U.S. helicopter likely shot down, Marines say

[sabra]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/02/13/iraq.main/index.html

U.S. helicopter likely shot down, Marines say

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The U.S. Marine Corps now believes an American helicopter that crashed in Iraq last week was most likely shot down by insurgents, a senior officer told CNN Tuesday.

The Marines had said that the CH-46 helicopter went down because of mechanical failure, but they changed their minds after reviewing a "very convincing" video posted on the Web by insurgents, the Marine Corps officer said.

The 2 minute, 31 second video shows the twin-rotor helicopter being struck by a projectile. Smoke bursts from the helicopter, which then speeds out of control toward land. Eventually the image of the craft morphs into a smoke-filled streak and crashes. (Watch the helicopter spew smoke and flames Video)

The video was released by the Islamic State in Iraq, an umbrella militant group that includes al Qaeda in Iraq, and produced by Al Furqan Media, an insurgent operation.

The Marines are relying on the insurgent video because the wreckage of helicopter was damaged by a fire on the ground. Marines who came along shortly after the crash destroyed the rest of the chopper so insurgents would not be able to get their hands on it. At the time, the Marines believed mechanical failure was the cause .

[maxrandb]

1. No doubt by a weapon supplied by Iran

:sarcasm:

[rodeodance]

2. well, at least this is not a new/different copter going down.

[pinniped]

3. Nothing is definitive. It is widely believed, believed, likely, most likely,....

but never definitive.

I'm surprised they addressed it at all.

[legin]

4. A rule of thumb

that I recently heard:

If it is on fire before it hits the ground, it has been hit by a missle.

If not then it is gun-fire.

[maddezmom]

5. and now Wednesday, they are positive it was shot down: U.S.: Helicopter was shot down in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A Sea Knight helicopter that crashed last week northwest of Baghdad was shot down, the U.S. military said Wednesday, reversing earlier statements that it appeared to have been due to mechanical failure.

The Marine CH-46 troop transport went down northwest of Baghdad on Feb. 7, killing all seven people on board, and an al-Qaida-linked Sunni group claimed responsibility and aired a video.

Military officials initially said they believed the crash was due to mechanical failure, but the military announced Wednesday that an investigation showed the crash was "the result of anti-aircraft munitions."

"Initial evidence indicated that the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter went down as a result of mechanical failure. After further investigation using all available means, the cause of the incident has been confirmed to be hostile fire," said Maj. Jeff Pool, a spokesman for the Multi National Force — West.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070214/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_helicopter

[Jeanette in FL]

6. Hard to deny when there is video on the internets

When will this madness be over with.