALL THE POLITICIANS and the joooooooooooos who wrote the plan and use their money to get it done. Your posts take the attention off those that are the REAL problem, Jethro. Use your energy for ridding this country of the phony bastards ruining and taking it from us.
The kids of years ago didn't have access to the mountains of material available to them today. And why can't I use my posts like everyone else does? It's my opinion. Others might hate it, but running away from what is obviously a rogue AmeriKan military isn't the concept of this forum, the last one I know of where free speech is still respected.
Have you read the thread http://freedom4um.com/cgi-bin/readart.cgi? ArtNum=136705? That covers something you could use some of your anger and energy on. They are now going to do to our law enforcement what is being done to our military!!!
Damn, just damn. The SEAL's are about the only servicemen left that I have total respect for just because they ARE the best on the planet. This is a HUGE percentage of the total amount of SEAL's. I wonder if the jews in Israel give a flying-fuck that we sacrificed them upon their insane altar of Zionism?? I hope that this plants some seeds of doubt within the Navy and causes the chiefs to openly question our involvement "over there".
Did I say you couldn't? I, too, am grateful there is this forum, where free speech is still respected. I would do nothing to deny you your own opinions. It is the way one comes to know who they share space with on this earth. I respect diversity, Jethro. I was just voicing MY opinion.
If I woke up tomorrow and every cop in this nation was Raptured up to the Lord, I'd throw a kegger. Like the military thuggies, I have no use for them.
Were these the guys who killed OBL, and some of his assorted family members? If yes, why?
I know you too well to expect anything less.
Were these the guys who killed OBL, and some of his assorted family members? If yes, why?
You and I both know that these flag rank martinets are conditioned to feed men into the hopper the moment they are given the nod. Whether or not the sacrifice is in vain or whether the interests served are entirely opposed to the security of the Republic is entirely immaterial to them. They're like mafia button men and have scarcely more will left to them than the men they send into the field. The Chiefs don't do it for Israel in general I believe, but the policy makers and legislators and presidents who command them do. This stupid Zionist "War on Terror" is grinding to a shuddering halt. I shudder to think what is being cooked up right now in that rats' nest on the Potomac.
It is a violation of Natural Law to use this document in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. I grew up next to the largest military base in the world, I learned to swim in the NAS Olympic sized pool, my scout leaders were UDT and CIA and at the age of 16 my most dedicated fans swapped stories about my guitar playing while bobbing in the MED for 6 to 12 months. I got to know many of the guys, most of who weren't much older than me and all of who were lonely, homesick and suffering in silence as they were treated like shit by local girls who saw them as just another nameless squid or marine. In fact if it wasn't for the Midwest and kids who never even saw the ocean or an aircraft carrier (or how badly squids and jarheads are treated in a military town) they'd have to conscript nearly every last squid to man those ships. But, whenever I see guys and gals in their turnout gear toting unloaded M2s and they're directing traffic at major intersections for reserve weekends I realize that if or when the day comes that they are herding Americans into, out of or away from areas under military jurisdiction pursuant to...blah blah executive order # 666 or whatever, I'm going to hate their fucking guts. And the people of Afghanistan have been sacrificing loved ones and conducting holy wars against foreign invaders since the days of Alexander The Queer, and those good folks have never called me no damned Goy! Our reasons for being there (the phony, patriotic mission as well as the real ones-a world without Afghan poppy is a world with unhappy royalty and other rich dynasties who intend to protect the income source they inherited as birthrights-and the planned pipeline and the need to eliminate hostiles who will almost certainly resist the occupation to protect that oil) just aren't good enough to waste lives-ours or the people of Afghanistan. Some asshole ordered those soldiers to board a Chinook and she or he knew damned well that some other asshole is profiteering off the sale of manpads to shoot those choppers down. And, 69 shekels says it was an American made, shoulder launched, heat seeking missile supplied to "the enemy" through some non Christian broker in New York City. Considering all the evidence that is here for the taking I believe that any volunteer for special forces must practice incredible, super human restraint to remain ignorant of the truth. Hell, even the Army War College openly discusses Israel's backstabbing skullduggery against their "ally". If a blinded-by-patriotism jock like Pat Tillman could figure out that it's all bullshit then all I can say is, if they can contrary to all the evidence, pretend to be doing The Lord's work then I hope they can pretend not to be dead when they're incinerated, evaporated or just wasted by one of many countless weapons sold by traitors (at NATO or in Tel Aviv or even New Jersey) to people who DO have good reasons to fight.
Don't worry about those bastards. There's karma, you know. Everything will right itself in the end. Before you know it, WE'LL get what's coming to THEM. That's how history works.
It is a violation of Natural Law to use this document in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. They don't create their own orders or exercise a policy agenda. Our disapproval should focus on the neocon establishment in the District, not our finest warriors. I agree 100% with you. On the plus side though, they died fighting for Jesus and so are now sitting at the right hand of God, helping Him plan the war against Islam!
I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. - Benjamin Franklin
Were these the guys who killed OBL, and some of his assorted family members? If yes, why? most of them from the elite Navy SEALs unit that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden 31 Americans, 7 Afghans killed in helicopter crash By SOLOMON MOORE Associated Press KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A military helicopter was shot down in eastern Afghanistan, killing 31 U.S. special operation troops, most of them from the elite Navy SEALs unit that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, along with seven Afghan commandos. It was the deadliest single incident for American forces in the decade-long war. **************
KIMBERLY DOZIER - Associated Press,LOLITA C. BALDOR - Associated Press | AP – 11 mins ago WASHINGTON (AP) — The Associated Press has learned that more than 20 Navy SEALs from the unit that killed Osama bin Laden were among those lost in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. The operators from SEAL Team Six were flown by a crew of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. That's according to one current and one former U.S. official. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because families are still being notified of the loss of their loved ones. One source says the team was thought to include 22 SEALs, three Air Force air controllers, seven Afghan Army troops, a dog and his handler, and a civilian interpreter, plus the helicopter crew. The sources thought this was the largest single loss of life ever for SEAL Team Six, known as the Naval Special Warfare Development Group.
I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. - Benjamin Franklin
You beat me by 31 seconds! LOL! It looks like the US government is tying up loose ends in the Bin Laden saga.
I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. - Benjamin Franklin
Dead men can't talk.
Unfortunately, I have a recurring nightmare. When the time comes for EXODUS RATTUS RATTUS they can be at JFK within the hour and all scheduled flights will be canceled under the newly-passed-in-emergency-session military emergency airlift act, and every fifteen minutes a fully loaded airliner (each with an extra ton of hidden gold and diamonds) will take off for a non stop flight to Tel Aviv. Delta to fly Atlanta-Tel Aviv direct "New service makes Atlanta second U.S. city with regular nonstop service to Israel. jewish, Christian, business groups worked together to push for flights" (Notice that "jewish" isn't capitalized but "Christian" is, and the headline states that both are pushing for the flights! HAHAHAHAHAH! Would it matter if Christian groups were indifferent to or even opposed to the plan? Them Heebs are so full of shit...)
The headstone carver is readying another marker for the graveyard of empires. U.S.A Uncle Samuel Azkanazi (Notice the last four letters)
Break the Conventions - Keep the Commandments - G.K.Chesterson
Not sure what p/c would go to the Lord, but I'd certainly go to the kegger.
Break the Conventions - Keep the Commandments - G.K.Chesterson That ain't outside the bounds of contemplation, HD. However, given demographic trends over there when TSHTF, it might first be curtains for the Occupation State of Zion and it'll be the west-bound flights that will be all booked up. Hope you got a quiet, out of the way place in Montana to repair to.
It is a violation of Natural Law to use this document in a manner inconsistent with its labeling.
Comments (41 - 134) not displayed.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestAfghan President Hamid Karzai "shared his deep sorrow and sadness" with U.S. counterpart Barack Obama and the families of the U.S. and Afghan victims, the statement said.
#2. To: Ferret (#0)
NATO helicopter crashes in Afghanistan, killing 31 U.S. troops
#3. To: Ferret (#0)
"Satan / Cheney in "08" 
#4. To: Jethro Tull (#2)
#5. To: TooConservative (#4)
"Satan / Cheney in "08"
#6. To: Jethro Tull (#2)
Thirty one less NWO Hessians.
#7. To: TooConservative (#4)
They don't create their own orders or exercise a policy agenda.
#8. To: Ferret (#0)
the most factual thing ever posted by buckeroo
I have no freaking' clue. buckeroo posted on 2010-07-24 21:33:00 ET
#9. To: RickyJ (#7)
In other words, they don't think for themselves. What good are people that don't think for themselves?
#10. To: Ferret (#0)
#11. To: tom007, Ferret (#3)
Seems 25 of them were Seals.
#12. To: TooConservative, 4 (#4)
(Edited)
Our SEALs are patriots and fine warriors.
#13. To: TwentyTwelve (#11)
Troops were apparently involved in a raid at the time.
the most factual thing ever posted by buckeroo
I have no freaking' clue. buckeroo posted on 2010-07-24 21:33:00 ET
#14. To: RickyJ (#7)
In other words, they don't think for themselves. What good are people that don't think for themselves?
#15. To: Jethro Tull (#12)
Until they train their weapons on the true enemy of US, rather than innocent people, fuck them and the Humvee they rode in on.
#16. To: RickyJ (#6)
These guy's killing days are over. If people would stop putting soldiers that are fighting these Jew wars on a pedestal it just might discourage them from fighting in them. I certainly don't see them as heroes. Fools maybe, but certainly not heroes.
#17. To: TooConservative (#15)
#18. To: Jethro Tull (#16)
I make a sharp distinction between these kids and those of years ago who were drafted and didn't have access to the material we have today ...
#19. To: Phant2000 (#18)
The kids of "years ago" were led into battle by the same f'n politicians that we look at today. Its easy as hell to blame the grunts, but if all of them were gone the problem would still be there.
#20. To: Jethro Tull (#18)
#21. To: Phant2000, Jethro Tull (#20)
Have you read the thread http://freedom4um.com/cgi-bin/readart.cgi? ArtNum=136705? That covers something you could use some of your anger and energy on. They are now going to do to our law enforcement what is being done to our military!!!
#22. To: tom007 (#3)
Seems 25 of them were Seals.
-Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#23. To: Jethro Tull (#19)
And why can't I use my posts like everyone else does?
#24. To: Phant2000 (#20)
Have you read the thread http://freedom4um.com/cgi-bin/readart.cgi? ArtNum=136705? That covers something you could use some of your anger and energy on. They are now going to do to our law enforcement what is being done to our military!!!
#25. To: X-15 (#22)
SEALS
#26. To: Phant2000 (#23)
I respect diversity, Jethro. I was just voicing MY opinion.
#27. To: Jethro Tull, X-15 (#25)
SEALS
#28. To: X-15 (#22)
I hope that this plants some seeds of doubt within the Navy and causes the chiefs to openly question our involvement "over there".
______________________________________________________
"It's a absurd insinuation."
#29. To: Jethro Tull, TooConservative, James Deffenbach, christine, Lod, HAPPY2BME-4UM, Flintlock (#17)
I have little doubt they will turn on the American populace when ordered to do so. They unfortunately have a track record of such. They are the Palace Guard and they will put one between your eyes on command. Heroes? Not so much.
#30. To: HOUNDDAWG (#29)
unhappy royalty and other rich dynasties . . . some non Christian broker in New York City
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"It's a absurd insinuation."
#31. To: TooConservative (#4)
Our SEALs are patriots and fine warriors.
#32. To: Jethro Tull, X-15 (#25)
SEALS
#33. To: Ferret, all (#0)
It looks like the US government is cleaning up loose ends in the Bin Laden saga.
#34. To: TwentyTwelve (#32)
#35. To: F.A. Hayek Fan, All (#34)
It looks like the US government is tying up loose ends in the Bin Laden saga.
#36. To: randge (#30)
There's karma, you know.
#37. To: Jethro Tull, 4 (#12)
#38. To: F.A. Hayek Fan (#34)
It looks like the US government is tying up loose ends in the Bin Laden saga.
#39. To: Jethro Tull (#24)
If I woke up tomorrow and every cop in this nation was Raptured up to the Lord, I'd throw a kegger. Like the military thuggies, I have no use for them.
#40. To: HOUNDDAWG (#36)
______________________________________________________
"It's a absurd insinuation."
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