Security in Iraq Out of US Control

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

Baghdad, Jan 29 (Prensa Latina) Just 24 hours ahead of elections in Iraq, violence prevails, with US-led forces and Iraqi interim government unable to guarantee security.

The US central command confirmed on Saturday the deaths of another two US soldiers in a helicopter crash southwest of Baghdad on Friday.

A US military statement said the crash was accidental, but local radio stations commented the said OH-58 Kiowa chopper was downed by Iraqi insurgents.

<snip>

Resistance fighters killed six US-subordinate Iraqi police officers, according to Al Arabiya.

Two police officers were killed in Salman Pak district, south of Baghdad, and another four were killed in the city of Chorgat, north of the capital.


More(but not much): http://www.periodico26.cu/english_new/world/iraq300105.htmhttp://www.periodico26.cu/english_new/world/iraq300105.htm

[cliss]

1. WHAT is going on with these helicopters.

I'm having trouble keeping track. I read yesterday that one went down. There was another one on Friday. Or are they one and the same? I can't tell between them.

Also, I don't know if the military is lying when they say 'helicopter malfunction'. Or have they been shot down?

I've read that because of security concerns, the helicopters fly very close to the ground so they can't give Iraqis a chance to aim and shoot. Unfortunately, this means the pilots are so close to the ground that they might run into wires, buildings and so on. Plus, wouldn't it be easier to shoot a helicopter if it's closer to the ground?

This is very strange. Someone needs to address the helicopter issue.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

2. Believing things from the people who gave us the Jessica Lynch

story is pretty difficult to say the least.

But then again, the above source is as credible as they are when it comes to spin.

[hector459]

3. They're being shot down!

Some may be accidents but believe me, some are being shot down and they just don't want us to know it. they might have to answer questions about all those unguarded weapons that have gone missing.

[cliss]

6. Thanks, Hector.

This is a serious issue which doesn't seem to be addressed by the military. There's an article about the corruption within Lockheed Martin, the company which has fat government contracts to build these things. Apparently, quality control is really poor.

I've read that no less than 33 heli's have gone down in Iraq since the war. That's shocking. At a cost of (I think) $50 million apiece. What the hell?

You could be right in that they don't want anyone to know it. It's seen as very humiliating, and might make the insurgents more bold.

Either way, they need to keep US troops out of those things, unless it's absolutely necessary. They're death traps.

[torque]

4. Both copters shot down?

http://www.albasrah.net/moqawama/english/0105/iraqiresistancereport_260105.htm

http://www.albasrah.net/moqawama/english/0105/iraqiresistancereport_290105.htm

Or propaganda...

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

5. Sounds like they have an editorial board on loan from Fox