Helicopter Crash in Afghanistan Reportedly Kills Members of SEAL Team 6

FOXNEWS.COM ^ | 8/6/2011 | Associated Press

[spiderfern]

WASHINGTON -- The Associated Press has learned that more than 20 Navy SEALs from the unit that killed Osama bin Laden were among those lost in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/08/06/afghan-president-31-americans-killed-in-helicopter-crash/#ixzz1UGZcWiEh

[ohioWfan]

Your family has my prayers, USMCPOP.

I can't imagine your sorrow.

[fantom]

“Let’s get our folks the hell out of there and let the natives resume what they’ve been doing for over a thousand years: Killing one another”.

Hell yes. Destroy the poppy fields with chemicals so foul the junk never grows again. Shoot our way out and let them devour each other.

[Absolutely Nobama]

I’m in.

[MinuteGal]

A Viet Nam veteran from Naperville, Illinois, just called in on a local radio show.

He flew Chinooks 40 years ago over Nam. He flatly stated that these helicopters were "sitting ducks", they were used to haul freight and such during Nam....and they would NEVER be sent on a combat mission except in emergency.

Folks, people are flooding the radio talk shows today. Grown men callers are breaking down and crying right on the air. Many are just shouting with angry passion.

Conservative former congressman J D Hayworth (R.AZ) is the host. He's darn near crying himself. His voice is somber...and he's now decrying the lack of info coming out on this tragedy because the loved ones are in prolonged states of fear and panic.

Oh, my.....this is all so wrong. I'm heartbroken. A close family member of mine was in Special Forces which brings it closer emotionally.

All the callers are saying the same thing, if we're fighting with one arm behind our backs....and our brave military are being used as "social nation-builders" instead of brutal fighters fighting a brutal war TO WIN....then bring them home!

Leni

[SaraJohnson]

The Pakistan government is the “mole.”

We always cozy up to our enemies so they can murder us. It’s the politically correct thing to do. The worse thing to do would be to judge our Islamist enemies while they are posing our as friends so they can not kill us. Get it right or you are a racis. ;)

Lefties did the same in the Viet Nam war and they did not have nearly as much power and control over the government and military as they have now. We need to end the war and get our sons and daughters home before they sacrifice more on the altar of political correctness.

[Absolutely Nobama]

I say we nuke the SOB’s.....like we should have done on 9/12/01.

[La Enchiladita]

Dead men tell no tales.

That was my initial thought and I haven't changed it.

This is a huge loss for our country. The difference is that I am TRULY saddened.

[BlackVeil]

You may be right. There are so many odd details about the original story of the raid ... And now this.

[La Enchiladita]

We never saw the photo of “dead osama” and I don’t think anyone did.....

[seeker41]

He flew Chinooks 40 years ago over Nam. He flatly stated that these helicopters were "sitting ducks", they were used to haul freight and such during Nam....and they would NEVER be sent on a combat mission except in emergency.

You are correct, they usually use a Blackhawk with a backup chopper or two. This is very odd.

[crosslink]

“We already know that our forces are honeycombed with spies, traitors and double agents but this most probably had nothing to do with any of them.”

I pray you are right but experience tells me that this is an ISI operation. This Seal team is only employed in high risk big target operations. These operations are done based on intelligence. The main source of that intelligence in this area of operation is he ISI. They have been laying in wait to get even for killing their asset Usama. They employed this tactic of offering a big target same way the did when they got the suicide bomber in our base to meet with our top CIA people. He killed nine great people. We want to believe that they are our allies. They offer a big catch and we jump at he chance. They are aligned with one purpose and that is to worship the great Muhammad. They are scum and should be trapped and killed one by one like rats.

I hope I'm wrong.

[ASA Vet]

I’d consider it operational level not tactical.

[thesearethetimes...]

Dear Lord, please rest the souls of all of the brave, and, if their presence was revealed in any way, bring justice Lord, to those who cost all of these brave souls their lives.

May God give us strength.
Tatt

[ScreamingFist]

“He flatly stated that these helicopters were “sitting ducks”, they were used to haul freight and such during Nam....and they would NEVER be sent on a combat mission except in emergency.”

He’s very, very WRONG.

MH-47G
MH-47G Chinook, during the aircraft’s rollout ceremony 6 May 2007 at Boeing

The MH-47G Special Operations Aviation (SOA) version is currently being delivered to the US Army. It is similar to the MH-47E, but features a more sophisticated avionics including a digital Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS). The CAAS is common glass cockpit used by different helicopters such as MH-60K/Ls, CH-53E/Ks, and ARH-70As.[59] The MH-47G will also incorporate all of the new sections of the CH-47F.[60]

Based on operational experience in Afghanistan, the CH-47 was found to be an effective substitute for the UH-60 Black Hawk as an assault helicopter. With its larger payload, range, and higher operating speed, one Chinook can replace up to five UH-60s in this role as an air assault transport.[61]

The new modernization program will improve MH-47D and MH-47E Special Operations Chinooks to the MH-47G design specs. A total of 25 MH-47E and 11 MH-47D aircraft were upgraded by the end of 2003. In 2002 the army announced plans to expand the Special Operations Aviation Regiment. The expansion would add 12 additional MH-47G helicopters.[62] On February 10, 2011, Leaders and employees from the H-47 program gathered for a ceremony at Boeing’s helicopter facility in Ridley Township, PA., to commemorate the delivery of the final MH-47G Chinook to U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CH-47_Chinook

[tanknetter]

You are correct, they usually use a Blackhawk with a backup chopper or two. This is very odd.

Not true. The Chinook has MUCH better high altitude/high temperature (called "High and Hot) performance than the Blackhawk does. So is preferred (if not demanded)for many types of SpecOps missions in the Afghan mountains.

There's even a SpecOps-specific variant designated MH-47E/G.

Recall that during the Kill-Bin Laden raid the stealth Blackhawk was lost because the air temp was 15 degrees higher than planned for and the engines couldn't handle it. The military had two MH-47s standing by on backup duty for the exact eventuality that happened, and they pretty much saved the day.

[Lorianne]

Why is the media broadcasting this?
This is a huge psy-win for the Taliban.

Something is not right about this story.

[HMS Surprise]

No coincidence at all. This cost the Saudi’s millions.

[cricket]

Think "coincidence" somehow fails per the tragedy of this unfolding. Am wondering why so many of these Seals in one copter per this mission. America is suffering the worst of losses and this is certainly a very sad and horrific one.

Prayers up for these brave men and their families and their Military comrades.

(We can expect to hear nothing from their Commander-in-Chief, who is currently hiding at Camp David - awaiting directions on what to say ' per financial crisis.)

[Jemian]

but I find it unconscionable to focus on any political benefit from the death of our beloved Navy SEALs.

Yes, it is simply beyond belief that anyone would ever act in such a treacherous way against their own country. In all the history of the world such a thing has never happened before!

[Catsrus]

This is tragic!