AP: U.S. military says copter down in Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

The CH-46 helicopter went down about 20 miles northwest of the capital, U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said, but he declined to comment on casualties.

"A quick reaction force is on site and the investigation is going on as we speak," he said. "It would probably be inappropriate for me to talk about whether or not there are or are not casualties."

Witnesses said the helicopter had been shot down in a field in the Sheik Amir area northwest of Baghdad, sending smoke rising from the scene, in a Sunni-dominated area between the Taji air base, 12 miles north of Baghdad, and Garma, 20 miles west of the capital. and Garma, 20 miles to the west of the capital.

"The helicopter was flying and passed over us, then we heard the firing of a missile," said Mohammad al-Janabi, a farmer who was speaking less than a half-mile from the wreckage. "The helicopter, then, turned into a ball of fire. It flew in a circle twice, then it went down."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070207/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq ;_ylt=AlV_YAJoLBGqtmz9Ra2RxwALewgF

[maddezmom]

1. it's been confirmed down by US military

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2720407#2720510

[Jacobin]

2. Eyewitness says it was a missile

[panader0]

3. The CH-46 is the Chinook, a troop transport.

[Ganja Ninja]

9. It holds a combat crew of 5 plus up to 14 troops. n/t

[michaz]

4. Not another one!

We have to get out of that place! I just don't know what it is going to take for these idiots to finally say enough!

[SpiralHawk]

7. "Don't worry. I am perfectly safe, and enjoying more golf." - Commander AWOL

"Oh yeah, too bad about your sons and daughters in uniform.
At least they died for a noble cause: republicon oil & munitions war profits.
Smirk, smirk."

- Commander AWOL

[acmavm]

5. Well that's what happens when the people of a nation decide

that they want their occupiers out.

Don't get me wrong. This is not the fault of the poor schumcks on the helicopter. The truth is that they were murdered by their own government. They are risking (and losing) their lives for greed and the love of power by a select few of their countrymen.

[Liberal In Texas]

6. This is starting to sound like the Sov's in Afganistan. And we know how that

turned out.

[madokie]

8. more and more each day

[Felinity]

10. I'll be the first to Rec AND Kick

Question for the militarily informed:

Just how in the hell are we going to operate in a country when they start shooting down our choppers with missiles? My great fear has always been that our troops will get trapped there, and a major loss of life will occur before the Pukes say "uncle". Then, another heart-breaking documentary entitled "The Fall of Saigon, Redux," wherein we sell out those who stuck with us.

[lectrobyte]

12. Operate? From the things I've read, the last year and a half have been

in sort of "hunker down" mode. Otherwise we'd be losing a lot more troops. Why our "leadership" thought it would be flowers is simply mind boggling. Think about it if the situation were reversed, no electricity, scarce water, all manner of random killings, anarchy, what would you do if you had a missile launcher or caught some troops out? I can only assume the plan was to get the 14 bases in place, build the huge embassy complex (world's largest) and get control of the oil production. That would almost make some sense from the PNAC perspective. Anything else just seems like insanity. The longer we stay, and from what I can see, having pulled out of Saudi Arabia, we don't plan on leaving anytime soon, the more troops will die.

[bdamomma]

11. I just heard on AAR it could have been 20 casualities

this has got to end, * thinks he's playing with toy soldiers, I hate that man.:grr: