http://extortion17.com/
Posted on 02/03/2014 5:17:09 AM PST by Texas Fossil
If you’ve seen the recent big screen stories of US Navy SEALS in Afghanistan, in Lone Survivor and Zero Dark Thirty, you are no doubt struck by the sacrifices these elite warriors make on the modern battlefield and the impeccable examples of heroism these movies have portrayed — not propaganda but truth.
However, there is another US Navy SEAL story from Afghanistan that’s not receiving much attention, simply because its truth is an indictment of failure on the part of the Obama administration, US Congress, and senior military leadership.
It is the story of the fate that befell a CH-47D helicopter, call sign Extortion 17.
Back on August 6, 2011, six months after Navy SEALs had terminated Osama Bin Laden, America suffered the single largest one-day loss of life in the ten year combat operation in Afghanistan. It was also the largest loss of Navy Special Warfare life in their history.
The mission that fateful evening entailed US Army Rangers going into the Tangi River valley in Wardak Province in Afghanistan after Taliban leader Qari Tahir.
As the Rangers landed and executed their mission, the Aerial Weapons Team (AWT) in two US Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopters observed two individuals fleeing, but permission to engage with 30mm guns was denied.
The AWT then observed these two individuals, who they assessed to be armed, link up with six others who took up positions near the proposed helicopter landing zone (HLZ) that would be used later. Again, permission to engage was denied.
Back at the Forward Operating Base, the decision was made to launch the Quick Reaction Force (QRF). But just before takeoff, seven Afghan Commandos who were listed on the manifest to accompany the mission were switched out, and the new Afghans were not manifested.
The QRF loaded onto a CH-47D Chinook aircraft headed into a hot HLZ zone where combat operations had been raging for some three hours. The lumbering CH-47D is slow and possesses less maneuver capability than the normal special operations MH-47 aircraft.
Unescorted, the CH-47D made its way to the area of operations in the Tangi River valley, a Taliban stronghold. Because of the rules of engagement, no pre-assault fires were approved on the HLZ and there were no “eyes on” the HLZ to support the QRF infiltration.
It was easy pickings for the enemy. From a prepared firing position atop a building, they launched three rocket-propelled grenades. One hit the CH-47D’s tail rotor blade and in approximately 5 seconds it broke up into three pieces and crashed into a dry creek bed in a ball of flames.
The AWT had eyes on the point of origin of the RPG shots but the AH-64s were denied approval to engage the enemy — who were seen handing down equipment and fleeing the area.
I recommend you all pick up a copy of the book, Betrayed: The Shocking True Story of Extortion 17 as told by a Navy SEAL’s father by Billy Vaughn. Billy and Karen Vaughn live just north of me in Stuart, Florida, and I came to know them as they reached out to me while I served in Congress on this matter.
I know the story in detail because I received the classified briefing on the incident. In Billy’s book, you feel his pride in his son and the moment when he learned of his son’s death. You share the emotional strain of the family as they deal with the loss of Aaron.
But you also share the anguish of a father who learns he has been lied to as he uncovers the truth. You’ll read the declassified documents and investigation report that Billy had to read to learn the massive cover-up surrounding the death of these brave men, including his only son.
I’m sure you remember President Obama’s May 2011 speech after the killing of bin Laden, but there was no speech after Extortion 17. Billy and Karen Vaughn lost their 30-year-old SEAL Team VI son, Aaron Vaughn in that helicopter shoot down. Along with Aaron there were 16 US Navy SEAL Team VI members, five US Navy SEAL Team support members and one working dog, five US Army and Army National Guard flight crewmembers, three US Air Force members of the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, seven unidentified Afghan Commandos, and one Afghan interpreter.
What is so appalling is the lack of concern from the Obama administration, Congress, and the military to lift the curtain of deceit. As well, you come to realize media hypocrisy is hiding this incident from the American people.
If this were the Bush administration, the story would have been all over the New York Times, Washington Post, and every single liberal media outlet — not that’s not the case. Remember Cindy Sheehan and attention she got? Then why are Billy and Karen Vaughn shunned?
Betrayed is a must read, you will not put the book down. It is a book that MUST be made into a film, albeit controversial. It should be mailed to President Obama, Vice President Biden, Speaker Boehner, Senator Reid, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi with one simple question, “Where is the truth for the Vaughns and all the families who lost their loved ones?” It is a book that should shame the media for not covering this dark moment in US Military history.
Never should our warriors and their families be treated in this manner. Never again should they be Betrayed
Now think about similar events with CIA Ops in Benghazi. We have a pattern of betrayal.
May the Truth of Benghazi come "out of Egypt" during the Morsi & Muslim Brotherhood Trials.
Movies critical of Democrats are no longer allowed to be made, and those that do make them will be arrested in the New USSA.
Yes, some truth to that.
The book is already there. I can still read. Often more accurate content is in book anyway.
Sorry,That is not correct.
The official name is MICA. The Marxist Islamic Caliphate of America.
I prefer Acirema - where criminals are rewarded and the honest are punished. Where truth is a lie and a lie is the truth. Where an unchecked regime preaches freedom, while patriots are persecuted.
You get the picture.
Me either, but I just ordered the book.
http://extortion17.com/
Thanks you sir.
This loss is a tragedy for the number of lives taken and families affected but it’s really the writ-large effect of the most stupid Rules of Engagement in the history of warfare. There are plenty of other smaller tragedies and losses that are the clear result of failing to engage hostiles with vigor and violence to end their evil ways.
Excellent summary by LTC West and I hope to read the book soon. The families of “Extortion 17” and Benghazi deserve truthful answers that result in consequences for those responsible.
May the truth come out. From your mouth to God’s ears my friend.
LucyT, please ping this to TM. This is one of my big three and can’t get to any of them. Thank you.
This is a Threat Matrix list documenting threats within and without. Anyone wanting on or off please advise.
Our ROE (Rules Of Engagement) have morphed into ROS (Rules Of Surrender).
There is no good that can come out of our further pain and suffering if the means and objectives are worthless, which is what they have become. If we are not going to do what it takes to defeat the enemy and protect our own people we should get the hell out. Now.
Enough of burning our precious military lives and resources so Liberals can feel good about themselves not being mean to our enemies - or, more tellingly, being helpful to their friends!
"Our" government has unilaterally quit in the War Against Islamic Extremism and has instead taken up the sword in a War Against the American People. If we don't stop them, they will push on to total victory - an outcome never dreamed of when they first took up fighting against the Islamist devils. The ROE they are using against the American People are ultimately more effective than the ones they are using against the Islamists.
I was listening to Jeff Kuhner on WRKO up in Boston this morning. A caller brought up something that has been in the back of my mind for many months now; that is, our republicans in Congress has obviously been neutered. They are doing nothing to stop this lawless pResident. This caller believes - and I too believe - that they have been blackmailed and threatened. Obama and his handlers are using NSA information, IRS, etc to blackmail, threaten and intimidate. They are using ‘the Chicago way’. I have no doubt of it. Look at Chief Justice Roberts. Why did he change his decision about Obamacare the night before it was passed? Why is Boehner and the GOP-e so determined to try to discredit real (teaparty- conservatives? No wonder so many congressmen are retiring. I hope the next election sees a new Congress of true conservatives who refuse to be intimidated. Obama needs to be impeached. Republicans know that, but they are protecting themselves and their families. This is what I believe.
A most accurate State of the State. Thank You!
bkmk
>>>>I was listening to Jeff Kuhner on WRKO up in Boston this morning. A caller brought up something that has been in the back of my mind for many months now; that is, our republicans in Congress has obviously been neutered. They are doing nothing to stop this lawless pResident. This caller believes - and I too believe - that they have been blackmailed and threatened. Obama and his handlers are using NSA information, IRS, etc to blackmail, threaten and intimidate. They are using ‘the Chicago way’. I have no doubt of it. Look at Chief Justice Roberts. Why did he change his decision about Obamacare the night before it was passed? Why is Boehner and the GOP-e so determined to try to discredit real (teaparty- conservatives? No wonder so many congressmen are retiring. I hope the next election sees a new Congress of true conservatives who refuse to be intimidated. Obama needs to be impeached. Republicans know that, but they are protecting themselves and their families. This is what I believe.<<<<
Indeed.
This is the big lesson that our communists learned from the failures of the Soviet Union and Mao’s China - mass terror is a crude and ineffective weapon in the long run. Killing your own population isn’t effective, either. You eliminate those who could possibly help the cause. Eventually, you run down people into apathy and cynicism, and the system evaporates, like dust.
Targeted terror, however, works great. Focus on the key players and those who are influential, find a weakness or a problem, then use it to destroy reputations and careers. There’s no reason for the leftists to kill Sarah Palin when you can more efficiently marginalize her and wreck her political career. Just call Fox News “Faux News” and you’ve gone a long way towards getting rid of an audience. Gum up the works with the IRS. Indict Ted Stevens for “corruption” that’s so small it is laughable, flip an election, then drop the charges. There’s a suspicious part of me that thinks the occasional murder wouldn’t be out of the question - Breitbart, for example - but I think even that fits the notion of “targeted terror.” The mere fact that some people THINK Breitbart was murdered by the elite is enough to help quash dissent and protest. It’s quite clever, really. Leave it to the Americans to find a way to get Leninist principles to work.
And God help us.
Thanks, Mesta; good to see you posting.
I wish I could do better. Trying to learn this thing while facing the ceiling is wierd. Keeps me from going over the edge...I think...maybe.
Please bear with me and have patience. I don’t have ANY so I really need some. And prayers. All you can spare.Thanks.
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