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2003-11-02 Iraq
13 dead as US helicopter shot down
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Posted by Bulldog 2003-11-02 7:35:09 AM|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 The missle was most likely French made. I think we should impose sanctions on France for this.
Posted by Charles  2003-11-2 8:13:42 AM||   2003-11-2 8:13:42 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Fred - your commentary makes far more sense than our current ROE. I wish you were in charge -- this approach is what they would understand and respect / fear - the same thing in Arabia. Sooner or later, and I hope it happens here in Iraq and very soon, indeed, we will realize that our legacy of chivalry is ours alone. They not only do not share it, few of them even understand it. Those that do just use it against us - these are their "leaders" and spokesdink apologists. Those that don't, well, they are the cannon fodder who do the killing and dying. When we get a clue, they will do a lot more of it.

Islam started this drive to their goal of Global Domination Insanity, we didn't. Islam is trying, very very hard, to commit suicide by throwing its adherents on our swords. As an unabashed lover of Freedom and pragmatic man, I believe the least we can do is stay out of their way and ease their passage to Paradise. Along the way, we should take those steps which they will understand - and which will reduce the loss of our Freedom Loving Soldiers. I hope that "someone" out there is listening to you.
Posted by .com 2003-11-2 10:20:19 AM||   2003-11-2 10:20:19 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 I would delay an ROE change in Fallujah until the next bombing in Baghdad so as not to appear to be reactive. I recommend a surpise cordon of whatever area Al Sadr controls. Time to make an example of someone.

Jarhead outlines a great technique of widely varied responses to confuse the enemy.
Posted by Super Hose  2003-11-2 11:42:53 AM||   2003-11-2 11:42:53 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 There is a better way. Surround Falluja with barbed wire and cut off its water. Force all people to leave the town through limited exits, and allow them to leave with one empty car or one small suitcase. Allow no one back in until terrorists are caught or given up to US forces. Do not back down to human rights groups who will scream "abuse", etc. Stand firm, and if necessary make Falluja a deserted city as an example to others residing in the Sunni Triangle.
Posted by Anonymous 2003-11-2 11:47:40 AM||   2003-11-2 11:47:40 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 "Making a desolation and calling it peace."

I like it.
Posted by Fred  2003-11-2 11:53:46 AM||   2003-11-2 11:53:46 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 Actually, it sounds like the commander of forces in Iraq, Sanchez, needs to be replaced. Ever since he signed on, casualties have been going through the roof. The brass may have felt that Iraq was stable enough for officers to go through the usual ticket-punching exercise for aspiring military leaders. It appears that we are going to need our best seasoned men in there until the situation truly stabilizes. Note that we have not lost a Chinook in this manner in Afghanistan despite two years of operations. Sanchez is in well over his head.
Posted by Zhang Fei  2003-11-2 1:09:08 PM||   2003-11-2 1:09:08 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 i agree with bush...this copter downing shows we r winning in Iraq and that they r really desparate now. Now all we need is more deaths to show we r truly really winning.
Posted by stevestradamus 2003-11-2 1:30:04 PM||   2003-11-2 1:30:04 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Draw them out of the cities and urban centers, and f&ck them. It's obvious they have an itch that needs scratchin'. Folks, I know we believe that our troops are superior in training, equipment and morale to the Russians, but what makes anyone think this doesn't have the potential to turn into another Chechnya, with foreign jihadis flooding in from all over. If someone doesn't start using their full intelectual capacity on this the jihadis will continue to take advantage.
Wasn't it Bush himself that said American troops are for fighting wars and not keeping the peace? So what the hell are they doing there now? Trying to keep the peace while jihadis take shots at them.

BTW, whatever happened to Ramadan???
Posted by Rafael 2003-11-2 1:37:15 PM||   2003-11-2 1:37:15 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 BTW, whatever happened to Ramadan???

This is how Ramadan is celebrated -- killing the kaffir.
Posted by Robert Crawford  2003-11-2 2:02:54 PM|| [http://www.kloognome.com]  2003-11-2 2:02:54 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 Turn in the weapons now.... Boom! Well said Fred and I totally agree.
Posted by Lucky 2003-11-2 3:08:03 PM||   2003-11-2 3:08:03 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 On July 10, 2001, Lt. Gen. Sanchez became commanding general of V Corps' 1st Armored Division. He held that position for nearly two years before assuming command of the corps on June 14, 2003.

OK, it looks like Sanchez was appointed in June, not in August, as I suspected, which means he was the head honcho through the quiet period. My mistake.

My understanding of the reason for the lack of helicopter mishaps in Afghanistan was that (1) our helicopters always took off at night, (2) airbase security extended out for miles and (3) helicopters went straight up to cruising height in a spiral pattern over the airbase, instead of gradually reaching that height over the badlands. I wonder if base security has been truncated, choppers are taking off during the day or helicopters in Iraq are not taking precautions against hand-held SAM's.
Posted by Zhang Fei  2003-11-2 3:10:12 PM||   2003-11-2 3:10:12 PM|| Front Page Top

#12 Is it time to have another look at the V22 Osprey tiltrotor?
Posted by Bulldog  2003-11-2 5:25:11 PM||   2003-11-2 5:25:11 PM|| Front Page Top

#13 Bulldog - the V22 Osprey has more bugs than a Microsoft product, and needs some more R&D before it's completely trustworthy. The better solution is to have these R&R flights escorted by a pair of Apaches. NOBODY is gonna mess with that killing machine, not if he's got an IQ higher than a sand flea's.

As for Fallujah, we need to impose an 8PM to 8AM curfew, and whack HARD anybody that breaks it - no questions asked. Then slowly start dismantling the town, a block at a time. I think you'll probably find some surprised in the area if you look hard enough. We've been too "sensitive". Now it's their turn to be sensitive, or be stomped.
Posted by Old Patriot  2003-11-2 7:24:57 PM|| [http://users.codenet.net/mweather/default.htm]  2003-11-2 7:24:57 PM|| Front Page Top

#14 May God bless the 15 families that just suffered the unbearable loss. Their sons will never return. The families will live in denial that the unbearable has happened. Some will continue to speak of their sons in the present tense patiently waiting for them to return - only to eventually face a very hard unchanging reality. Nothing that we say can console them. Those families will never heal.

The funerals will have closed coffins. When helicopters crash - they burn. Mothers in denial will be convinced that some horrible mistake has been made - that could not possibly be their son - God could not be so cruel. Why would God test them so? My prayers tonight are with those families.
Posted by JP 2003-11-2 10:28:24 PM||   2003-11-2 10:28:24 PM|| Front Page Top

#15 Stevie says we need more deaths?
Fine. Let's all hope that Stevie dies next.
Posted by Uncle Joe  2003-11-2 11:58:37 PM||   2003-11-2 11:58:37 PM|| Front Page Top

#16 I agree surround Fallugah(and all the rest of the towns where this crap is coming from)Go through the town house by house,lot by lot,building by building(using dogs)every home in wich automatic weapons found arrest every male over the age of 15 years.Nothing in nothing out,if the residents need food,water,medical they can report to check points.This PC,touchy/feely make nice crap is costing lives.
Posted by Raptor  2003-11-3 9:06:45 AM||   2003-11-3 9:06:45 AM|| Front Page Top

09:06 Raptor
01:07 Brian
00:02 Uncle Joe
23:58 Uncle Joe
23:30 Anonymous-not above
22:28 JP
21:37 Pappy
20:54 Frank G
19:37 Aris Katsaris
19:24 Old Patriot
19:14 Old Patriot
19:06 Old Patriot
18:55 Super Hose
18:49 Dave
18:47 Rafael
18:42 Super Hose
18:32 Dave
18:31 Super Hose
18:19 Dave
18:19 Shipman
18:18 Shipman
18:12 Shipman
18:06 Shipman
18:06 Aris Katsaris









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