7th U.S. helicopter reported down in Iraq

If reports are true, this would be the 7th U.S. helicopter to go down in Iraq in the past month. Do you think American soldiers are dying for a winnable cause, a just cause, or even a noble cause in Iraq? I don't. I think they are dying because of the stupidity of their Commander-in-Chief and his fear that that he and the United States will look weak if we retreat from the disaster in Iraq. Pride goes before the fall. As the author of "Blackhawk Down" says, helicopters represent U.S. superpower status, and they are David vs Goliath targets in this asymmetric war. In retired Lt. Gen. William E. Odom's words, President Bush is relentlessly pursuing defeat in Iraq.

U.S. helicopter down north of Baghdad: residents

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Reuters 7:55 am EST Sunday 11 February 2007

A U.S. Apache helicopter went down north of Baghdad on Sunday, local residents said, but the U.S. military said it was not aware of any such incident.

Residents reported seeing a missile hit the attack helicopter, which carries two crew, bringing it down in the Timayma area, near Taji, site of a major U.S. air base 20 km (12 miles) north of Baghdad.

U.S. military spokeswoman Lieutenant-Colonel Josslyn Aberle said she had no information on a helicopter crashing in the area.

If confirmed it would be the seventh U.S. helicopter to have come down in Iraq in the last three weeks. The U.S. military has confirmed that at least four of those were shot down after being struck by ground fire and says it has adjusted its tactics accordingly.

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U.S. military: No copter has gone down

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AP 8:06 am EST Sun 11 Feb 2007

The U.S. military said Sunday it has no reports of a helicopter going down after witnesses reported an Apache had crashed north of Baghdad.

Witnesses and police said the helicopter was shot down on Sunday, sending a plume of smoke into the air near the Bani Tamim village, in the area around the Taji air base, 12 miles north of Baghdad.

Lt. Col. Josslyn Aberle, a U.S. military spokeswoman, said initial reports did not find that a helicopter had gone down, but she said the military check again to be sure.

At least six U.S. helicopters have crashed or been forced down under hostile fire since Jan. 20, including a Marine Sea Knight helicopter that crashed Wednesday near Taji, killing all seven people on board.

U.S. officials have said they are reviewing flight operations and tactics but maintain there is no evidence of sophisticated new weapons used in any of the latest attacks.

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Faire l'amour, pas la guerre
Make love not war