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Subscribe to RSSAll seven Americans aboard the helicopter were killed, including two Navy SEALs. NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports.
Updated at 3:08 p.m. ET: Seven American troops were killed Thursday when the Black Hawk helicopter they were traveling in crashed in southern Afghanistan, possibly shot down by enemy forces, U.S. officials told NBC News.
Three of the Americans were U.S. Navy sailors – two were Navy SEALS and one was an explosive ordnance disposal sailor.
Three Afghan soldiers and an Afghan interpreter were also killed, bringing the total number of dead to 11, officials said.
According to U.S. officials, the helicopter had just landed in a "hot zone" to insert a small number of combat forces to support an ongoing operation. It was apparently shot down shortly after it took off to depart the area.
The helicopter was totally destroyed on impact.
U.S. officials at the Pentagon and in Kabul tell NBC News that American forces engaged in a shootout with enemy forces on the ground who were trying to reach the crash site.
The crash marked another deadly day for the U.S. in Afghanistan, less than a week after six American service members were gunned down, apparently by two members of the Afghan security forces they were training to take over the fight against the insurgency as international combat troops prepare to exit the country by the end of 2014.
As NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports, US military officials are investigating whether or not the Taliban was in fact involved in deadly Black Hawk helicopter crash that claimed the lives of seven US soldiers and four Afghan troops.
The recent spike in American deaths and attacks by Afghan allies have stirred fresh doubts about the prospects for the U.S. plan to leave a capable Afghan government in place when most troops depart after more than a decade of war.
Spokesman Brig. Gen Gunter Katz said the NATO coalition is investigating the cause of Thursday's crash in Shah Wali Kot, Kandahar.
Dozens killed in Afghan suicide bomber attacks
The Taliban claimed responsibility for shooting down the helicopter, saying they were able to bring down the aircraft during a raid by the "invaders."
While the Taliban often exaggerate their victories and are quick to claim any incident involving the death of foreign troops, it could be significant that they took responsibility for Thursday's crash hours before NATO announced it.
Ahmad Jamshid / AP
More than ten years after the beginning of the war, Afghanistan faces external pressure to reform as well as ongoing internal conflicts.
"Nobody survived this," Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi told The Associated Press by telephone.
Insurgent hotbed
The area where the helicopter went down is an insurgent hotbed and supply route, lying north of Kandahar city near Zabul and Uruzgan provinces. The insurgents regularly attack police checkpoints around the rural villages of the district and plant bombs in the road to catch passing government vehicles.
Is the Taliban softening its stance on girls' education?
Thursday's crash is the deadliest since a Turkish helicopter crashed into a house near the Afghan capital, Kabul, on March 16, killing 12 Turkish soldiers on board and four Afghan civilians on the ground, officials said.
The Taliban shot down a CH-47 Chinook transport helicopter in August 2011, killing all 38 people on board, including 25 U.S. special operations service members.
The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a medium-lift helicopter that has served as the U.S. Army's workhorse since the 1980s.
Dozens have been killed following a rash of deadly suicide bombings in Afghanistan. NBC's Atia Abawi reports.
The U.S.-led NATO force in Afghanistan has relied heavily on utility helicopters such as the Black Hawk to ferry troops, dignitaries and supplies around the mountainous terrain, thus avoiding the threat of ambushes and roadside bombs.
Afghan bomber kills senior Army leader, 2 majors
Afghanistan's Interior Ministry said this week that the Taliban had not let up on attacks during Ramadan and security forces had stepped up security ahead of the Eid al-Fitr festival, which ends Islam's holiest month.
A half-yearly report by the United Nations last week said 1,145 civilians have been killed between Jan. 1 and June 30 this year as well as 1,954 wounded, representing a 15 percent decline on last year due to a severe winter that hampered fighting.
The search is on for a man in an Afghan Army uniform who killed three US service members. NBC's Atia Abawi joins us live from Kabul with the latest.
Homemade bombs and suicide attacks remain the biggest killers of Afghan civilians and Afghan and foreign troops.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Obama has:
Signed the NDAA bill into law allowing the assassination of any us citizen without trial
Allowed 30,000 Spy drones to be flown over American skies
Obama has signed over 1000 Executive Orders since he took office (Thanks to that, it's now illegal to collect rain water)
Obama has killed hundreds of innocent people (including 3 Americans) with drone strikes he has ordered in Pakistan And Yemen.
Obama has raised the National debt Nearly $5 TRILLION.
Obama by-passed congress to enable the Dream Act allowing 1 Million ILLEGAL aliens to become legal citizens (thanks to those he allowed to become citizens, they have committed 19 murders and 142 sex crimes)
Lied About all of His 2008 Campaign Promises Including the One Where He said he campaigned in 57 states.
Google Search "Dreams from my REAL father" and you'll see, Obama's father was a failed communist who's dream was to DESTROY America, at age 18, Obama went to a MARXIST school.
Also, I'm not a Mitt Romney supporter.
Do you think one is any better than the other
Democarats = Republicans
@makes me wonder Anyone is better than Barack Obama.
I'm impressed with your facts. Just exactly where did you get all this information?
lol troll much?
F6...
On about 80% of the things you listed, you could have just as easily used Bush instead of Obama.
New Boss...Same as the old Boss.
No, Bush has not done any of those things, Self pro claimed Democrats like yourself just don't want to face the facts and just blame George Bush for everything.
7 of our Brave Soldiers are DEAD and you idiots post crap like this? RIP Soldiers and thank you for your sacrifice!
again more troops have lost their lives ..........when is this going to stop.... lord please take care of the fallen troops and give the people who lost there sons or daughters or fathers or mothers guidedance in this sad and trying times........may they rest in peace and thank you for all the servicemen and women who protect each and every day
F6...
So you're saying Bush didn't run up 5 Trillion in debt while he was in office - better check you facts.
Pretty sure he signed more than 1000 exucutive orders - you know, like the one the allowed torturing people.
Are you saying that 60,000 women and children weren't killed in Iraq during the Bush years - better check your facts.
Just keep drinking the kool-aid. Obama sucks, Bush sucked, Romeny sucks....we're screwed.
BTW - I'm a life long Republican (a real rupublican - not some tea bag, kool-aid drinker like yourself).
@NowHearThis Thoses brave soldiers werent very smart at all. Otherwise they would've questioned their being there in the first place. There are many patriotic people who just dont believe in this war. Its rather foolish to die for absolutely no reason.
obama/romney gas chamber/electric chair be sure to vote.
Why don't you pound your god up your ass and piss off with the rest of the amateur politicos.
Well as long as you feel better now getting that off your chest. Meanwhile there is grieving to do and respect to be paid.
I consider myself a "news junkie" and have a passion for politics. Just the way I turned out. I never heard of anything you wrote about. None of it.
You should apologize to the families for taking this opportunity to use as your own personal, selfish soapbox.
I pray that no more lives are lost and that our soldiers, who sacrificed everything, would be proud of how each one of us represents the country they died for. We are all accountable.
The helicopter couldn't have been shot down. There's no "combat" going on in Afghanistan. Obama ended that months ago.
Wait. Wait. You forgot. The people who just died. Have a moment? A second? A passing empathetic glance? Hearts breaking all around us this morning. The air is heavy with another gutting human sorrow. I feel it. And the headline was not about mine. I hope it wasn't about yours. Raise a coffee cup. And then, if you must, on with the show of disrespect and disgust.
Zathrose, you are wrong as long as we have troops in Afghanistan there will be combat. I have a good friend that has a son over there; we are counting down the days until he comes home.
Two wrongs don't make a right. Let's look at our GDP history since WWII, which is really the telling factor of our Federal Govts solvency. Federal debt during World War II to over 120% of GDP. It then decline and bottomed out at 32% GDP in 1974. Federal debt almost doubled in the 1980s, reaching 60% of GDP in 1990 and peaking at 66% of GDP in 1996. It decline to 56% by 2001. Federal debt started increasing again in the 2000s, reaching 70% of GDP in 2008. Then it exploded in the aftermath of the Crash of 2008, reaching 102% of GDP in 2011. Federal debt has breached 100% of GDP twice since 1900: during World War II and in the aftermath of the Crash of 2008.
President Bush in his 8 yrs signed 290 Executive orders, President Obama in his three years has signed 133 orders. Neither are close to Roosevelt who signed 3466 orders. Not one of Bush's orders had anything to do with torturing people. Every order signed by President's going back to Roosevelt is at the National Archives Website. archives.gov/federal-register/executive-orders/disposition.html.
Unfortunatly civilians are always the casualty of wars, and most are by their own government. How many people did Sadam kill? Far far more and in horrific ways then the Iraq War. But this headline is about more US Soldiers being lost in this War. And what is fact is that during the 8 years under Bush, there were 564 killed. So far under Obama's 3 years we have lost 1434, not counting this weeks casualties. So clearly Obama has lost control of this War or taken his eyes off the ball. That is a HUGE increase in casualties. There is no excuse for this at all.
Any one that seems to feel the need to clarify their dedication to one party or another usually isn't telling the truth. FYI, many of the Tea Bag party members are Independents, Blue Dog Dems, Libertarians and various other parties. Individuals who are concerned about DC spending. But you wouldn't know that because you probably have never bothered to go to one of their gatherings.
I end in saying God Bless our troops, thank you so much for your service and my prayers are with the Families of these fine & brave Soldiers.
The war in Afghanistan has gone on long enough. What do we stand to gain there? Our brave young men are dying, Karzai and his cronies are getting richer, and were evidently not winning! So what is the point?God bless our soldiers and the families of our fallen soldiers!
Ugh. How much longer to we have to endure this waste of money and most of all human life? I hate it that we are there. HATE IT! Tell me this is not about strategic operations to secure future oil flow and I will call you a liar!
There is no other reason that could exist to be there for 11 yrs. Un fkn believable. How many enemies have we spawned from occupying muslim lands? They have every right to hate us and we deserve what we get. Period!
More of these poor soldiers being led to slaughter just like Vietnam for what! Political pandering and posturing and it's disgusting and repulsive. We are an embarrassment on the world stage. We need to work on our own here at home and redeem ourselves over time to reclaim the moral high ground. Right now it's a joke.
Condolences to the family and friends of these brave warriors. The consequences of war go far beyond victory and defeat.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Blather. One person does not a war make.
My cat jumped on the fence and died - Obama did it.
F6Zman - You're just another hack handing out speeding tickets at the Indy 500! Both sides have agenda's that have very little to do with anything other then serving their masters.
Bush and Obama are the New Modern day representatives, they have set new standards when comes to partisanship, cronyism and political rhetoric.
Change will come when Citizens have the courage to leave their comfort zone and agree that compromise will move us forward. Until then nothing will change..
"57 states" was an obvious misspeak. If you watch the video you'll see that he clearly meant to say 47 states when referring to the number of states he had campaigned in up to that point. The fact that many of you have tried to misconstrue this (Hannity style) to where it sounds like Obama didn't actually know any better in an attempt to retaliate for all the years we made fun of W is really quite sad.
F6Zman is nothing more than a troll.
Just registered today, pasting right-wing garbage in multiple blogs.
Typical neo-con tactic.
We should just turn our backs on Afghanistan and walk away, they have had plenty of time to solve their security problems and things are only getting worse, because they are playing both sides, we don't need to send troops over there to kill the Afghanistan people they are doing a thorough job of it all by themselves they don't need our help, and we sure as hell don't need to spend money on a lost cause, its their problem let them deal with it. those troops did not need to die, Afghanistan is no threat to us, they are only a threat to themselves. The money we send them all goes to realestate investments in Dubai, the people don't benefit from it, they have changed very little in the past 3,000 years, why should they change now, they still play polo with heads. besides they like to kill that's how they deal with problems. they have a welfare system if your goat dies you kill your neighbor and take his goat, it works for them. and as a bonus you get a fresh head to play soccer or polo with.
The ONLY way to "win" the war in Afghanistan is to outsource it to its next-door neighbor China.
7 more body bags thanks to the coward in chief. If the Russian armed forces couldn't stop these folks the politically sensitive US military isn't going to stop them.
4thepeople, well...this certainly works for the GOP doesn't it!? The US is working with NATO finishing up what Bush started.
And to the OP, looks like you've gotten ahold of a little Repulican propanganda yourself about the Rainwater Collection laws...THAT ARE VERY necessary and prevent abuse so that groundwater and aquifers are filled. There are also VERY old laws on the books preventing the same thing, and it's for citizen's protection! IN DRY WEST STATES. QUIT throwing this stuff out there, these people are very obviously drinking the kool-aid.
Sheryl-
Let's be clear and Make No Mistake Obama has said there are no combat operations going on in Afghanistan. The Messiah as spoken. Why do you doubt him?! It's not like he has ever lied to us before...or is it?
And Obama has been campaigning for three and a half years and let the jobs and economy go downhill...Romney--Ryan --2012
Pretty sure the economy was a twisted heap of burnig rubble 5 months before there ever was a President Obama.
Romney won't release his taxes because he paid NONE. My guess is he got a tax credit and actually got a refund. The last 1%er president we had, ran our economy, and our contry, off a cliff.
What does that have to do with this article?
Really and don't you think Obama knew all this before he run it in the ground deeper?
Trolls are out in full force
obama/romney gas chamber/electric chair be sure to vote
Don't you think the IRS would be all over Romney IF he hadn't paid his taxes......Obama needs to provide a "real" birth certificate.
so you think the FBI and CIA are too stupid to tell a real birth certificate from a fake one ????
Or do you believe they all are Democrats and in on the scam ???
Evidently they are......or they were paid to say it was "real"
How old are you ? 12 ?? Do you really think it would take less than 3 years to reverse the effects of Bush policies coupled with a failing Global Economy ???
You obviously have no idea how close to economic disaster we were . Ignorance surely is bliss.
You do realize that almost 500,000 jobs were being lost every month towards the end of the Bush run , right ?
Sheryl sounds like the tin foil hat types that will only believe that the President is American if she were able to go back in time and watch it herself. Short of that, he's not American!! Tell me this, Sheryl, what would you need to see in order to believe that the President's birth certificate was real? Exactly.
KaptainCrunch, in the U.S. war is big money-making business for the 1%. Win or lose the top 1% make their money. The lose of young lives is just colateral damage. Profit first.
just glad obama ended the war like he said he was going to do if elected...and glad he's having beer brewed in the white house...he's watching the spending like a lazer...both party's suck....plain bob 2012...
The only reason we remain in Afghanistaqn is to keep alive the hope for the TAPI gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan to Pakistan and on to India. It is owned by Israeli interests and cannot be built as long as the Taliban have power in Afghanistan. Read below:
www.rense.com/general15/game.htmCached - Similar
On December 11, a preliminary agreement was signed in Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat, by representatives of the four countries to proceed with plans for the American and Israeli-backed pipeline. Here are the basic points about the TAPI pipeline:
Construction of pipeline will be completed by 2014 (▼)
1,680 kilometer gas
pipeline will supply 3.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day (much of
this gas will come from Israeli/Mossad-owned gas fields in Turkmenistan,
meaning immense profits for the Mossadniks who pulled off 9/11)............►The Obama administration, elected on the promise to withdraw U.S. troops by July 2011, now says the U.S. will maintain combat troops in Afghanistan until December 2014. On December 17, the House passed a defense authorization bill (by a 341-48 vote) that authorizes the Pentagon to spend more than $160 billion on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2011 without major restrictions on the conduct of operations. Why are U.S. (and NATO) troops being kept in Afghanistan
for another 4 years? What's really going on there? What is the cost and who is
involved in this game??
The real
reason for the U.S. invasion and occupation of Afghanistan is to build and
secure a 1,080-mile long gas pipeline designed to carry trillions of dollars of
Israeli-owned gas from Turkmenistan to Pakistan and India. You could ask how
come Turkmenistans gas could be Israeli-owned, here is the answer:
Following the
break-up of the Soviet Union, Israeli agents sought to gain control of the
strategic assets of the newly independent Soviet republics. In mineral-rich
Turkmenistan, a Mossad agent named Yosef A. Maiman was very successful in
gaining control of the republic's immense resources of natural gas. Yosef
Maiman, born in Germany in 1946, grew up in Peru and studied in the United
States before becoming an Israeli citizen in 1971. As an agent of Israeli
intelligence, Maiman heads a network of Mossad-controlled companies that serve
Israeli interests. As the chief executive of the Merhav Group, Maiman has
controlled the development of Turmenistan's gas resources. Maiman's key
colleagues at Merhav are the former head of the Mossad, Shabtai Shavit, and
Nimrod Novik, chief adviser to Shimon Peres, the current president of Israel.
Maiman was described
as "a leading miner" of Central Asian gas fields by the Jerusalem
Post in 2004. Given their control of the immense gas resources of Turkmenistan,
Maiman, Merhav, and the "Mossad" would all profit if and when the
U.S.-led coalition were able to "pacify" and control Afghanistan so
that the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline could be
built allowing the gas of Turkmenistan to be sold to energy-hungry India . The TAPI pipeline
project would bring billions of dollars into "Mossad" coffers every
year. This is the real reason for the war in Afghanistan and why the
Zionist-controlled Obama administration has increased the war effort in Central
Asia. It has nothing to do with terrorism or 9-11.
Now you
can easily understand why there was need for the "justification" of
this war, which was planned before the 9/11
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1550366.stm). The false-flag terror
attacks of 9/11 were part of a strategic Israeli operation to bring the U.S.
military into Afghanistan on a long-term mission on behalf of Israel’s Turkmen
gas enterprise. The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline is
the real reason that U.S. soldiers are killing and dying in the southwestern
Afghan provinces of Helmand and Kandahar. 9/11 was just the cover story for
this pre-planned war of aggression - and it is nothing but a complete hoax.
http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/04/04/the-real-nuclear-outlaws/
God bless their family and friends as they deal with this loss. Thank you for serving for our country.
Horrible that these people had to die for absolutely nothing.
Thank you to those who serve our country. Our prayers go out to the families whose loved ones gave their all!
Very sad situation we are mired in. As soon as we leave the country WILL fall apart. A decade of effort for what could amount to very little result...
No greater gift than laying down your life for your friend. May your souls be at peace great warriors!
What I dislike about articles like this is the lack of details. If you not going to tell us who was killed then don't do an article, all it does is either inflame people or make the worry more. My wife has a nephew over there and it could be him, but now we have to wait for word from him that he is ok. Insensitive media.
Aaa-men. Aaa-men. Aa-men, amen, amen.
God bless my ass. My son will never fight for our FREEDOM (to drive our cars and line big oil companies' pockets). Maybe that's good enough for YOUR children, not MINE!
Yeah, I thought so, too. But when a young adult enlists, we Marine Parents have a saying, "My son (daughter) enlisted, I was drafted." I was dragged into the military family kicking and screaming and it is because of people just like you that we find solice and solidarity in each other. Semper Fidelis, Ma'am.
Mrs. C - thank you for saying it loud and clear. The fact is - these 7 marines - possibly with families - didn't have to die this way. Somebody up the food chain thinks - let us blow XYZ country and see what that does to ABC's stock price. I know that sounds simple but that's pretty much how it happens.
I am very sorry to see these people (yes they too are people although they are soldiers) die. I wish they had lived their full life to see their children grow and then die in a bed.
Mrs. C, as the wife and mother of active service military men, it breaks my heart to see some of the scum our brave soldiers put their lives on the line for.
If you can read, thank a teacher. That you read this in English, thank a soldier.
Grumpy, the media will not release names until the families are notified. I understand the anxiety, but if your nephew was in that attack, the military will have notified his parents/Wife/next of kin as soon as is possible. Myself, I wouldn't want to read my husband or sons name in the paper without previously knowing the facts.
Janine, I feel terrible every time I read about one of our soldiers dying in this God forsaken hell hole, Afghanistan.
I immigrated to the United States many years ago, and when I compare the way I am treated here with the way my Christian brothers are treated in Egypt, a country they called home for many centuries, I feel proud to be an American.
This country is filled with decent, good and patriots like you who are willing to sacrifice for the well being of everyone including, as you said, some of the scum of the Earth who don't appreciate what they have.
God bless you and keep you and all your loved one safe.
Thank you Coptic. I commend all those who have come to our country (Legally) for the freedoms we so often take for granted.
Thanks to all who serve our country at home and overseas. They preserve our rights.
God Bless you all.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the families, but it is just more wasted lives in a lost war that has been going on for the Afghan people for 180+ years now. Bring out troops home and forget about this lost war just like Iraq.
Bring our troops home now - ALL OF THEM!!! It's a shame "Mr. Obringthetroopshome" signed an agreement to keep several thousand US troops in Afghanistan until the year 2024, not to mention giving that government a few billion dollars each year. So, I'm afraid to say we'll be forced to read such news like this for the next decade - that is if the news will continue to report it. We rarely hear news of our troops who remain in Bosnia (out of sight out of mind)!
Thank you to the troops who put their lives at risk every day!
"Six American service members were gunned down, apparently by two members of the Afghan security forces they were training."
Do we need any more reason to leave that country and stop giving them our tax dollars? Take off the rose colored glasses, Mr. President!
@HeWillRule... "Horrible that these people had to die for absolutely nothing."
They died to make sure that the U.S. absorbs much of the wrath Islamic militants would otherwise direct exclusively at Israel. So how can you say sacrificing their lives for the security of Israel and bearing the cross Israel would otherwise carry alone is "absolutely nothing?" Perhaps you see it that way, but I'm sure the Israelis (and all Zionists) are very content to see it otherwise.
Afghanistan = total waste of American lives and money. The war there only serves the interest of military industrial complex. We could have negotiated peace with Taliban 10 years ago after they lost the war. Instead we created a muppet government of Karzai-the-crook and his gang of 40,000 thieves. We now suffer the consequences of our own stupidity.
Calling me a scum, whatever Janine, but I will NEVER say that even working with Nato to teach Afghans to fight and protect our interests in the middle east from that front is ok for ANYONE to die for. I will ALWAYS hope for EVERY Americans sake that our diplomats could work the hardest for us.
My husband is a talented engineer who was offered a very high paying job in Iraq and turned it down. As far as your thank yous to your family for their service, you're going to need to pick those up from the corrupt elite.
If that makes me a scum, so be it.
Can't we just GTFO now?
Mrs C, what you said here put you in the same pile where we put the Westboro Baptist Church, are you proud of yourself now?
Do you enjoy going to funerals and make some smart ass comments?
Oh, blow it out of proportion, glad you are enjoying your complete misinterpretation and misrepresentation of what I've said.
I wonder how many Afghans these guys killed before they were killed. These guys made a choice to go and kill people for the US. The Afghans have no choice and no say in the matter.
I'm sure this story will be hidden within an hour, before the American people wake up - just as the liberal media always does. Why? Of course, to protect their beloved Messiah. After all, they can't demonize him the way they did George Bush! That would be too traumatic and insensitive for their "peace prize winning" President.
He is also your President, even though you are a right wing nut case.
Everything is a conspiracy.
Both parties are simply whores of the US military industrial complex.
Highly Opinionated----Yes he is the President of the United States! I don't respect any man or woman who refuses to salute the AmericanFlag. That includes Obama and his wife. Old Glory has been carried through many battles and wars, the president and first lady do not honor our symbol of freedom. If you have ever seen a picture of them Saluting the flag, please bring it on. I am not so sure he did such an honor when he took the oath of presindent. If a president can't honor our freedom by saluting the flag, then he needs to go, period. I don't care what their faith is. Obama is also the Commander in Chief. It is time to bring our troops home, and with honor. Ten years in these God forsaken countries, including the places we don't know about is enough. They kill our soldiers behind their backs, while this country fights to gain their freedom, tells me they don't want us there. all this country gets in return is fallen hero's, coming home to grieving families. These countries have been at war for years. Now the freedom fighters inanother country are thinking about joining the Taliban, thinking that they can get help for themselves. Puts the Taliban right in the center of the middle east to take over.control. My husband was 20 year veteran. My son also served his time defending this country. If the truth be known, we also have cells of terrorist in this country , biding their time. They will do their worst when we least expect it. Wake up American people. God Bless these grieving parents, Our hero's are in the arms of our Lord and he is comforting them and wiping away their tears. God Bless America.
Frankie Little: President Obama DOES salute the flag, I'm afraid you've fallen victim to lies by his opponents who have a habit of sending around e-mails with false information!
Every time you hear of or see one of these e-mails, you can go to one or both of the major websites available which DE-BUNK INTERNET RUMORS and LIES: Snopes.com or FactCheck.org, search the rumor (type in the search pane on the website "Obama doesn't salute the flag", for instance) and press "enter" and the site will have results for that particular lie, (I mean RUMOR, sorry). The Obama not saluting thre flag lie has been floating around since the 2008 election cycle.
If you're looking for dirt on Obama, snopes.com ALSO contains whatever false information his campaign has put out (all politicians do it, Obama too) but at least you wouldn't look foolish repeating old rumors that even 10 year old children know isn't even remotely true! Gotta use that computer for what it was built! Gotta use it to LEARN something, don't you? Of course you do! Now go forth and LEARN the truth, Facebook isn't the place to do it!
Atta girl!
The american people have got to educate their kids to stay out of the military. They are not fighting for our freedom. That's garbage! They are fighting to pacify the Afghans sufficiently so a pipeline can be built through their country that they do not want. The US rants about Hamid Karzai being corrupt, etc. But he is our guy, and his life has been saved several times by his CIA body guards. And all of the complaints about Karzai are just for public consumption! Google Hamid Karzai, and you will find that he is a former Unocal Oil Company official. Then Google Zalmay Khalilizaid, our ambassador to Afghanistan. And you will find he is also a former Unocal oil official. Turn off the TV. Turn off the propaganda, and do some research. Things are never the way we are told.
Semper Fi brothers. R.I.P.
Another reporting for duty sir. They've served their time in hell......
Jody..Too bad they die for NOTHING but money, but the military industrial complex demands it, along with their prime comtractors. What a waste.
robertlevy, go join the service you bleeding heart liberal.
robertlevy, who are you to say they died for nothing? You have no idea how these men/women felt or why they became a soldier. Being a helicopter pilot is a dangerous job, whether you are training at home or flying in hostile territory. If an aircraft crashed he in the US, would you say these soldiers died for nothing??? My heart goes out to these soldiers and their families. So should yours
plantlady99.. I got my V.A. disability before you were born, you stupid little bit##.
Yup Robert. These kids are dying for nothing. And the warmongers get checks for it. Bring these kids home...their lives are much more valuable here.
plantlady...
When we leave Afghanistan we will have accomplished NOTHING...except for thousands of US dead, tens of thousands of US wounded, and trillions of wasted US money.
Maybe they did die for something...but it sure wasn't what most of us thought they were going to die for.
Get out - NOW!!!
you hate and down this country but willing to take the things they offer you. Also there is not need for name calling shows your true self. I just think you are angry at the world and have nothing left to offer and if you have been fighting in wars since before I was born then you must be pretty damn old
jonedep: You are absolutely correct. But Bush should be in Prison for starting it and Obama in Prison for keeping it going.
We should be meeting all the returning soldiers on the docks and airports by Saturday next? Is the White House concierge creating the schedules in collaboration with Panetta's group? Please keep us all in the loop. Yes, email is fine. Thanks so much.
Time for your meds robertleavy
I know some are angry over the war, and some support it, but cant we just pray for the families and show our support for the troops without putting in our opinions of this war being right or wrong. I'm not trying to bury my head in the sand here, but our opinion on this blog is not going to extend or stop this war by any means. Please if the families are reading this blog just give your condolences and tell them they have our support. I pray for the brave soldiers and wish them safe into Gods arms. To those still fighting I wish them safety and peace.
These men learned about themselves thru bootcamp, learned how much they could take of stress, strain and pain, they learned many amazing skills that folks pay thousands for. They learned marksmanship, they learned stealth, they learned how to be always 'on' even when asleep, they learned how to be strong and how to judge every situation and person on it's/their merits and assess danger or safety in an instant and where the exits are no matter how they felt upon waking that morning, they learned how to take care of themselves in a fight and learned how to LEARN MORE than their teachers were charged with teaching them (on their own time) because they learned that being prepared isn't something anyone owes you, you must CHOOSE to become prepared for what lies ahead.
Any one of these men could've helped our society GREATLY just by passing on what they learned, adjusted for Peacetime, of course. AND: they learned that they were good at it no matter who may have doubted them.
We should be so lucky to have people like these in our society, and it's very sad that they are dead, that the last thing they heard and saw was violent and that they were away from folks they cared for. Whatever you think of any war, these were probably the best our country has to offer and we ALL should mourn their loss and feel for their families' loss of them, and not dance on their graves to make our point about the war.
We're there, we're trying to leave the place better than it was when Bush invaded, stop morbidly using these people to make a point.....everyone already gets it.
Semper Fi
My heartfelt thanks and shared grief goes out to these heroes and their families, their sacrifice is honored by all patriotic Americans!
To the trolls, US military members are dead, KIA and your fist reaction is to attack the President!?! SHAME on you!
really, say something about the soldiers but no they have to bash everyone in politics. gezzzz, we need to use this page to honor them
Funny how whom some people view as heroes, I view as villains. Well to each his own.
it is so sad when people view a soldier as a villain when it was soldiers of our forefathers that fought for this country. so I guess you view them as villains too. I bet not person in your family tree has ever fought for this country and if they did shame on you for calling them villians
Thats because you are a sick bastard and have never served yourself. For those of you who say it is for nothing, you have no idea how what they ave done as effected the future either negative or positive. One of them may have had contact with a kid that will do something important in the future. for those who say the individual should rethink their personal involvement, they get to do that each time they reenlist. Maybe they know something you don't. And it is that lack of selfishness that keeps us from being a Bannana Republic. As for the trolls: go somewhere else. Talk about the article.
@Plant
Yes the few soldiers in my family are villains too. And the forefathers that fought for this country condoned slavery and massive genocide (Blacks and Natives)...and used biological warfare. They fought for a country hellbent on destroying those around it. Your forefathers fought against mine. Mine were only trying to live peacefully, yours were just greedy and evil. So do you understand why i still view them as villains. If you dont its because you dont respect the lives of your neighbors.
Oh wow didn't know they used biological warfare in the 1700's. You really need some history lessons and p.s I have kids in there ARMY, right now and they are there. My dad served in the Army and Marines. Don't you friggin tell me anything for you don't know NOTHING. Just talking worthless crap and don't have a clue about a damn thing except " I can say what I want, but I hate the people who fought and gave me that right" You need to go to your so called homeland and see what rights you will have there
HeWillRuleAsGod:
You are correct. We all have a different precept of who is a villian and who is a hero. Muslims have a holy book that instructs them to kill, terrorize and subjugate unbelievers. The Afghanis and Taliban were accessories to 911 since they provided safe harbor to the terrorists who committed the act. To many in the Muslim world, Osama Bin Laden is hero. I want to protect my life and my culture against the Jihadist culture, and the men who are in the fight are my heros. Your posts give you away.
Wow Plant. You really must've been a selective listener and learner growing up. Im talking about the Natives. Ever heard of small pox blankets. Indians gave them furs and food and in return they got small pox. BIOLOGICAL WARFARE. Are you denying these evil tactics were used? Do you believed the natives did something to deserve this? Do you think they were justly recompensed? Many thousands were destroyed by this European biological terrorism.
HWRAG - War against the angels. That would be your folks. We're up to speed. Can we get up now?
HeWill..the natives are NOT Native to this country any more than the Europeans are. They came from somewhere else too. They fought against each other for generations for land and hunting grounds. So it's no different than when the Europeans showed up and did the same.
I'm not saying it was right, but you talk about others selective history, when you are showing it yourself.
Taking over other lands has been going on since the first humans left Africa heading for new territories.
Should we trace the Neanderthals and pay their descendants (if any) restitution for taking over much of Europe and Asia?
Seems to me this article is about 7 brave American soldiers lost. God Bless them and their families.
Donald Rumsfelds comment about the soldiers deaths some years ago, "Oh well, they were volunteers" pretty well sums up the way this countrys leaders view the military.
That said, when you sign up and go to a foreign country to kill people on behalf of americas corporations, sometimes you get killed too. This war has been going on for over 10 years now. And every soldier in Afghanistan has had 10 years to figure out that we don't belong there, and the war was based on lies! So when they enlist, or re enlist and go back for one tour after another, and get killed, it is hard to feel sorry for them. Some of them just like the violence and the action. They are not fighting for our freedom. That's garbage. Get over it!
Please Mr. President get our brave warriors out of this useless war TODAY - - save them for when OUR National Security is at stake!!!
Sorry but he doesn't care what you or I think.....He's MR President and he does what he is told to do, because THEY OWN him.
robert, you should go to infowars dot com, you would fit in better over there.
go though all that hell to die in a crash is insanity...I think if I was one of the loved ones I would be thinking it better had been enemy ground fire....
My heart sinks every time something like this happens. I have my daughter, her husband & 3 boys that are like my own kids to me there. I pray they are safe but my heart hurts because they are Americans. It also makes me wonder if any of the Afghan's on board had anything to do with it, god knows you can't trust any of them. RIP soldiers, you gave all
They gave it all for nothing... sad.
And God also knows you cant trust America above all countries of the earth. Thats why its called Babylon.
I bet neither one of you have done nothing worth while with your life. Hell both of you waiting for your god and king Obama to send you your checks he promised you.
plantlady99...Time for your vibrator isn't it? Or is it the knee pads!
@Plant
Would you BET your life on it? I BET not. Assumptions have marked many fools. I view Mr. Obama as a tyrant also.
Time for your meds robertlevy
Just unsure as why you have your daughter, son-in-law and three grandsons in Afghanistan? Are they working for the state department, a missionary family or some other NGO type institution? Good luck to them if they are in Afghanistan and not in the military. If they are, tell them to come home as it is even worse without weapons to defend yourself and that country doesn't care for any assistance and is ungrateful for everything provided by us and others.
robert,
It's really up to each individual to determine what their life is worth. For example, you may think you're great, while I think your crap. Which of is is right? We both can be, as it's just an opinion
You need to learn some respect for others autonomy. These soldiers should get the respect they earned by showing the moral character to do their job, whatever it was they were called on to do.
Awwwwww, that's such a lovely sentiment, In the middle. I'm sure that those who benefit appreciate EXACTLY this type of complacency.
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT and then bow your head and talk to a God that doesn't even exist about it. INSANITY!
What are they all doing in Afghanistan? They aren't fighting for our freedom! So please tell us what they are fighting for. Thanks in advance.
god bless those soldiers
Remember Hussein Zero proudly proclaimed that Afghanistan was "His war." But on the same day seven more Patriotic young americans Lost their lives defending Freedom, Hussein Zero unveils "White House Ale." his beer. It's time to Throw the Trash called Hussein Zero, Out of Our White House. May GOD Comfort The Families Who Lost Loved Ones. In JESUS' Name!
The truth is that none of those soldiers were fighting for our freedom.
Afghanistan never was a threat to our freedom.
Trust me - I have a great deal of respect for our soldiers, but I think this "dying for our freedom" chant cheapens the sacrifice they made in this ill-conceived war.
Yeah? And, uhhh...why were they in Afghanistan?
Still trying to figure that out myself.
To make money for Boeing, Ratheion and other military contractors.
Still time for your meds robertlevy
I don't think anyone really knows anymore, but they did their job as asked to do. I am glad we have people willing to do this job, and that's all this story is about.
The four Afgans that died are less important humans so they are in small print.
I am saying a prayer for the families and anyone else that will be effected by this aweful tragedy.
Are you going to say a prayer for the afghan families too??
Of course not. Just like they most likely didn't say a prayer for the 16 people (9 children) killed by the hands of the...... "He didn't mean to do it. He's just sick in the head" AMERICAN Sergeant.
This country's narcissism at times is pathetic and then dodo's scratch their heads and can't figure out why the majority of the world despise us which, at times, I can understand them doing so.
She did say, "and anyone else that will be effected"..
@Yadira & Willard: Ms KT stated she was basically praying for everyone in this awful mess and you both make it an anti-Muslim stance that the whole world is against Islam and Afghnaistan, wha - wha - wha. So let me feed your small brains: yes, most of us are sorry for any collateral damage, death and destruction to Afghanis during this long and drawn out war but if they take up weapons or support the Taliban or AQ in any way then they are the true infidels and they got what they deserve. It is time to get out of Afghanistan and leave this small minded and insignificant country behind to the middle ages where it still exists.
Anytime your ready to go to a better country Willards....... I'll help you pack.
On the original message, prayer is not selective, and is often best for on those we think we hate the most.
I thought the socialist Obozo won the Nobel peace prize?
President Obama won the Nobel peace prize
This is probably the fastest way out of this mess. This news certainly does work for the GOP though.
Diplomatic FAIL.
Unspeakably sad, profoundly tragic, so senseless and needless. I'd like to say a grateful nation grieves for you and your families and thanks you for your service and sacrifice..... but do they?
They seem to be really thankful until they are faced with the real issues that soldiers of today face such as: Psychological, financial, employment, divorce etc., then everybody starts to play stupid.
Not me.
Then why are you living in this country HeWillRuleAsGod?? I can't stand people like you. If you are not proud to be an American, then get the F out of America!! God Bless these people's familys and these heros. May they find some peace soon!
I am living in America because my people were captured an brought here and destroyed. I would go back home but they destroyed that too. Just like they continue to do all around the world...and people like you support it. And last time i checked this land belongs to the Natives.
"I am living in America because my people were captured an brought here and destroyed."
Wow, you are out of your mind. I thought you might possibly have something intelligent to say, what was I thinking?!
Sorry you don't know history but America didn't not destroy your "homeland" your own people did. I am sure you can get a passport to go back home. I am sure they need you there more than we need you here
@AllAmerican
Soooooo....guess you never heard of the Slave trade. Of course you will downplay our slavery as if it never happened. It helps you sleep better at night. I bet you know all about the Holocaust though. Hilarious.
@Plant
I know history very well. Did you know that Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70Ad? Bet you didnt. Did you know their descendents divided up Africa between themselves and stole massive amounts of gold and diamonds? Bet you didnt. Like i said my homeland was destroyed, raided, and pillaged. You can deny it happened...but my people are living proof of what your people do.
Well, HeWillRule- I am one of those Natives! So this is my land. But it is also the land of many who have died to make and keep it free. If you are concerned that your "homeland" has been destroyed, go back and work to make it better. But please stop denigrating the soldiers who have just crossed over.
No, this war in Afghanistan isn't necessary, at least not for America. And I truly hate it when our soldiers die. But instead of name calling, politicing, and causing more heartache, can't we just offer a moment of silence for the lives lost? They are/were American lives, with families and loved ones who must now go on w/o them. Please show a little common decency, or you risk becoming the type of person you are railing against.
RobertLevy- thank you, sir, for your time in service. I don't know when you served, or in what capacity, but thank you. I understand your frustration, and sense your anger, but is it necessary to be so rude? Your name calling doesn't help. We are all allowed our (erroneous!) opinions, but lets leave the politics out of this story, at least, and focus on the loss of these citizens.
May God have mercy on your souls, brave soldiers, and grant peace and comfort to your families and friends.
Oh, and gentle readers, please don't start in against God. If you don't believe, that's your choice. I'm not forcing my religion down anyone's throat, so please don't force yours, or lack of it.
HWR - you need to get a history book, your own people sold you out. Your chiefs sold your people out for baubles and beads......unfortunately, you probably won't get it. Besides that was over 200 years ago, get over it or go back home.
@LadyRev
Very well said. The only Americans are your people. If your forefathers knew what they knew today...they wouldve fought the Europeans harder. I bet they had no idea it would get this bad for them. My wife asked yesterday if i would celebrate Thanksgiving. I said no but i will continue to pray for all the Natives who lost everything just trying to be peaceful with a wicked people. While the Americans dine over their victory of such a formerly great people. God bless you and your brave forefathers...we can relate very closely to this.
White people did not round up your to sell, it was the black people who rounded them up and sold them. And you know something your people has not been people to be salves the people of every race and creed have been slaves at one time or another throughout history. Stop blaming America, go back to school and learn the truth. I know about the slave trade I know what happened durning WWII. But you really need to place your anger into other things and make something good come from it
Never mentioned white people one time. My people didnt round themselves up (as you are taught by Europeans and ONLY Europeans). We were captured by Arabs and Africans...and sold to white people. Many nations were involved in our slavery. But us "negroes" are neither Arabic, African, nor White. So how did my own people sell themselves? And NO NATION went through slavery like us...NOT ONE. Show me just ONE. It was and is the greatest atrocity known to man. A whole nation is destroyed because of it. This country had us enslaved for hundreds of years yet im not allowed to place blame? Well thats fine because God does. You must have never read scripture...because America will fall very soon.
Plant Lady, are you smoking what you're planting? Cause you can't write or spell worth a sh!t.
HWRaG said, "You must have never read scripture..." Is that where you learned your history? *snicker
@HeWillRule
You seem to know nothing of your so called home land. You do know it was your own people that sold their fellow africans to the evil whites. I tell you what, there was no native people to this land, no humans existed here, all were immigrants. But like someone else replied to you, why don't you go back and try to fix it if all was destroyed. By you staying in my country, and yes my country because you do not have the right to claim it as yours if all you do is bash it, and what you should do is pack your crap and go over there and make a difference. But you won't, you have no pride, no honor in your so called homeland. But I have pride and honor in my country, I served, I was deployed twice to that hell hole over there. These men were fellow brothers of mine and one day all soldiers will regroup in the afterlife, and when that happens I pity you, because you will not be welcomed. And for someone that has GOD in his user name sure doesn't know the first thing of GOD's teachings. May you find the backbone to leave and go back to Africa and maybe make good changes. But I warn you, you will not be welcomed over there, you will be deemed different by your own race, because you are not African. But that you shouldn't stop you from trying right?
NWARG
I have an idea...Don't go back to your ancestors home....Don't stay here....Find an island all by yourself and if you want company bring some people with you....just stop busting on everyone for YOUR life....At this point we all NEED to come together and deal with the situation at hand or get out of the way...I don't mean to sound rude BUT..... I think I hear a WWWAAAAMMMBBBUUUUULLLAAANNNCCCEEEE....Are you a grown up or a child who can't tell the difference from what happened 200 years ago from today???? I can not tell you how infuriating it is as a card carrying native (called by my "Pedigree" like a dog) to hear about how your own country...yes country... sold your ancestors...were you sold??? were you shipped over an ocean??? were you ever a slave??? Are you determined by a Pedigree like dogs??? Can you answer yes to any of those questions??? If not please think before you cry to complete strangers about how bad you have it...
If you want to know how bad some still have it in this country.... Just go to your local Reservation and ask them how people determine what they are.....It is determined (still to this day) by a system of blood percentages just like dogs...yes the government calls it this... a "Pedigree"... degradation at its best...Just like going to a dog breed show...And thats just one thing!!! And TO THIS DAY to prove that I am what I am I need an identification card to tell anyone that I am a Native from this reservation on this set of rolls and that I belong.... BLEH!!!
Ok I have said my peace on that matter...
Any ways...May the people who had their lives taken in this Awful situation Rest in Peace and I hope your families may find solace in knowing you are all heroes!
NWARG - well let's see as far as I know (and genelaogy is my hobby) my husband and I do not or ever did own a slave, neither did my parents, my grand parents, my great great grandparents nor my great great great grandparents. You see I have ALOT of German blood in my and my relatives fled Germany to get away from the tyrant named "Hitler" and you know what, they came here legally. So don't go slamming My Country and My Family........if I had known you were going to throw a pity party I would have baked a cake.
GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND THE USA!
Okay, it's time to get out of there. Enemy fire or mechanical mishap - its time to get out of Afghanistan.
For the US to be drawing down, we seem to have a lot of casualties lately. As a US Army Veteran I'm all for making that part of the country safer for everyone but maybe its time to move on and out.
For some reason, I don't trust anything going on over there be it allies, the Afghan Govt or the soldiers - nothing seems to gel and we can't tell who is who.
Again, maybe its time to leave.
Karol - I think it's safe to say we all agree. Should have never been there in the first place. I am still very sad over the thousands of lives lost for us.
God bless these soldiers
And as for the socialist Obozo, war-mongering jack-@zz
Sorry for confusing you with the facts, but over 100,000 troops HAVE been brought home since Obama took office, under THIS administrations directives.
Name callers are pathetic cowards.
Prayers for the victims and their families today. What a tragedy. Sheesh 11 innocent people just died. How about a moment of silence instead of complaining about obama!
AllyAnn..You should have said those prayers before you voted for Bush.
I was too young to vote at the time, you @!$%#. Why don't you have a little respect and think of the families instead of starting a political argument with me. & As I said, I was only a child when Bush was elected, twice! so you can go straight to hell.
He is a troll, a sad angry person who has to take his anger out on a computer in front of people that he knows can't touch him. Bet he wouldn't the nerve to say these things to the face of an American Soldier
Amen, Plantlady!
Agreed Ally. This story is neither about Bush or Obama, just the soldiers.
Robert is just a useless pile of dung.
dont forget, obama is cutting security at our borders so him and holder can smuggle more weapons across it. obama is cutting military defense fund 387 BILLION dollars, one of the first things his did when he got into office was give 900 million dollars to hamas terrorist in the gaza strip. obama has told Israel they should return to the 1967 borders. the information on Israel's attack against iraq was leaked by the white house. He does NOT want Billy graham in there praying, but instead has the muslim brotherhood come in and pray. Yesterday they let us know that russia somehow had a submarine in the gulf of mexico next to Georgia loaded with missles. Give me a break, they had some inside help! bottom line, barrack hussein obama bin laden hates America!
That is insane. You haven't a cule what you are typing. If you do think you know ,then ,you are really stupid.
And exactly what is this cule thing he does not have?
One of the stupidest posts I have ever seen.
Who in the world do you think is swayed by your spew?
Michael,
I don't like the guy either, but that's not what this story is about.........and you're nuts.
plantlady99
so true is your statement about trusting, heaven just got 7 more heros
Muslims think they die and go to heaven for killing Americans. Americans think they go to heaven for killing Muslims. Looks like they're both going to the same place. God doesnt condone either side...in fact he condemns both. Maybe you know of a different heaven. These men should have been safe at home...not putting their lives on the line unnecessarily.
They Chose to put their life on the line. My daughter joined 5 years ago her husband joined 6 years ago and this is his third tour. They both knew the risk and joined anyway. I would be pissed if they were drafted but they joined. I am proud of them and I will honor them. I have 3 other "kids" there all joined when the wars going on. I would never say bad things or disrespect any soldier because I do not know what are going through. They have lost soldiers every week since they have been there
Sad story. We are still in a war there. They attacked us because they didn't like our way of life. The war wouldn't be over for some time because we are fighting over an ideology.
Romney-Ryan 2012
Afghanistan never attacked us first bro.
The war wouldn't be over ehhh?
It is a sad story.
Obama-Biden 2012
Yes sad indeed.
Cletus Buford – director of Bomont county waste disposal district - 2012
Seven more of our soldiers killed for Absolutely nothing. The people keeping this war going should be thrown in the deepest darkest Prison dungeon for life. What absolute pieces of Trash our leaders are.
Bill Melchiorre: Afghanistan attacked us????? Where have you been, in a cave? Afghanistan Never attacked us. Iraq never attacked us either in case you don't know it. These War's were absolutely Useless and gained NOTHING. Trillions of dollars and thousands of our soldiers lives lost for Absolutely Nothing. Nothing. May Bush Rot in Hell for starting these Two Wars.
Yes Afghanistan attacked us for all practical purposes. The ruling government of Afghanistan (the Taliban) supported Al Qaeda and allowed them to operated form their territory. I believe the phrase they used for Bin Laden was "he's our guest". That level of support makes them responsible in my view. That's not to say that the average Afghan in the street had anything to say about it.
My sincere condolences to these soldiers and their families! God Bless.
I will say a prayer for these soliders, their families and anyone else that will be effected by this aweful tragedy.
Ms. KT
Get us out of afghanistan......NOW !!!