Three US helicopters crash in Afghanistan: 14 Americans killed

[Orwellian_Ghost]

US: 14 Americans killed in 2 helicopter crashes

(AP) – 4 hours ago

KABUL — The U.S. military says 14 Americans have been killed in a series of helicopter crashes in Afghanistan.

A U.S. statement says seven U.S. troopers and three U.S. civilians working for the government died when their helicopter went down early Monday in western Afghanistan. Twelve Americans and 14 Afghans were injured.

Also Monday, two U.S. helicopters collided in southern Afghanistan, killing four American troops and wounding two others.

U.S. authorities have ruled out hostile fire in the collision but have not given a cause for the other crash. The Taliban say they shot down a helicopter in Badghis province of northwestern Afghanistan but it was unclear if this is the same incident.

...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hvWEqwq3CrRvaQCmt21MfoYhjZJQD9BIM25G0

[Barack_America]

1. Oh no. This is horrible.

Remind me again why we're there?

This has to end.

[Vickers]

2. I have a colleague who just got over there.

Flying a helicopter.

:(

[Orwellian_Ghost]

4. That sucks

It's gonna get much worse in the next few months. This coming troop escalation is going to ramp up what is already a rising anti-American sentiment amongst the Afghans and is also on the rise in Pakistan. Occupiers are never seen to be the friends they are portrayed as back in The Homeland.

[tekisui]

6. The chants of 'Death to Americans' are starting to hit the Afghan streets.

It is all down hill from here.

[dipsydoodle]

3. SNAFU

.

[CherokeeDem]

5. SNAFU and FUBAR Apply....

All those young lives wasted for the pleasure of Bush and Cheney.

FUBAR, indeed.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

7. Bumping

[lib2DaBone]

8. Barely a mention in the MSM.. it's as if the war doesn't exist....

By tomorrow morning 14 dead Americians will be forgotten and we will return to full-coverage of Kate and Jon Divorce.

[G_j]

9. after 8 yrs., we could just be getting started folks!

http://www.nationalpriorities.org/2009/09/02/quick-facts-US-military-operations-Afghanistan

Fact Sheet: Quick Facts About U.S. Military Operations in Afghanistan

Inside, you will find:

U.S. Troop Levels in Afghanistan historical data
Annual Funding for U.S. Combat Operations in Afghanistan
Figures of U.S. Military Fatalities in Afghanistan
Link to NPP's Cost of War counter
Additional Resources

The Obama Administration is in the process of preparing a set of benchmarks which will be used to gauge the progress of U.S. military and civilian operations in Afghanistan. Ordered by Congress, the benchmarks are due by September 24. In addition, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, has just released an interim assessment of the situation in the region. It has been widely reported that as a result of this assessment, Gen. McChrystal may request that as many as 45,000 additional U.S. troops be sent to Afghanistan.

The following are quick facts about the U.S. commitment to Afghanistan to date. We hope they are useful to you to you as you follow this issue.

U.S. Troop Levels in Afghanistan
Fiscal Year Troops
2001 N/A
2002 5,200
2003 10,400
2004 15,200
2005 19,100
2006 20,400
2007 23,700
2008 30,100
2009 50,700*


* Current Troop Levels - There are roughly 62,000 U.S. troops currently in Afghanistan. This number is expected to grow to at least 68,000 by December.



NOTE: The Defense Department reports troop levels involved in military operations in several ways. The figures shown here are taken from the Pentagon's Boots on the Ground (BOG) reports to Congress. They reflect only personnel located in Afghanistan and do NOT include other personnel deployed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, such as those providing logistical support in neighboring countries,

Source: Troop Levels in the Afghan and Iraq Wars, FY2001-FY2012: Cost and Other Potential Issues,Congressional Research Service Report R40682, July 2, 2009
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R40682.pdf

Annual Funding for U.S. Combat Operations in Afghanistan
Fiscal Year $ in Billions
2001 N/A
2002* 20.8
2003 14.7
2004 14.5
2005 20
2006 19
2007 36.9
2008 42.1
2009 60.2
TOTAL 228.2


NOTE: 2002 figure includes both FY 2001 and 2002 funding. The source gave only the total and did not break out funding for each year.



Source: The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11,
Congressional Research Service Report RL33110, May 15, 2009
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL33110.pdf

U.S. Military Fatalities in Afghanistan
Year U.S. Fatalities
2001 12
2002 49
2003 48
2004 52
2005 99
2006 98
2007 117
2008 155
2009 239 as of Oct. 6
*TOTAL 897

* as of October 26



Source: Icasualties at http://icasualties.org

[malaise]

10. K & R

Get out of Afghanistan and Iraq.

[spanone]

11. get. out. now. thank. you.

[theHandpuppet]

12. End the wars NOW.

Peace out.