31 Americans, 7 Afghans killed in helicopter crash
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - A military helicopter crashed in eastern Afghanistan, killing 31 U.S. special operation troops and seven Afghan commandos, the country’s president said Saturday. An American official said it was apparently shot down, in the deadliest single incident for American forces in the decade-long war.
The Taliban claimed they downed the helicopter with rocket fire while it was taking part in a raid on a house where insurgents were gathered in the province of Wardak late Friday. It said wreckage of the craft was strewn at the scene.
NATO confirmed the overnight crash took place and that there “was enemy activity in the area.” But it said it was still investigating the cause and conducting a recovery operation at the site. It did not release details or casualty figures.
“We are in the process of accessing the facts,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Justin Brockhoff, a NATO spokesman.
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31 Americans, 7 Afghans killed in helicopter crash
First and foremost I want to extend my deepest sympathies to the families of these American troops. I know it may not offer much comfort, but they were there, doing what they wanted to do, serving this nation and making every effort to keep Americans at home safe from Taliban and al-Qaida terrorists.
That said; our troops are the greatest warriors in the world. They are brave and are willing to serve in any way needed. I know some of these troops, and the only REAL gripe you hear from them is about the Rules of Engagement and the way they have to endanger themselves in the name of political correctness and world opinion.
I have stated this before, on this blog, and have had some that failed to understand what I was saying and some that called me anti-war and not a supporter of American policies, but here is the way I see it; if we are going to wage war, by God, wage war. Let the troops fight the enemy and take care of business in a way that leaves NO doubt that we are STILL the most powerful nation on earth and are not to be messed with.
We have been in Afghanistan for almost 10 years now. Afghanistan is approximately the same size in land area as is the state of Texas.
The United States entered WWII in December of 1941. Japan surrendered on August 14, 1945, effectively ending the 2nd World War. That is 3 years and 8 months, to enter, fight and WIN a WORLD WAR!
We’ve been in Afghanistan for 10 years. You figure it out, personally I find this a bit disconcerting…
KABUL, Afghanistan - The first American soldiers of about 10,000 due to leave Afghanistan this year have flown home, military officials said July 15. Their departure kicked off a gradual drawdown due to be completed in 2014. SOURCE
We’re going to be gone in 2014 huh? Out of Afghanistan and done? Is that correct? Am I reading this correctly?
If so, why in the hell are there several Regular Army units and National Guard Brigades being tasked, right now, for deployment TO Afghanistan in 2014?
And that leads me to this:
Obama mourns 31 US troops killed in Afghan crash
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is mourning the deaths of 31 U.S. special operations troops in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan.
He says it’s a reminder of the “extraordinary sacrifices” being made by America’s military and its families.
An American official says the helicopter appears to have been shot down Saturday in eastern Afghanistan in the deadliest single combat incident of the decade-long war.
Obama learned of the deaths while at Camp David. In a written statement, he says Americans’ thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who perished. He also mourned the loss of seven Afghan soldiers killed in the crash. SOURCE
The economy tanks, American troops are dying in Afghanistan and Iraq and what does Barack Hussein Obama do? He goes to Camp David for another vacation.
It sounds like he’s *in mourning* to me…
There is one message, and one message only that Barack Hussein Obama needs to hear from the American people, that message being:
Our troops have the will to fight and WIN, anywhere, any time!
The United States hasn’t won a decisive battle since World War II. That is NOT the fault of our troops, the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of the American POLITICAL leaders that have been neutered by the LEFT and those that are afraid to fight and have NO desire to be winners!
God help us ALL…
I talked to two senior NCO’s who have immediate family members in Afghanistan; son and brother. They both told me the same thing. If during a firefight, the enemy drops their weapons on the ground and walks away, all our troops can do is watch them walk. Of course the Taliban isn’t stupid. They strategically place weapons in different locations so all they need to do is walk to the next spot, uncover the weapons, and start firing upon our troops. We either unleash the dogs and let them wage war or bring them home now.
Excellent post Fred. Thanks for your kind words about our troops, which truly are the finest in the world. In 1968 during the Tet offensive in South Vietnam, we won a decisive battle against North Vietnamese troops and kicked their ass. They were ready to quit hostilities but the left headed by Walter Cronkite reported it as a major ass kicking and the will to win in America was lost in the courts of public opinion, not on the battlefield. Sad to say, our military has not been turned loose to win any war since WWII.
My dad was in WWII, Korea and Vietnam and retired in ’72. He was thoroughly disgusted with the then (and if he were alive - NOW) of the rules of engagement. I’m glad he didn’t live to see what Obummer has done to our beloved military.
Keep up the good work my friend. Roper out!
My Condolences to the families, but we have to pull the kid gloves off and let the military do their job. So what if a ‘civilian’ gets hurt! Let the military actually fight a war, and we will be out of there in no time, with victory instead of defeat.
With the American media in his pocket — and they will always be there — no matter what occurs, it will still be a huge fight to dethrone The One. If anyone thinks it will be easy, they are quite wrong.
BZ
Who the hell came up with Rules of Engagement crap and when? Do you know, Fred?
Jim — There has, at least to some degree, always been ROEs in the modern U.S. military, in times way past it was called HONOR, and professional soldiers had a *Code of Honor* they adhered to…
In WWI it was an accepted practice between the fighter pilots, if you shoot down an adversary and he manages to make it out of the plane and *hit the silk*, you didn’t shoot a man hanging defenseless in a parachute…
Some of these modern ROEs totally blow my mind, as BobF said, “If during a firefight, the enemy drops their weapons on the ground and walks away, all our troops can do is watch them walk.”
In days past if they ran out of ammo and RAN they were targets, if they threw up their hands and surrendered they were POWs…
I don’t know who comes up with all of this crap but look into the Geneva Convention for *Rules of War* and maybe you’ll find the answers you seek..
I couldn’t agree more Fred; if we are going to go to war we need to go all in and make a commitment to win the war because in the end this will sane American lives. We have been trying to fight a politically correct war and because of this more Americans have died than should have.
My heart goes out to all of those who lost loved ones today and I hope they realize how much we appreciate what they do for us, but this inept leadership and restricting ROE have put our troops in more danger. If we are not willing to go all in we must get out.