Fate of 17 US troops in Afghan crash unclear

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL155236.htm

KABUL, June 29 (Reuters) - A U.S. military helicopter crashed during an anti-guerrilla mission in eastern Afghanistan after being hit by ground fire and the fate of 17 U.S. troops aboard was not known, the U.S. military said on Wednesday.

The twin-rotor Chinook crashed in remote and mountainous Kunar province on Tuesday afternoon while bringing troops to reinforce soldiers on the ground carrying out an anti-al Qaeda operation, it said.

The aircraft received direct and indirect fire as it was approaching its landing zone and crashed about 1-2 km (half to one mile) away, said U.S. military spokesman Colonel Jim Yonts. snip

Kunar Governor Asadullah Wafa said the helicopter was hit by a rocket and a spokesman for the Taliban, Abdul Latif Hakimi, claimed the guerrillas shot down the aircraft in the village of Shorak using "a new type of weapon" he did not describe. snip

The crash was the second of a U.S. Chinook in Afghanistan in less than three months.

[TheFarseer]

1. "new type of weapon" is a bit scarry

I hope things in Afghanistan don't heat up.

[Renew Deal]

5. That's how things got worse for the soviets.

We sold them new surface to air missles.

[Minstrel Boy]

2. It's a horrible thing to say,

but better they have died in the crash than be captured.

Ask the Russians.

[MaineDem]

3. BBC is saying they can't even get to the crash site yet

US forces will be wary of using more helicopters in the rescue effort for fear they too could be attacked, says the BBC's Andrew North, who is at the US base where the search is being co-ordinated.

The rescue operation has been further complicated by the high altitude of the crash site, a remote, moutainous area west of the town of Asadabad.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4631947.stm

[maddezmom]

10. looks like the Taliban is control of the area

Four policemen were killed when suspected Taliban militants detonated a landmine in eastern Afghanistan, while one rebel and a civilian died in a gunfight in the south, officials said.

The remote-controlled mine exploded on Tuesday in the Sirkanay district of Kunar province, a few kilometres from where a US military helicopter crashed the same day, provincial governor Asadullah Wafa said on Wednesday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050629/wl_sthasia_afp/afghanistantalibanblast_050629085041

[maddezmom]

4. CNN reporting rescuers can not get to crash

weather is poor...windy and rainy, debris field is large and stretches across a mountain

[BOSSHOG]

6. Their CDR in Chief says their sacrifice will be worth it

How long will it take the right wing hate machine to blame liberals for the shootdown?

[Ilsa]

7. 13 of 16 killed per Pentagon?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1590995

13 of 16 killed according to this site linked on the above thread.

[MaineDem]

9. I haven't seen any other corroboration to that

Is the source accurate?

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Kuwait News Agency

They're not people who mislead on purpose, but it does seem strange that they're saying the Pentagon has said they were all killed, while everyone else (Reuters, AP, Chinese news agency) still seems to be saying their fate is unknown. I wouldn't expect the Kuwaitis to have an sinde line on news in Afghanistan.

[Ilsa]

12. I have no idea, which is why I added the question mark.

But something about it makes sense, if they were shot down in a mountainous area. And i wonder about the Pentagon taking their time on this. I wonder if they've had any radio contact with them. I wonder if it is Search and Recovery or Search and Rescue.

[mbperrin]

8. NO NO NO! Don't you people read the memos or drink the KoolAid

we send?

At the most, the chopper MAY have crashed, never shot down. Probably just a hard landing. No casualties, ever, unless they're not Americans, then it's OK.


Sheesh! Get with the program; come on over to the winning side in time for the big win!


Note: get more Oxy....

[The Stranger]

13. Finally, someone gets it. Their fate is "uncertain" after a heli crash?

With a debris field spread across a mountain?

Come on.