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Subscribe to RSSUpdated at 11 a.m. ET: Bad weather was blamed for the crash of a chartered helicopter Sunday in southern Sudan, which killed all 32 people aboard, including several prominent government and political leaders.
The helicopter was carrying a government delegation to South Kordofan state for prayers on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when it crashed into Hajar al-Nar, a mountain near the town of Talodi, said the official Sudanese news agency, SUNA.
SUNA reported that the victims included Ghazi al-Saddiq, the minister of Guidance and Endowments — the equivalent of the religion ministry — Maki Ali Balayli, chairman of Sudan's Peace and Justice Party, and several other government, security and media figures.
Initial reports had speculated that the Sudan People's Liberation Movement North, the main rebel group in the violent region, might have attacked the helicopter, but rebels denied any involvement, and the government later said the crash was "due to bad weather."
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What's that saying they so frequently chant, "Allahu Akbar?" I think so.
You are a disguting thing. You are the reason for hatred and wars in this world.
I think the reason there is so much hatred and wars is because of radical Islam, not OdumbodaPrez.
I don't think you think Joe. And Cheryl, you're right - OdumbodaPrez is an example of why there is so much hatred and bigotry in this country, based on ignorance, as evidenced by his post.
It be nice if people could be civil and just call him President Obama. I will not vote for him, but at least I will respect the office.
Allow me to retort. Why would you request respect for him when he shows you as an american citizen no respect? And I know you are not naive or gullible enough to have me explain. I was brought up to learn that in order to give respect you must first receive respect.
net
Yes please explain it to us all. But after you pull your head out of your a@s. Could you please wipe the sh@t off you lips. So you won't be throwing it everywhere.
Hummmmmmmmmmmm ... would it be unlikely to suspect "foul play" & not just "fowl weather" in Southern Sudanese Mountains?
And how has he shown you no respect?
@Gumps
Comprehension is not one of your finer qualities is it...(notice not really a question).
netman, what respect have you given them?
The article presents absolutely no information surrounding the crash: type of aircraft, day/night, weather conditions, crew qualifications, fuel status, yet begins to assign blame to the UNITED STATES because Sudan Airways "has been worn down by years of U.S. sanctions..." Why not blame Isaac Newton for "discovering" gravity and causing the airplane to fall out of the sky?
At least NBC News has the story. Right now, neither CNN or CBS has it. Amazingly, the state television network where I live is already reporting the crash, and they say TWO ministers were killed.
The article did not assign any blame to the U.S. or anyone else; it merely mentioned the fact that there have been a couple of recent Sudan Airways crashes and that it has been worn down by years of U.S. sanctions and other issues. The article also indicated that it was unknown if the plane belonged to Sudan Airways. Try not jumping to irrational conclusions.
I could care less, just a few less intolerant Muslims to worry about!
Yeah but Gumps, it sure did imply it.
It sure did imply the US Gumps. Pull yer head out of yer a$$.
Well as for as the headline goes...there was a mention to "Bad Weather".
Lostreligion....................your name speaks volumes
SalMonella could benefit from some remedial reading comprehension.
@flnoby
Your degree in language skills are well above my diploma. Therefore It really would be a wasted effort to explain anything to you.
Your diploma? Tell us, are you a product of No Child Left Behind?
@Gumps
I'm going to inform you with no retort afterwards that I do not square off with the mentally challenged. You seriously don't get it, do you...again no question.
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but whips and chains excite me. Go cry to mommy, Netmanxps.
It was probably no accident
If aircraft are not maintained and pilots sent to recurrent training, this is what happens.
As to the 'worn down' comment, the parts, service, and training are available to them from somewhere whether the US is engaged in sanctions or not.
The parts are not actually available. It is the same situation in Iran. The US makes it illegal to sell parts to Sudan and will sanction any company and country that does so. So if a French company sells them parts, France will come under US sanctions, not the whole country just individual companies and banks in these cases.
I used to live in Prague, Czech Republic and there was a hotel there where the US government banned Americans from using the coffee shop and restaurant (as well as actually staying in the hotel) because it had Libyan investors and the sanctions made it illegal for Americas to have any business with this hotel. The hotel of course didn't care, but if you used a credit card, you'd be caught when the US Treasury found out and even if you used cash the US Embassy in Prague occasionally sent people there to try to catch Americans violating the sanctions. Keep in mind this is a normal business hotel in the heart of Europe and you'd have no idea about the sanctions just from looking at it.
This gives you an idea of how America uses sanctions:
http://www.praguepost.com/archivescontent/32633-towering-sanctions-on-corinthia-hotels.html
in other news, two members of the Judson family and three members of the Kerker family got into a bar fight just outside of Sally's bar in Hurricane, Utah. Nobody suffered serious injury but the local Sheriff said that if this sort of violence continues, they will re-open the Jail. The Judge/Chief of Police/Coroner/meter-maid is in fits over the altercation, as his Sister is married to a Judson and his Brother is married to his Aunt, one of the Kerker's. Wow, what a mess we have here. The weather is forcast to be Sunny with isolated earthquakes and scattered mud flurries.
AP/UPI This just in. Seems like the fued, that has been going on for over 250 years now, is escalating into dangerous territory. One of the Kerkers is reported to have "KICKED" the tires of one of the Juddsons trucks and then jumped into the bed and started to throw handfuls of hay at the driver, Jethro Judson. He sustained minor injuries. Suzy Anne Kerker spit tobacco juice on the door of the truck and showed her tooth, then allowed tobacco juice to drool from her lip in retaliation. It is said that if they start to bang 2x4's in the trash cans, the Utah National Guard will be called. Folks, "Why can't we all just get along". This fueding stuff is for 5th world countries, NOT the USA. Mr. Dangit Judson, the family leader, said if the Kerkers would just stop with the name callin', things might be able to settle down, but till then, they plan to meet hay throwin' with loud yellin'. Real loud, yellin'.
Islamic karma is using sophisticated things like aircraft and wanting to live in a 10th century world.
They were on their way to an islamist event.......LOL seems they just recieved devine justice.
Yee ha, that there is some DEE-vine justice. Divine.
Learn how to spell: received, not recieved. Twits.
Maybe they should hijack NEW planes and stop pirating the cargo ships......DUH ! ! Or maybe they should just try to be decent humans and try to live in peace and harmony. Nah, they are animals and should be hunted down and destroyed.
You do realize that Sudan and Somalia are different countries, right? Somalia is where the piracy is taking place. Sudan doesn't even share a border with Somalia.
Right Church.....wrong pew. Oh well, I guess I ought to get a map. But it's the thought that counts, right?
Have you ever been to Somalia or Sudan? (I have)
To use a quote from The Russia House, "If a fella's written about the hill tribes of northern Burma, well, you're entitled to know if he's ever been further south than Minsk."
WOW!
That's over 2300 virgins...all in one pop (pardon the pun)........
Allah's will. The religion of pieces.
Could be an Omen as to what lays ahead. Things in the middle east are in shambles to say the least. Brotherly love is hardly playing a role there these days.
come on NBC where is the pics of the "splatter matter" from the wreckage
As pilots like to say, nothing worse than pulling back on the collector and running into a granite cloud. Always fun to know where your at and where the mountains are. They do have sophisticated electronics for this, but if you are from the 10 century you don't know how to operate them.
I wonder if Al Kiter was behind this. Are these people with the 107 ugly virgins with dicks.
Do you think it might have been a suicide pilot flying them. It sound all too familiar with the suicide bombers all over in other places to me. With the way the different groups are in Africa and the Middle East. I just have a feeling this was not an accident!!
Sounds like maybe it's not a helicopter. "The plane, a Ukranian-made Antonov, according to state radio, crashed near Talodi near the border with the new nation of South Sudan. There were no survivors."
Heep big bbq on mountainside, who cares.
I had all kinds of really hilarious comments about "...Mohamed must go to the mountain", etc., but you know, any helicopter crashing into a mountain isn't really all that funny. Of course, do Muslims call the "Jesus" nut something else? Or how about Buddhists, do they call it a "Karma" nut? Anyway, it's really not that funny of an event, so I'll stop.
OK, so what's the big deal here? We have an aircraft with muslims crashing & burning - par for the course, no?
Or maybe, just maybe, "it was the will of allah." Either way, no loss.
I'm not sure what everyone one is arguing about. Seems like the usual interwebs one upmanship going on. And for no real good reason
a) We have an aircraft filled with muslims, crashing, burning and killing all aboard, right? (heard THAT one before) - No big deal
b) Logic tells us, "it was the will of allah."
Done and done.
Your bigotry is fed by your ignorance. Too bad - you can't fix stupid.
Maybe this Helicopter Pilot just got done reading a “Sarah Palin” book….became Confused, Irrational and Lost his Mind. It seems to be a “Side Effect”.
You BetCha….Fer Sure.
Oh, and YOU'RE so persuasive with your tiny brain remarks.
Pot: Kettle, you're black!
Do they get those virgins if they crash without killing any infidels?
I am sure the Sudan will continue to thrive even with the loss of these servants of Allah.
Just like being a Republican - no difference.