Helicopter Downed In Iraq.....

[MessiahRp]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51540-2003Nov2.html

Iraq Guerrillas Down U.S. Helicopter, at Least 1 Dead

By Alistair Lyon
Reuters
Sunday, November 2, 2003; 4:40 AM


BAGHDAD - Guerrillas shot down a U.S. military helicopter near Baghdad airport Sunday, killing at least one person and wounding 20, the U.S. military said.



Separately, a U.S. soldier from the 1st Armored Division died after being wounded in an overnight roadside bomb blast in Baghdad.

Witnesses said the Chinook-47 helicopter had come down south of the flashpoint town of Falluja, a stronghold of anti-U.S. resistance 50 km (30 miles) west of Baghdad. They said several U.S. helicopters were circling over the crash site.

A U.S. military spokesman said the helicopter was one of two Chinooks heading for Baghdad airport carrying troops for a rest and recreation trip. He said 30 people, including five crew members, had been aboard. He gave no details on who had been killed or the seriousness of the other injuries.

"We have one KIA (killed in action) and at least 20 injured," said the spokesman. The aircraft had been "shot down by an unknown weapon" and rescue teams were in the area.

Residents in Falluja said two surface-to-air missiles had been fired and that one had hit its target.

Also in Falluja, residents said a convoy of U.S. soldiers in civilian vehicles had been hit by a roadside bomb.

At least one U.S. vehicle was ablaze at the site, where jubilant Iraqis gathered. Television pictures showed a gleeful Iraqi youth wearing a U.S. Army helmet.

It was the third time guerrillas had brought down a U.S. military helicopter since President Bush declared major combat over in Iraq on May 1.

Before the helicopter attack, 123 U.S. soldiers had died in hostilities in Iraq in the past six months, including the one killed in the blast in Baghdad early Sunday and two killed by a bomb in the northern city of Mosul the day before.

[MessiahRp]

1. Just a Thought...

Watching the Breaking News this morning MSNBC stated 32-35 passengers were on board and CNN initially stated there may be more than 20 casualties...

At what point does the Pentagon admit these aren't just terrorists, they're Iraqi countrymen doing what we felt was right when we did it to the British in the Revoluntionary War.

Sure there are American sympathizers in Iraq, but I get the feeling that the overwhelming opposition is not just terrorist groups, it is civilians tired of Military occupation (and abuses).

Add in the recently implemented and not even discussed with Iraqi officials Flat Tax and this mirrors exactly what drove us over the edge against England and King George III.

Rp

[lebkuchen]

2. When nearby towns swell w/civilians in the streets cheering attacks

against US forces, one does get the feeling that these attacks aren't isolated incidents.

Americans aren't wanted in "occupied" Iraq. How would Americans like it if the roles were reversed? They'd hate it. The beer-bellied NRA would be dressed in their BDUs and camelbacks, armed with their muskets, and ready for action.

[pinniped]

3. Red Dawn is a good training video.

I think they send a free DVD to every new NRA member.

Nah, just kidding. It was a good movie though.

[onebigbadwulf]

4. so sad

GOOOD MORNING VIETNAM

[KC]

5. They

just said 13 dead, 20 injured.

KC

[TahitiNut]

6. duplicate

See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=195571&mesg_id=195571

I'm locking this thread. Interested DUers are welcome to continue discussing this in the referenced thread.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation,
TahitiNut - DU moderator