7 American Troops Killed in Afghan Helicopter Crash — Taliban Claims Responsibility
- Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:44am by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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KABUL, Afghanistan (The Blaze/AP) — Seven American troops were among the 11 people killed in a Blackhawk helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, NATO’s International Security Assistance Force said.
A Taliban spokesman said the insurgents shot down the aircraft, but NATO said the cause of the crash was still under investigation.
A spokesman for the alliance, Jamie Graybeal, said seven American service members were among the dead in Thursday’s crash of a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. He said four Afghans died – a civilian interpreter and three members of the Afghan security forces.
Graybeal declined to give any details of the aircraft’s mission.
Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi said insurgent fighters shot down the helicopter in Kandahar province on Thursday morning.
“Nobody survived this,” Ahmadi told The Associated Press by phone.
The coalition did not comment on the Taliban claims.
The helicopter went down in Kandahar’s Shah Wali Kot district, which lies in the northern part of the province, a spokesman for the provincial government said.
“We don’t know if it was shot down by the Taliban, or if it had mechanical problems,” said the spokesman, Ahmad Jawed Faisal.
Last August, insurgents shot down a Chinook helicopter, killing 30 Americans, most of whom were elite Navy SEALs, in Afghanistan’s central Wardak province.
At least 221 American service members have been killed in Afghanistan so far this year.




















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ContinentalArmy
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:05pmWhats the problem Blaze, Can’t handle the Truth!
Report Post »ContinentalArmy
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 7:02pmWhere is the common sense of losing American Soldiers lives in another lost cause? These so-called Police actions are so comparable to Korea and Viet Nam!! Time to stop the Murders of American Soldiers, let these Countries Fight their own battles! Bring our Soldiers Home!
Report Post »susie4dy
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 4:53pmWhy not bring our troops home to their families!
Report Post »flsnipe
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:42amMy thoughts and prayers go out to all the family and friends of those killed.
Report Post »LukeAppling
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:36amObama has stopped the war but the deaths of the military continue. If the war is over bring them home alive! Obama is doing everything he can to get reelected and he doesn’t deserve reelection he deserves ousting for his failed policies on virtually everything he has done.I will be gad to list his failures but they are well-known please look them up the man has been a debacle as President. It isn’t color it is is lack of any experience other than running for office in safe black, Chicago districts.
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:20amAdd your comments
Report Post »barber2
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:14amThink Bush thought that if the Iraqis had a taste of freedom that it would spread though out the Middle East. Guess he was wrong. The intense hatred and bullying power of the Muslim political fanatics make that impossible. Sad that so many fine people died trying to give them something that hate made impossible. Sad that hate and evil are so powerful.
Report Post »mapgirl10
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:39amMarines
Report Post »resme
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 12:19pmFreedom via a democracy. Who do you think a nation that is almost 100% muslim is going to elect? It was never about freedom, It was about oil and destabilization.
Report Post »zoro51
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:39ammurdering muslums care not for they are in a man made CULT of hate n death there IS no ALLAH thats a LIE a false stone idol all muslums worship.. thier so called religion of peace is but a FARCE no MURDERING MUSLUMS kill or be killed.. they should all die
Report Post »watashbuddyfriend
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:38amAre you sure the crash was not caused by lax maintenance of equipment?
Report Post »LTinUT
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:54amMy nephew’s job is to maintain and fix black hawks. He has to fly in the copters he maintains and would never step inside one unless he knew it was maintained properly.
Report Post »sgtbrown01
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:32amAlways is bad to hear news like this …bless those lost and those still there…always support the troops ….. our problem is the leaders who cut their funding, give them crappy rules of engagement… dont provide the biggest and baddest weapon systems on the planet to get the job done…and most of all Damb the leaders who lack the clear vision to do what is right.
Report Post »GlennaBeckski
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:23amAdd your comments
Report Post »LTinUT
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:06amMy nephew, just made a Sergeant, is a black hawk helicopter gunner in Afghanistan… still waiting to hear if he is OK. He lost four from his unit in April. He has a wife and 2 little ones waiting to hear if he is OK. Now, if he were a good nephew he would have logged onto Facebook by now so I can see him.
Report Post »Mutiny
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:16amI pray he is fine.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:23amLT……….Let’s just hope he is really busy this morning and will let you all know he is OK soon. God bless him.
Report Post »GlennaBeckski
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:29amAmen to that Mutiny… Lord, I pray a hedge of protection around all our troops both overseas and at home. Grant Your perfect peace and comfort to the families of our fallen.. I pray that they all knew You as Lord and Savior and are in Your Holy Presence now.
Have mercy on our nation … as we go forward into this life changing election.
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:19amPrayers from my family to yours that he is safe.
Report Post »LTinUT
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 12:50pmMy nephew is OK! He just got off duty (which is why we didn’t hear from him right away). He can’t give us details or even tell us if he knows any of those who were killed. The details are usually released in two days. Our family is grateful and thanking God but also praying for the families whose lives have changed today.
Report Post »GlennaBeckski
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 1:53pmThat’s great your nephew is alive and well !! How sad for those who have lost loved ones..
How desperately we need a Commander in Chief who is deserving of the devotion .. loyalty ..courage and sacrifices our military and their families extend.
Report Post »kcares
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:03amBless these families. Get out of Afghan. Why isn’t the press calling Pres. Odummer a killer?
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:54amThe dishonest media we have could be the death of all of us. Under President Bush we got a daily count of our fallen heroes and pictures/videos of flag draped coffins. When was the last time you heard or saw (IN BOLD TYPE) the number of military MURDERED under this horrific administration, this lying media and these ungrateful countries.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:09amThe Media is the propaganda arm of the Democrat Party. Don’t ever expect anything but bias from them. That is why this classless, bullying bunch is now Occupying the White House. No matter who is in the White House, the media is an arm of the Democrat Party. Sad but true.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:54amGod be with the families of the fallen, get our troops home safe and sound and whole; and may Obama the traitor be removed form office soon.
Report Post »OLDPAINT
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:54am11 more souls gone. The why is the worst. Godspeed them Home. :(:::::::::::::
Report Post »momrules
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:53amGod in Heaven please be with the families of the fallen.
Now BRING OUR TROOPS HOME or let them fight to win this stupid, drawn out, endless war!!!
Report Post »Tigress1
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:52amI thought King Obama was going to get us out of these wars?
We got Bin Laden. Now let’s leave…and don’t rebuild. It might keep the terrorists busy with something other than killing people.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:50amThanks, Obama. Nothing like announcing our departure date to embolden the enemy. Shades of Lady Macbeth. But am sure without the conscience to create the nightmares…
Report Post »Mutiny
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 10:15amYeah not like saying we will be pulling out in 2024 to really rally the enemies. We shouldnt be there. Our foreign policy puts us in more danger. We just have too many stupid people in this country who would vote for any one the political pundits on tv tell them to.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 11:06amMutiny: Guess you are one of the old General-Be-tray-us crowd . Read comments like yours in the New York Times way back in the Bush years. All were madly rooting for Obama , trashing American imperialism , the American military, and Republicans . Guess nothing has changed !
Report Post »IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on August 16, 2012 at 9:50amMy thoughts and prayers go out to all the family and friends of those killed. God Bless them for the time served to keep us safe.
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