Zebb 7 Posted November 2, 2003 Share Posted November 2, 2003 Thirteen die as US army chopper is shot down over Iraq: FALLUJAH, Iraq : Thirteen soldiers were killed and 20 wounded when a US army helicopter was shot down en route to Baghdad airport, the coalition said. It was the bloodiest attack on US troops in Iraq since the April 9 fall of the regime of Saddam Hussein at the hands of a US-led military coalition that now faces spiralling attacks. The attack on the Chinook helicopter -- attached to the 12th Aviation Brigade operating in support of the 82nd Airborne Division which is based at Fallujah -- coincided with rumors of three days of "resistance". The helicopter crashed in a field about five kilometers (three miles) south of Fallujah, a flashpoint town 50 kilometers west of Baghdad, an AFP correspondent on the scene said. US forces had sealed off the area and helicopters hovered over the site. "There were 13 soldiers killed and more than 20 wounded," a military spokesperson said about the crash at 9:00 am (0600 GMT) by Amariya, a suburb of Fallujah. "The search is still underway for survivors," the spokesperson said without detailing if all the dead were Americans. Major Neil Greenwood told AFP that "there were two helicopters, but one of them only was hit," he said. A spokesman said the chopper was shot down Sunday morning by an "unknown weapon." The soldiers aboard the two helicopters were to fly out of Baghdad for leave, which usually lasts two weeks. Farmer Mohamad al-Issawi told AFP that "a projectile struck the tail of the helicopter at around 9:00 am. I saw fire coming out of the front of the aircraft which then crashed." Issawi said the owner of the land where the helicopter crashed "fled the area with his family of some 15 people, immediately after the explosion." "Human remains were found at 500 yards away," he said. "I saw two helicopters coming from (the US military airport in) Habbaniyah. Two missiles were fired; one of them missed one of the helicopters and the other hit the tail of the other aircraft," said taxi driver Rauf Suleiman Abed, 35. I dont know how much longer the coalition can continue to pretend that the war is over when thats never been the case, and in my opinion we should be out there destroying everything in our path and sod the Iraqi's, if you decide to declare war against an enemy then you dont stop until they are defeated, not stop half way and let them pick you off a few at a time, the longer this goes on the more confident the enemy gets and the more public opinion starts to turn against you at home.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
supasniper 0 Posted November 2, 2003 Share Posted November 2, 2003 I have to say I agree with Zebb on this, the war's not over so get out there and win it properly this time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ReconSnake 0 Posted November 2, 2003 Share Posted November 2, 2003 I agree too, the kid gloves need to come off. We owe it to our soldiers over there to let them do the job right. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
soup31314 0 Posted November 2, 2003 Share Posted November 2, 2003 The sad part is when we were over there we all said it was an other vietnam all over again. Now its just following the path. THe officers say its not that bad over there, The news has people dying on it everynight, they are limiting what soldiers can do by ROE. This war was never even near over. They just wanted a rush job. This maybe another vietnam, or like afganistan for the russians. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DeltaDude 0 Posted November 2, 2003 Share Posted November 2, 2003 I'm not trying to put a positive spin on it in any way, I know what's happening is horrible. Our family has lost several good friends there. I think comparing it to Vietnam is a little hasty though. You don't here about these ambushes up North in Kurdish territory where things are pretty much back to normal. You also don't here about it down South around Umm Qasr and Basra. It's predominantly occuring around Baghdad in an area known as the "Sunni Triangle". Anyway, that's my take on it. I think more aggressive action deffinetly needs to be taken though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
soup31314 0 Posted November 2, 2003 Share Posted November 2, 2003 The reason I said that is because the higher ups are thinking that nothing is wrong. They think everything is fine. You are right 90% of the country is fine back to normal. Its just the 10% that made all the money under saddam and the terrorist the want free shot on US and Brit troops. It not a conventional war anymore but the generals say it is. Its small pockets of bad guys that are hard to find. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VMI Marine 0 Posted November 2, 2003 Share Posted November 2, 2003 Unless CFLC has significantly changed the ROE since my unit retrograded, the ROE is not the problem. I never felt constrained by the ROE, even during the security and stability ops we ran in Al Kut. As long as you apply them aggressively, ROE are not as much of a limiting factor as people make them out to be. Personally, I think the Army is generally doing things right over there. Yes, Americans are dying on a daily basis, and I mourn them and sympathize with their families, but combat operations are still ongoing, and no one but the media has said otherwise. Welcome to the world of Low Intensity Conflict, folks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zebb 7 Posted November 3, 2003 Author Share Posted November 3, 2003 Welcome to the world of Low Intensity Conflict, folks. A contradictory term in my book mate, sorry.... Thanks for the "personal" views guys it makes things a lot clearer to the average man (or woman) in here.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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