Posted on 04/02/2003 7:07:53 PM PST by Happy2BMe
(CBS) A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter was shot down in southern Iraq Wednesday, killing seven of the 11 soldiers aboard, Pentagon officials said.
The helicopter was downed by small-arms fire near Karbala, the site of fierce fighting between the Army's 3rd Infantry Division and Iraqi troops, including Republican Guard forces. Four other soldiers on board the Black Hawk were wounded, but rescued by American troops, the officials said.
The Black Hawk was the second U.S. helicopter to go down in combat. An Army Apache assault helicopter went down March 24 during an assault on Republican Guard forces; its two pilots were captured by Iraqis.
The report comes on a day of major progress for coalition forces. The U.S. military said two key Republican Guard divisions protecting Baghdad have been beaten so badly, they're "no longer credible forces."
The Iraqis were pummeled by U.S. forces now closing in on the capital from two sides: To the east, the advancing Marines are now within 30 miles of the city's outskirts; to the west, the Army's Third Infantry has lead elements within 20 miles of Iraq's capital.
Even so, the Pentagon warned of "a very difficult fight ahead in Baghdad. We are not expecting to drive into Baghdad suddenly and seize it," Maj. Gen. Stanley McChrystal told a Pentagon news conference.
Even he Iraqis who secretly crave for the end of Saddam's iron fist will not publicly express a relief that he is gone until they have proof that he is dead.
Many were tortured and murdered after Desert Storm for doing just that - thinking he would be overthrown then.
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