We were monitoring, but, never got the call. Word is, this was a snatch operation, and the operations commander underestimated the strength of the enemy and was trying to cover his ass when the reinforcements were called in.
God help us all, when your ass is in this deep, you call in heavy gunships, i.e. specter's, etc. to support the men on the ground!
This mission does not pas the smell test with my unit!
82nd ABN 1/508th BN
Do you think that the “snatch op” was a set-up?
God Bless you for your valiant service.
Shakes head:
Snip:
The Taliban claimed its fighters had ambushed Western troops after being tipped off to an imminent night raid in the district. The crash site is located in Wardak’s Tangi valley, where the insurgents are extremely active.
The Wardak police chief, Gen. Abdul Qayuum Baqizoi, said the American strike was aimed at a meeting of insurgent figures in the district, which is considered a perilous one. “This area isn’t even safe for security forces to travel in,” he said.
The Taliban statement, from spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid, was unusually specific in some of its details, and confirmed the “martyrdom” of eight Taliban fighters in what was described as fierce combat prior to the shooting down of the helicopter.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fgw-afghan-chopper-20110807,0,7157351.story