Helicopter with 25 Navy Seals goes down in Afghanistan.

[Analog]

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.

 

[wirednuts]

you know when wars back in history lasted 7 years i always thought "god damn things just moved slow back then"

pretty sad though. thats a lot of death at once. helicopters are just plain dangerous! even if they work right they are easy targets apparently.

 

[BarneyFife]

Not sure why we are still there.

 

[PeshakJang]

Not sure why we are still there.

We aren't. Obama ended the war, remember?

 

[Schadenfroh]

RIP defenders of the republic

 

[Attic]

That's terrible.

The reason we are still there is because the pres knows something we don't about the situation.

Obama would have us out of there if he could. Given we are still there, i'd say there's a pretty damn good reason we are still there at this point.

 

[Lemon law]

Given the fact that the Taliban always claims credit for ever downed chopper, accident or not, their claim means little in terms of a cause. But after counting Afghan soldiers too, that one heck of a heavy butcher's bill to pay over one single incident.

But I have to suspect Attic has bats in his Belfry in saying, "The reason we are still there is because the pres knows something we don't about the situation.

Obama would have us out of there if he could. Given we are still there, i'd say there's a pretty damn good reason we are still there at this point."

The point is and remains that both President Obama and our previous Prez in GWB knew they would have to commit far more troops and change tactic to win in Afghanistan, and instead never committed even 25% of the resources it would take to even start winning. In terms of what our Presidents know, the only question is GWB or Obama the most clueless regarding Afghanistan?

 

[Fear No Evil]

That's terrible.

The reason we are still there is because the pres knows something we don't about the situation.

Obama would have us out of there if he could. Given we are still there, i'd say there's a pretty damn good reason we are still there at this point.

Obama can't even close Gitmo. I suspect his inability to end the war in Afghanistan is more due to his lack of ability to lead than anything else.

 

[dmcowen674]

Rose x 25

 

[santz]

That's terrible.

The reason we are still there is because the pres knows something we don't about the situation.

Obama would have us out of there if he could. Given we are still there, i'd say there's a pretty damn good reason we are still there at this point.

I have to agree with you, He is not the kind to say stuff to win elections, he really wanted to get Americans back home, but apparently after he became president, he found out more about the situation, more than we know currently.

I wish this whole damn crisis just gets over!

 

[Jaskalas]

The point is and remains that both President Obama and our previous Prez in GWB knew they would have to commit far more troops and change tactic to win in Afghanistan, and instead never committed even 25% of the resources it would take to even start winning. In terms of what our Presidents know, the only question is GWB or Obama the most clueless regarding Afghanistan?

We 'win' when we decide we've paid enough. There will be no other sort of winning in Afghanistan and you should fear those delusional enough to still believe otherwise after 10 years.

 

[bart1975]

It is a sad day for their families.

 

[Fear No Evil]

Rose x 25

+6.. Article says 31 killed now.

 

[Nebor]

We 'win' when we decide we've paid enough. There will be no other sort of winning in Afghanistan and you should fear those delusional enough to still believe otherwise after 10 years.

Exactly. I go to a memorial service every other week, sometimes every week for another soldier killed in Afghanistan. I went to one last month where the soldier hadn't even been in the Army a year. He was 1 day short of his 1 year anniversary. And you see their family there, and often there's a story involving their bravery and courage, which is commendable, but I'm left wondering why we're continuing to put people in situations where that sort of bravery and courage is needed.

What are we getting, as a nation, out of the war in Afghanistan? Who are we really helping? A few corrupt politicians and contractors, mostly. The people of Afghanistan would rather we just pack up and go home. If that weren't the case, they wouldn't continue to support the insurgents that try to kill us every day.

RIP to those lost in the crash. The single greatest lost of life in the history of the 10 year war. And the experience, training and professionalism of those lost cannot be replaced.

 

[Fear No Evil]

Reports now saying 20 of the people killed were part of "Seal Team 6" that got OBL.

 

[rudder]

The people of Afghanistan would rather we just pack up and go home. If that weren't the case, they wouldn't continue to support the insurgents that try to kill us every day.

RIP to those lost in the crash. The single greatest lost of life in the history of the 10 year war. And the experience, training and professionalism of those lost cannot be replaced.

When those troops do pull out, the taliban will swoop back in. The Afghan government is incapable of governing the whole country. The people there know this and they know the troops will one day be gone. If I lived there knowing the taliban and its supporters are taking notes on who helped the NATO troops.... I would be cautious. Kabul socccer stadium will be running 24/7 with public beheadings.

Anyway news reports are saying members of SEAL team were involved. A very sad say indeed.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

gee it really sucks when they slaughter our people the way we're slaughtering theirs

 

[Nebor]

Reports now saying 20 of the people killed were part of "Seal Team 6" that got OBL.

Yeah that sucks. IMO that's the kind of thing you shouldn't publish as news since it'll just give aid and comfort to the enemy and demoralize our soldiers and citizens. The derka-derks will be over there screaming that Allah is clearly on their side now, since he took revenge for OBL.

 

[Nintendesert]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/storie...ME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-08-06-06-27-19

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.

One current and one former U.S. official said that the dead included more than 20 Navy SEALs from SEAL Team Six, the unit that carried out the raid in Pakistan in May that killed bin Laden. They were being flown by acrew of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because families are still being notified.

Damn, bad day, bad war.

 

[a777pilot]

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep,
Its own appointed limits keep.

Oh hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea! Amen.

Eternal Father, lend Thy grace To
those with wings who fly thro' space,
Thro wind and storm, thro' sun and rain,
Oh bring them safely home again.

Oh Father, hear an humble prayer,
For those in peril in the air! Amen.

Oh Trinity of love and pow'r,
Our brethren shield in danger's hour,
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them where so e'er they go.

Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea! Amen.

Please God, give their families strength.


Rest in Peace my brothers.

Slowly executed Hand Salute........

 

[Nebor]

gee it really sucks when they slaughter our people the way we're slaughtering theirs

It's ok, we're still solidly in the lead on that front: ~2,500 NATO KIA vs. 20,000 Afghan KIA.

Also, go fuck yourself.

 

[ProfJohn]

Let the Afghan's fight for Afghanistan and let's just focus on terrorists and get out of there.

 

[Jaskalas]

Reports now saying 20 of the people killed were part of "Seal Team 6" that got OBL.

This is sickening....

 

[Darwin333]

The point is and remains that both President Obama and our previous Prez in GWB knew they would have to commit far more troops and change tactic to win in Afghanistan, and instead never committed even 25% of the resources it would take to even start winning. In terms of what our Presidents know, the only question is GWB or Obama the most clueless regarding Afghanistan?

What exactly are we trying to "win"?

 

[Trianon]

This is sickening....

wow, that is SO SAD, every one of those guys is an unsung hero. Huge loss... RIP. Elite of the Elite!