Helicopter crash kills six in Afghanistan; two Marines die in separate incident

[Coventina]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan -- A helicopter flying under private contract to Western forces in Afghanistan crashed in volatile Helmand province today, killing all six civilians aboard.

Military officials also reported the deaths of two U.S. Marines in the same southern province, where the biggest U.S.-led military operation since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 is underway.

The downed helicopter was operated by a contractor working for NATO's International Security Assistance Force, Western military officials said. The contractor was not identified, and the nationalities of those aboard were not disclosed.

The Taliban claimed through a spokesman to have shot down the chopper, but such a claim is routinely put forth when any coalition aircraft crashes.



Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghanistan15-2009jul15,0,2809044.story

[pjt7]

1. The Afghans shot down 100's of Soviet helicopters

when the CIA was arming them in the 80's/early 90's, it amazes me that so little of our crafts have been shot down.

[Bragi]

2. The Taliban don't have missiles

The U.S. military is fighting one of the most ill-equipped militias on the planet here. It controls the skies without any resistance, and bombs who it wishes when it wishes.

It's only when the U.S troops get on the ground that the odds change, at least a bit, in favour of the Taliban.