Six die in US helicopter crash (UPDATE)

[rjbcar27]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3249493.stm

An American Black Hawk helicopter has been forced down near Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, killing all six soldiers on board.
The US military is investigating whether the chopper was attacked or suffered mechanical problems.

American troops have secured the scene near the Tigris River in north Iraq.

Last weekend, an American Chinook helicopter was shot down, killing 16 soldiers in the biggest single strike on US forces since they invaded Iraq.

<SNIP>

[Guaranteed]

1. Now it was "forced down?"

Does that mean it was "shot down?"

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. YES

But wanna bet your bottom dollar you will not see that
on the AP wire, keep your eyes on the BBC

[leftchick]

3. We will probably never know...

if there are no witnesses. I am sure they would have spun the chinook as a crash, which they tried initially, until the witnesses disputed it. God only knows the horrors that are happening.

[JeebusH]

4. this is 7 overall ...

one soldier killed in Northern Iraq in another incident

[saigon68]

5. BRING EM ON shouted the AWOL Chimpanzee

At this rate we'll be at 600 by Christmas maybe more

[spinbaby]

9. No time at all

We've lost 32 this week by my count.

[NashVegas]

6. 101st Airborne

based in Ft. Campbell.

[SoCalDem]

7. another "hard landing" by morning

:(

[qanda]

8. Did you know Rosie was in court?

Of course that's more important than this sensationalized story.

[Guaranteed]

24. Oh I know, everyone's talking about it. nt

[0007]

25. Rosie who?

Are ya talking about that extra large lady that folks are messing with?

Perhaps your capping on the media whores?

[DeepModem Mom]

10. BBC now reporting on air "believed to be shot down"

BBC in London is now reporting on air (tv) that the helicopter "forced down" is now "believed to have been shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade."

[Cooley Hurd]

11. CNN reporter in Tirkrit says that locals are saying the same thing

Jesus, has the situation on the ground in Iraq gotten so bad that we can't even move around by air anymore????

[WillyT]

15. And Yahoo Has An Officer Who Asked Not To Be Identified...

<snip>

It was not immediately clear whether the chopper was brought down by hostile fire or a mechanical failure, a spokeswoman said. But an officer who asked not to be identified said it was probably hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.

<snip>

Link: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=1&u=/ap/20031107/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

I guess he's\she's a tad tired of the media lies too, huh???

:shrug:

[MaineDem]

18. BBC said report of hostile file came from soldiers

I noticed the way the Beeb reported it and the way CNN did. BBC said soldiers at the near-by base said they saw some sort of missle/RPG. CNN said the report came from "locals". I think the distinction is quite interesting.

[Pocho]

12. THE SCORE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FIRST

Before their war was won = 138, After their mission accomplished = 271 more, Total young land of the free and home of the brave heroes just following orders = 409 (not counting dying wounded.). Iraqi men, women, and children evil doers massacred = Nobody is saying. Those seeking vengeance for sake of family and invaded homeland honor = most. Years for Viet Cong to come together = several. Time for Iraqi resistance to build = damned near immediate. Have a nice day.:)

[tabasco]

20. It's not a game and there is no "score"

Just more dead brothers and sisters.

[teryang]

13. "Post war helocopter losses?"

I didn't realize the war was over. More progress.

[Jackpine Radical]

27. Major combat has ended.

Why don't you know that?

[gristy]

14. Here's the AP story

Middle East - AP
Six Killed in Helicopter Crash in Iraq

TIKRIT, Iraq - An Army helicopter crashed Friday into a riverbank near Saddam Hussein (news - web sites )'s hometown of Tikrit, killing six U.S. soldiers, the military said. It probably was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, an officer said.

Two Americans also were killed in separate attacks Thursday and Friday in the northern city of Mosul, raising concerns that the insurgency was spreading north.

"Six soldiers were on board and all of them were killed," said Maj. Josslyn Aberle, a spokeswoman for the 4th Infantry Division based in Tikrit. They were all from the 101st Airborne Division, she said.

MORE

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=1&u=/ap/20031107/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

[gristy]

16. After I heard this morning about this helicopter SHOT down

just 5 days after the 16 killed on Sunday, with soldiers killed every day in between, and Bush strutting around saying we will NOT be intimidated, I have come to the conclusion that Bush is history next November. The damage this conflict has done and will continue to do to him and the BFEE is IMO too great to overcome. He has proceeded BEYOND the event horizon of the black hole that is Iraq and his failed foreign policy.

The NEW question is this: Will he end up dragging our country with him?

[jonoboy]

26. i hope you are correct on the first and wrong on the second

[lanlady]

17. CNN seems to think that the latest Princess Di tell-all book--

--is a lot more important.

[Bridget Burke]

22. bbcamerica had the Blackhawk story first...

But they spent more time on Prince Charles' secretary making a statement that the allegation soon to come out about the Prince is absolutely not true.

Of course, they were prevented by law from saying what the allegation was--but spent a lot of time on this unimportant non-story.

[catmandu57]

19. Lunaville has American dead at 389

we're 111 away from the magic number of 500 dead, any soldiers death in this twisted quest for domination is too many, but I firmly believe that when the toll rises to 500, people are going to start noticing.

So far, there has been funeral coverage for area members of the military, as more and more bodies come home,these pebbles will turn to boulders.

[nostamj]

21. AOHELL reports it as shot down by an RPG

the 'week of resistance' continues... (and CNN is reporting about.... wait for it.............. the PETERSON TRIAL)

TIKRIT, Iraq (Nov. 7) - An Army helicopter crashed Friday into a riverbank near Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, killing six U.S. soldiers, the military said. It probably was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, an officer said.

Two Americans also were killed in separate attacks Thursday and Friday in the northern city of Mosul, raising concerns that the insurgency was spreading north.


http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20031107022909990002

[greatauntoftriplets]

32. NPR also reporting shootdown.

[Mari333]

23. I cannot understand some people

who seek to validate one iota, in any way, any justification for this slaughter of innocent young people, on either side. There is an inherent nurturer-within of protecting life/ that is lacking, it seems, in so many who attempt to justify this atrocity called Iraq, just as they have justified all the other atrocities. Why? What prompts people to back an administration based on hearsay, lies, cronyism, and convenient sound bytes...the faces of each and every one of these people etches in my memory daily, and no less the faces of the civilians murdered in their beds in Iraq as bombs drop on them...The malaise and depressed state of being is not just in me now from the anger and sadness day after day after day from this, but also the lack of outrage that it continues. I cannot fathom the pain of the families. I am so angry.

[jonoboy]

28. I echo what you are saying

what has always upset me is that all those that sling insults at us..'Saddam lovers etc'..I've never heard one of them offer a single prayer or thought for the 1000's of Iraqis who have been injured or killed. ( apart from the US servicemen who have died) it really is as though there is a collective pathological mass of people out there
who just don't give a continental about them and just blather out any cliche that Bush & Co say. They say it's all about free Iraq but obviously they don't give a damn about the country or the people or the soldiers who have and will die.
I get very demoralised by it.

[ninkasi]

31. I share your feelings, Mari...

I had always thought that with age, I would grow in wisdom and understanding. I now find, at the age of 60, that I understand less and less why people are so willing to kill, so indifferent to suffering, and so easily swayed by a petty little tyrant like Bush.

All of the deaths are tragic.

[Zynx]

29. I think they said this brought it to 31 dead in a week.

But those are 31 markers of progress according to Mr. Bush.

[bfusco]

30. Isn't this what turned the tide on the Soviets?

This has me really sick to my stomach. Isn't the ability to succesfully launch attacks on Soviet aircraft in Afghanastan what turned the tide in that war? There is not much you can do to stop an abundance of antiarcraft weaponry and individuals who are skilled at using it. With the number of occupation personell and troop rotations,not flying isn't feisable. Like the Soviets, the US militray marched in with ease and is now sitting ducks.

[TahitiNut]

33. duplicate

See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=204834

It is implicit in "breaking news" that the story will develop. This article is not a new story. I'm locking this thread. Interested DUers are welcome to continue discussing this in the referenced thread.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation,
TahitiNut - DU moderator