Just get all the troops out now. That's what Obama said he would do if electeded. Sorry for the losses.

Condolences to the Families.

From what I am hearing (Unofficial) here 5 US Military.

All of our supporting Unit's Helicopters are accounted for. A few years ago one of our supporting Unit's Helicopters crashed into the side of a mountain, I lost half of a Team. A high speed wind vortex sucked them into a mountain.

If this was one pilot, one copilot, one crew chief, two passengers, they may have been returning from the recent meeting with Secretary of Defense Hagel.

I know I should not say this but recent events means flying NOE (Nap Of the Earth), fast and extremely low, as it is possible that the Fundamentalist Islamic Shia Republic of Iran is providing the Taliban, Al Quada, Holy Warriors of Islam with Russian Federation SA-7 portable shoulder launched anti aircraft missiles, after being shot down these are usually mistaken for RPG-7s (similar warhead). They know this, we know this, the US Public doesn't.

Goodness keep the troops and condolences to their families.

That being said - pull out ALL our troops IMMDEDIATELY. The people don't want us there. So fine. Leave them to the Taliban they so richly deserve.

Get our guys home now, and let the Afghans return to their traditional bronze-age pursuits.

GENTLEMEN..........Rest in peace. And thank you for your service!

"Five U.S. service members died Monday when a helicopter crashed in the Kandahar province of southern Afghanistan"

Losing too much of lives in one of the dirtiest Islamic swamps on earth like Afghanistan.

Either carpet bomb all the Paki spring boards for Islamic militants fighting NATO forces or just get out right now.

Also forget Afghanistan, Pakistan and other Muslim basket case nations!

Let Allah save them.

the first election of obama i remembered him saying he would get all our troops back from Iraq and Afghanistan immediately after he was elected. so tell my how did that lie work out. yet you all voted for him a second time. oh by the way i am not a republican, i am an independent with liberal leanings, i just hate a politician that lies, especially when it comes to our soldiers.

The Left - Right and The White House are all full of $hit.

Of course you are correct. Unfortunately, America will always be at war as long as the Democrats or Republicans are in charge of the country & majority of American people stay brainwashed that these wars are about the phoney war cry of the politicians; "they just want democracy" and "he's killing is own people." As you stated, it's all about money and nothing else.

/sigh

can we bring our troops home yet?

My condolences to the families.

USMC Mom

I'd like to share a bit about one of the service men. He was just 21 and had been sent just before Christmas. When I had said to him "this has to be the worst time to go" his reply was "my going means that someone who is maybe a dad will get to come home and have Christmas with his sons or daughters.

We knew him since he was a little boy and even though he was much older than our children, he would never hesitate to come and play with them when ever he saw them. I still have pictures of him dressed up as an Army guy for Halloween, when he came next door to take our 2 children trick or treating. He was a very special boy. Always thinking of others, never a negative thing to say and was as Army proud as could be.

When he was first sent I felt somewhat safe as he was a mechanic and hoped he would be staying on base. But true to his normal "go gett'em" attitude he got himself promoted to crew chief and was finally able to fly. He was never happier.

I feel a bit of consolation knowing the he died doing what he had dreamed of doing from the time he was a little guy.

I will miss him dearly!

ROB-898387 - I did four tours in Afghanistan.

When were you here. At least one of my people give the Newbie Briefings. Were you sleeping, or you would not have posted this:

ROB-898387 - These are primitive people who will never change.

My people are required to tell you about Afghanistan being built up by the US from the 1950s to 1979 (USSR 40th Army Occupation) as a 20th Century Nation. And a few of us have been involved with Afghanistan since Operation Cyclone, and those that were not; have been here since October 2001.

ROB-898387 - If Karzai thinks we're coercing with the Taliban, great.

If you are going to post something at least get it correct:

U.S. diplomats have been seeking to broaden exploratory talks with the Taliban that began clandestinely in Germany in late 2010 after the Taliban offered to open a representative office in Qatar.

Karzai accuses U.S. and Taliban of conspiring to keep troops in Afghanistan

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/10/17257872-karzai-accuses-us-and-taliban-of-conspiring-to-keep-troops-in-afghanistan?lite&ocid=msnhp&pos=3

A lot of the recent things that President Obama has been doing behind closed doors and behind US Allies backs has made most of the US Allies, think twice about being US Allies. Examples: Putin. "Syrian Rebels" of Al Quada Syria, Al Quada Iraq, Kurdistanis PKK, HPG, KGK. "Libyan Rebels" of Al Quada Saudi Arabia (AQ), Al Quada Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Al Quada Syria (AQS), Al Quada Yemen (AQY), Hezbollah, Al Quada Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), etc.. What happened with Former US Ally President Mubarak, Former US Ally President Saleh, Former US Ally President Gaddaffi, etc..

If you were in the US Military you would know that this is ILLEGAL:

ROB-898387 - Bring everyone home and put the military on the US/Mexico border and make a real change in America.

As well as against President Obama's Policies since April 2009 (Southern US Border) and August 2009 (Northern US Border), "US Military will not be used to secure US Borders".

ROB-898387 - Not once were we in a community/village that 100% wanted us there and wanted change.

Did you live with them like my Teams do or were you living on a FOB/COB, you patrol in the day the Taliban go into the village at night and warn the villagers not to collaborate with you. Living with them they will finally trust you with their lives after a year or two, especially if you help them build a school, medical clinic, etc. (you do not build it for them, just buy the local Afghan materials, roll up your sleeves and stand side by side with them and build). How long would it take you to trust someone with your life and your family's lives.

ROB-898387 - but you always wonder if they're telling the truth and most times have no way to verify it.

Do you speak Farsi (near the Iranian Border), Arabic (Language of Islam and most of the Holy Warrior of Islam Foreign Fighters), Pashtu (Southern Afghanistan and most Afghan Cities) or Dari (Northern Afghanistan). Talking, yelling, screaming at them in American English is useless (except some of the younger Afghans at the Afghan Cities); just as if a Chinese came up to you and screamed at you in Mandarin or Cantonese. We have caught some of the Afghan interpreters that did not know us being less than honest in their translations.

David has drunk the koolaid!

maggieadela- David has drunk the koolaid!

As usual nothing to add to the Adult Discussion of Newsvine's "Get Smarter Here"; just adolescent non factual opinions.

Definition Fact - Experience or Observations. My firsthand experience being here, is why I knew that before the Article was updated from NATO to US Military, post#1.2.

Definition Opinion - a personal view, attitude, or appraisal without knowledge, thought, or reason.

Typical adolescent personal attack when you, maggieadela, have no firsthand experience.

David 475776, Where in He77 did you and a bunch of other people ever get the idea

What happened with Former US Ally President Mubarak, Former US Ally President Saleh, Former US Ally President Gaddaffi, etc..

that any of these people listed were our ALLIES? You need to look at History a litttle closer and read a little more closely and seriously. I don't have to as I go back before the days of Gaddaffi just a tad. There was one time we all were packing our bags to visit him in a very hostile way.

You don't even know what Al Qaeda is or how it's set up. There is so much AQ stuff out there not to mention writers that don't have a clue to what is fact before writing it. Most of them only read what someone else wrote and write it with what they perceive and by the time you read or hear of it, it has been retold 5 different ways. We got so many AQ groups that they are coming out of the wood work, or haven't you noticed. There are a lot of pretenders here. Just like these head shaving, Van Dike wearing, acting all Billy Bob Bad Azzed Walking down the street WWE Wanna Be that we have here in the US.

You wouldn't know an AQ, from a Hezzbollah, from a Taliban, from an islamic Extremeist, from your average everyday Arab even if they Bitch Slapped your Azz.

Add: Former allies - Ho Chi Minh (viet Minh later became known as Viet Cong) , Mujahadeen (now Taliban) please.

The biggest blunders of Iraqi wars and Afghan war were to have Saudi Arabia and Pakistan as strategic allies.

With Saudi Arabia and Pakistan as allies and in some cases determining how the wars are to be conducted, then disasters are given.

In Afghanistan, Pakis have backstabbed the US and NATO forces big time. Half of NATO forces deaths are due to ungrateful and backstabbing Pakis.

When the NATO forces were entering Kandahar in 2001, Pakis airlifted key al-Qaida, Taliban, ISI and others militants by back door from Kandahar.

This includes Mullah Omar, Osama and many including Paki Haqqani militant network leaders.

Hope people remember about Pakis sheltering Osama.

Here at Newsvine no one wants to learn or hear from individuals who have actually been to places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, North Africa, etc. No one cares if you have actual experience because "first hand knowledge" doesn't count on newsvine a place where people must submit half truths or bias news articles to be rated as "credible". Unless you display your military DD-214 or Form 2-1 then no one will care nor believe anything you have to say regardless if it makes sense. If it doesn't adhere to their own personal beliefs then it must be bogus.

david i did two tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. i met many people in both countries that where happy to see us there. i also met many people in both countries that where unhappy to have us there, alot of that depended in what area of the country you where in, and what sect you where dealing with. they have both types those who want us there and those that dont. the question is should we be there forcing our belief structure on them? i dont think we should. i think we should let them work things out on their own. you will see more success if they stand up for themselves in the long run, then you will with interference. history has proved that point time and again.

i still think we would have been better off using our intelligence agencies and our special forces for surgical strikes against AQ's leaders, then with boots on the ground from regular forces.

thanks 4 everything

thank U for your duty

Well said Dave. The real cost of these Zionist inspired Islamophobic wars is well in excess of $6 TRILLION now and a national debt of $17 TRILLION and counting all owed to China. The real number of casualties including suicides, maimed and PTSD cases now is well into hundreds of thousands. More young Americans in military are committing suicide than ever and then there are thousands of maimed soldiers who will need medical care for life. This at a time when the government is broke, but Wall Street greed is booming. US is indeed on a road to nowhere as power shifts to China and Asia.

Of course you are correct. Unfortunately, America will always be at war as long as the Democrats or Republicans are in charge of the country & majority of American people stay brainwashed that these wars are about the phoney war cry of the politicians; "they just want democracy" and "he's killing is own people." As you stated, it's all about money and nothing else.

One of the victim is a local person from the Winnsboro area and his family and friends was notified around 1:00 this morning. Everyone needs to pray for the families of these that their lifes were taken fighting for our country. This victim was 32 years old and been married less than a year. Please pray for them!!

Thank you Kevin for saying what truly needs to be said. May God Bless those souls who lost their lives and their families. I know I was scared for my son, but thankfully got a short message from him saying he was okay. My heart goes out to their mothers!

Rico-545153,

This is the next scenario at multiple US Cities (D.C., NYC, LA, Chicago, etc.) simultaneously:

History Channel, Day After Disaster

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCme_K6MYLY

Rico-545153 - I'm also somewhat confident that the military history regarding the demographics of Afghanistan (terrain, past failures of GB & the USSR in this area, etc) were discussed in-depth...then, a decision was made.

They did not listen to us, survivors of Operation Cyclone. They did not listen to us after October 2001, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmiyyLNogaY. They did not listen to General McKiernan. They did not listen to General McChrystal. etc..

What an asinine comment. Please adjust the gain on your tin foil beanie and think harder.

I have Iranian in-laws. My neices are half Iranian. I have an arab friend from Kuwait. I have two Israeli friends. We sit around and party and joke and laugh about how freakin stupid people are in the middle-east and south asia. If you can call sipping coffee a party. The concensus among us seems to be that if everyone could just get along in those places and quit being totally stupid, and just party together instead, then, everyone would prosper. With 1.7 billion Muslims in the world, we're probably going to have to make up or minds if we're going to fight or party. Americans enjoy both equally as much. So, we figure it's up to you Muslims.

Let's be more specific. We learned from the French Foreign Legion just how lucrative the opium business was in 1950. Our first unit in Vietnam was 127 troops and unit formed called JUSMAAG. When the French left, we became the security force there, and the highway from Burma flowed thru Saigon. By the late 60's and early 70's, George Bush became a player and was head of S.E. Asia Operations for the CIA until he became Director after his stint in China as Ambassador. During that time, General Khun Sa of Burma (the Golden Triangle), with Richard Amitage as his handler, had the opium in full swing. Once Burma shut down, we turned to Afghanistan. Did it for years until Bush decided we needed a bigger piece of the pie and had to come up with the justification of hunting bin Laden and "Giving Afghans a chance for peace., by winning their hearts and minds." Something we'd all had heard before and seemed to accept. It's all about opium now. Bin Laden is dead.

The opium drug trade is in full effect in Afghanistan but the US military is not set up to conduct large scale counter narcotics operations. The DOD is not the DEA and the parameters for placing troops and other assets on the ground and in the air just to counter the drug trade is a battle between the higher commands and various Regional Commands (RCs). The Taliban have "re-written" their previous anti-drug motto and now see that you can make more money buy selling dope than bullying the local Afghan farming communitites for a share of their crops. So with the money comes more modern weapons from key arms connections say in Iran or Pakistan. The money also bribes Afghan law enforcement and government officials, the money also pays for new hardcore Islamist mosques and religious schools, compensation for suicide bombers, ammunition, explosives, etc. Why stop the opium when all the Taliban will now do is demand that the "ashura tax" roughly 10-20% of the value of the total drug crops be given back to local Taliban commanders. So when the last troops roll away and Karzia and his corrupt immediate family members run off to some non-US extradition country to live on just the interest of billions of US dollars in some Swiss villa, the Afghanistan country will resort into a armed drug manufacturing location no better than some Latin American country but in far worse shape due to the strict gudielines that the Taliban leadership will place back on the local communities. Opium is a cash crop and while villagers die to to lack of proper clean water and food to eat, the opium fields are flush and guarded by heavily armed Taliban fighters. Allah will be most pleased with the fruits of their hard work in the coming years as you will see a rise of drug use in the European Union and also in the US.

The largest reason we shouldn't engage in these conflicts is simple. We suck at it. We don't have the stomach to do what is necessary in war so if your not willing to finish the job don't start it.

Dave-

How would u finish the job in Aghanistan? Kill everyone? Because I doubt your bringing any sort of change killing small numbers of terrorists with drones...sure you might get a leader here and there, but there are 1000's to take their places...

No worries, the next batch of wanna be jihadists are already well versed and educated in the art of the idea and acceptance in hardcore Islamist mentality. Our great friends from Pakistan have funded and provided aid to numerous madrassas, mosques, and "educational centers" to promote the good word of "jihad against the non-believers". Large cash donations have been donated through various "Arab friends" in countries like Saudi Arabia, Qartar, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, UAE. When you have people who have more money than they know what to do with it there is always room to provide a little something to those holy warriors who are doing Allah's work. You indeed have thousands of radicals ready, willing, and more than able to carry out attacks against the West and a deep hate for anyone who is not a true believer of the faith. This batch will make the old Taliban look like boy scouts with their strict adherence to the belief. No matter how many may die or must be killed they will continue to believe that their cause is just and therefore the more extreme violence needed so be it because in the end they will be rewarded for their actions on the other side. Afghanistan is a lost cause. We didn't review our history from Alexander the Great, the British, the Russians. The Afghans want only a few things, money, and to be left alone and head back into the stone age in their mindset. A few small group of Afghans will flee the country because they will have imense wealth that was stolen and provided for by US tax-payers and they will avoid the mass blood bath that will surely take place once the last US troops are removed from the countryside. The taliban will sweep back in and claim that they defeated the "great Satan" and honor it as a major Islamic victory for those in the same mindset. In the end, they will revert to their time tested ways of being a people at the highest bid for services rendered.

Your response might make sense if only our helicopter windscreens were made of lexan.

Lazer light, yes that is true. I didn't see anything in the article about it being day or night. Your speculating here some.

I guess you miss the part where LT. COL. Les Carroll said the accident happened in darkness???? Make sure you read the whole storyfirst.