Iraqi insurgents targeting US helicopters: report

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070218/ts_alt_afp/usiraqmilitaryhelicopters_070218042751;_ylt=Ah.rTm0xI._BhSQziuIyx8th24cA

Iraqi insurgents targeting US helicopters: report

49 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Documents captured from Iraqi insurgents indicate that some of the recent fatal attacks against US helicopters are a result of a carefully planned strategy to focus on downing coalition aircraft, The New York Times reported on its website.


Citing unnamed American officials, the newspaper said the strategy has been carried out by mounting coordinated assaults with machine guns, rockets and surface-to-air missiles.

The documents, said to have been drafted by Al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia and described to The Times by US officials, show that the militants were preparing to "concentrate on the air force."

Seized near Baghdad, the documents reflect the insurgentsÂ’ military preparations from late last year, including plans for attacking aircraft using a variety of weapons, the report said.

[951-Riverside]

1. OMG! I AM SHOCKED! Its just absolutely mind blowing that this is happening Iraq.

:sarcasm:

[manic expression]

2. It took them captured documents to figure that one out?

This just in: Natives target Custer with bows, arrows. :eyes:

[uppityperson]

3. Does that mean some of them were shot down by accident?

"some of the recent fatal attacks against US helicopters are a result of a carefully planned strategy "

[rodeodance]

4. After downing the helicopters, the insurgents often laid ambushes .......

"Attacks on coalition aircraft probably will increase if helicopter missions expand during the latest phase of the Baghdad Security Plan or if insurgents seek to emulate their recent successes," the paper quotes an intelligence report as saying.

Seven helicopters have been downed in Iraq since January 20, a figure that exceeds the total number of coalition aircraft shot down in 2006.

After downing the helicopters, the insurgents often laid ambushes for the American ground troops they expected to come to the rescue, sometimes using roadside bombs that they placed in advance, The Times said.

US troops were attacked in five instances in which they rushed to the scene of aircraft that had been shot down, accoreding to the report.

The intelligence report supports the concerns expressed by a US general this month that militants were adapting their tactics in an effort to step up attacks against helicopters.

[Phredicles]

5. Sounds like the insurgents are Adapting To Win;

our leadershit, well, what does it look like they're doing?:eyes:

[LynnTheDem]

6. Blowback; who trained the Afghanis on how to down USSR choppers?

It's ok when we do it...