CNN Breaking: U.S. copter crashes in Afghanistan(5 Dead)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/09/25/afghan.crash/index.html

A U.S. CH-47 Chinook helicopter has crashed in southeast Afghanistan near Deh Chopan, killing five onboard crew members.

U.S. ground troops were on the scene and an investigation was underway.

The crash occurred about 8 a.m. local time, U.S. military spokesman Captain Paul Haverstick said.

While the area, in restive Zabul province, has traditionally been a Taliban stronghold, there was no indication of hostile fire, the military said.

[maddezmom]

1. Five Killed in U.S. Military Copter Crash (Afghanistan)

Five Killed in U.S. Military Copter Crash KABUL, Afghanistan - A U.S. Chinook helicopter crashed Sunday in southern Afghanistan, killing all five crew members on board, the U.S. military said. It did not appear to have been shot down.

The CH-47 helicopter was supporting military operations when it went down near Daychopan district in southern Zabul province, a military statement said. U.S. ground forces had reached the crash scene and were providing security for recovery operations.

"There is no indication at this time that this is a result of hostile fire," U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Jerry O'Hara told The Associated Press. "There are no survivors."


~snip~
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050925/ap_on_re_as/afghan_us_crash;_

[dhinojosa]

2. Damn it is strange how I feel about deaths in Afghanistan vs. Iraq

Both are tragic of course, and if I could run the world I would choose that no one dies. I approved of Afghanistan because of 9-11 and because there was a direct link (flame away). Iraq deaths are tragic, because I know it was based on lie.

[shockingelk]

3. well, yup

You're with good company.

[John Q. Citizen]

17. Actually the whole world felt as you do, including the

Muslim world. The problem is bush messed it up. He didn't disarm the warlords, he diverted resources to Iraq, and the problems still fester on in Afghanistan.

What should have been a very short military operation and then an intensive rebuilding program is now still a military operation and lots of opium flowing.

So at this point, I'm not too happy about Afghanistan either

[tainowarrior]

23. not that I'm flaming

But Afghanistan didn't attack New York. The Taliban, as backwards and dastardly as they are, did not attack New York. Osama's network did.

There was a point where the Taliban, under pressure from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, was willing to turn over Osama Bin Laden in exchange for documented proof that Osama Bin Laden was part of 9/11's plot. If we would have done so, and followed through on the dictates of internationa law and extradition processes, we would have had Osama Bin Laden and his leadership without any bloodshed.

We decided to be macho about it and start bombing Afghanistan.

The Afghanistan War could have been avoided.

[leetrisck]

4. Prayers for all

I no longer agree with Afghanistan - we screwed it up.

[nonconformist]

5. I feel the same.

I initially agreed with the war in Afghanistan, but they've fouled it up royally. The Taliban is still there, bin Laden got away and the country has become a drug lord utopia rife with crime. Afghanistan is the 'forgotten war'... it's only mentioned when there is a US fatality, and even then it's in passing.

The only thing they managed to do there was instill a puppet government and get the pipeline deal signed.

[leetrisck]

6. Most Americans don't realize we have any troops

there - after all "we won that war" - it really is quite sad

[nonconformist]

8. So true. I'm disturbed by the lack of coverage.

A few months ago, I was doing some research on the Afghan war and how things are going today, troop numbers there, etc. and I really had to dig for the information. Sad indeed.

[rodeodance]

11. or if covered it is done is 5 seconds

[nonconformist]

15. Not much attention paid here on DU either.

KICK!

[Pacifist Patriot]

13. Exactly!

At our rally last night we had signs about Afghanistan as well as Iraq and one of the reporters covering the rally asked why!

[Pacifist Patriot]

12. Same here.

I was too emotionally wrought from 9/11 to think it through...gee, perhaps they were too? Or else giddy at the opportunity for making money. I'm not sure which.

Yes, it was something I supported that in retrospect I shouldn't have. It's been as much of a cock up as Iraq.

[Benhurst]

14. Every thing The Leader touches turns to shit. NT

[brer cat]

21. You hit the nail on the head, Benhurst...

Bush had a golden opportunity...the world supported him; even many US peace activists were giving ground after the shock of 9/11 and the (seemingly) obvious connection to Afghanistan. BUT with his macho wet dreams of greater plunder in Iraq, he totally failed follow-through: no Bin Laden, no reconstruction, no troop support. A war that could have meant closure to the 9/11 families was turned into a massive pile of turd--and there are no "turd blossoms" for the families since then losing soldiers. He failed then and at every turn since. HE NEEDS TO GO NOW!

[Benhurst]

26. Thanks and welcome to DU, brer cat!

:hi:

[movonne]

19. bush got what he wanted(puppet gov., pipeline signed.) I was never

for going into Afghanistan as I don't believe in killing thousands of people to get some, and not even getting OBl. But we did and did it wrong as everything bush does is wrong. If we had put all of our resources into building up Afghanistan and really making it a democracy then things might have been different.

[Catrina]

24. I agree with you completely

My first thoughts after I got over the shock of 9/11, (one of my neighbors was killed that day) was fear that Bush would use it to start a war somewhere.

I was against the war in Afghanistan from the beginning and was horrified by the bombing and the immediate taking of thousands of prisoners who were brought to Guantanamo Bay.

When I started to do research on the pipeline there, I was even more against it, and was certain that this was the real reason for invading that country.

That war has resulted in thousands of needless death, in torture, in profiteering and so far, no good results for the people of Afghanistan.

They demonstrated in huge numbers this past summer against the continued bombings there that are killing civilians. Karzai just recently again, expressed alarm and objected to the use of bombs being dropped on his people.

The Afghan people have also demanded the release of their citizens from GB (interesting that those initials for the torture chamber in Cuba are the same as George Bush's).

The bottom line is that the Founding Fathers were correct when they expressed concern over getting involved in foreign wars. They knew that giving the Executive Branch such powers would result in what we are now witnessing, abuse of power and of people. Which is why they gave it to Congress.

The Taliban did offer to turn over Osama Bin Laden, if the US would provide proof that he had anything to do with 9/11. Have they shown any proof of their 'official story'? I know everyone initially believed it, but more and more, doubts have been raised about it.

May the families of those who died find some peace ~ and of all the Afghan families who have suffered so much as a result of this war. War should always be only in self defense. The people of that country never attacked us nor did the Taliban, interestingly, even the Bush administration has never made that claim. So, why did we go there? Four years later, what has been accomplished there other than death and destruction of mostly innocent people.

[saigon68]

7. "BRING EM ON" etc etc etc

[weiser]

9. There never is hostile fire...

... it's always an accident or human error. The human error started with the election of bushit..!

[bemildred]

16. Yeah, they sure don't want anybody to think it might have been shot at. nt

[Kukesa]

25. Thanks, Saigon. n/t

[rodeodance]

10. yes, prayers for them and their families.

[Shine]

18. Blessings of Peace and Comfort to their families...

[sunnystarr]

20. CNN broadcasting news? I thought they were now a weather station. (nt)

[The_Casual_Observer]

22. " no indication of hostile fire"

Right, just like every other one that got shot down, the truth comes out about a week later.