Marine Gen.: We Killed Insurgents Responsible for SEAL Chopper Crash
- Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:12am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
- Print »
- Email »
WASHINGTON (AP) — International forces killed the Taliban insurgents responsible for shooting down a U.S. helicopter and killing 38 U.S. and Afghan forces over the weekend, but they are still seeking the top insurgent leader they were going after in Saturday’s mission, the top American commander in Afghanistan said Wednesday.
Marine Corps Gen. John Allen told a Pentagon news conference that an F-16 airstrike Monday took out fewer than 10 insurgents involved in the attack on the Chinook helicopter.
In a separate statement Wednesday, the military said the Monday strike killed Taliban leader Mullah Mohibullah and the insurgent who fired the rocket-propelled grenade at the helicopter. The military said intelligence gained on the ground provided a high degree of confidence that the insurgent who fired the grenade was the person killed. It did not provide further details.
Allen defended the decision to send in the Chinook loaded with special operations forces to pursue insurgents escaping from the weekend firefight with Army Rangers in a dangerous region of Wardak province of eastern Afghanistan.
“We’ve run more than a couple of thousand of these night operations over the last year, and this is the only occasion where this has occurred,” said Allen. “The fact that we lost this aircraft is not … a decision point as to whether we’ll use this aircraft in the future. It’s not uncommon at all to use this aircraft on our special missions.”
While officials believe the helicopter was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade, Allen said the military’s investigation into the crash will also review whether small arms fire or other causes contributed to the crash.
Questions remain about why the troops were called in to aid other U.S. combatants engaged in a firefight, what they knew about the situation on the ground and what role the flight path or altitude may have played in the disastrous crash.
Allen and other officials would not discuss the details of the probe, but it no doubt will include a look at the insurgent threat and the instructions given to the special operations team that crowded into a big Chinook helicopter as it raced to assist other U.S. forces.
According to officials, the team included 22 Navy SEAL personnel, three Air Force airmen, a five-member Army air crew and a military dog, along with seven Afghan commandos and an Afghan interpreter.
Gen. James Mattis, head of U.S. Central Command, appointed Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Colt to lead the investigation. Colt is deputy commander of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky.
The investigation comes as the remains of the troops killed in the crash were returned Tuesday in an operation shrouded in secrecy by a Defense Department that has refused so far to release the names of the fallen and denied media coverage of the arrival at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
Two C-17 aircraft carrying the remains were met by President Barack Obama, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, the Joint Chiefs chairman, Adm. Mike Mullen, and a number of other military leaders.
The investigation will review a number of basic crash questions, which will probably rule out such factors as the weather, terrain and mechanical issues, since military officials believe the helicopter was shot down. It also will look at the flight of the Chinook as it moved into the fighting zone. Chinooks are heavy cargo helicopters that do not have the agility of smaller, more maneuverable aircraft.
At the Pentagon, officials continue to wrangle over whether to release the identities of any or all 30 Americans who died in the crash, even though many of the families have publicly named their loved ones and spoken about their deaths.
It has been department policy to identify troops who are killed. But several officials have said there is a reluctance to release the names because many were SEALs, and they worry their families will be targeted. Most of the SEALs were from the same team that killed Osama bin Laden in May, although none of those killed participated in that raid, senior defense officials said.
Obama and other officials at Dover boarded the two C-17 aircraft to pay tribute to the fallen troops and then watched as 30 transfer cases draped in American flags and eight draped in Afghan flags were taken off the planes. There were several additional transfer cases on the planes, also carrying unidentified remains from the crash.




















Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (142)
CulperGang
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:57amYeah right. Now tell us why you are still there???? Oh right, fighting terrorists, cells. Yo, Major got news for you, the politicians are leaving the borders open and they are right here “stateside.” Yeah a whole mess of them in mosques, living in plain sight in the US.
Report Post »Those men died, because a whole lot of people are making a whole lot of money off of taxpayers. Keep it real Major. Keep it real. They died so a whole lot of already rich people can get richer. Shame on you Major for lying for them. We no there is no integrity in goverment, but when brass in uniform has none, wow.
LookTowardsTheLight
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 11:27am@CulperGang
The Major doesn’t make the policy you bloody idiot, his job is to kill the enemy. If you have a problem with the U.S. still being in Afghanistan then take it up with the politicians who make the policies. How dare you accuse this Major of lying. Damn liberals. >.<
@dovesong, you are absolutely correct. Job WELL done and America's Finest will keep doing it until told to come home.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 11:56am“They died so a whole lot of already rich people can get richer”
What’s the matter, welfare check a little late this week? Go find a bridge to sleep under, you’ll feel better after a nap.
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 12:41pmCULPERGANG – You obviously have no idea about how the military/executive branch interface works. So take it from this fromer Marine, sit back and enjoy the show.
Report Post »LookTowardsTheLight
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 12:59pm@This_Individual
Thank you for your service! The American people owe you the utmost respect and appreciation. People like you and your fellow Marines are an inspiration to us all.
Report Post »AZpatriotmama
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 1:03pmCall me crazy, but something is fishy here. It just doesn’t add up:
1.) Who made the decision to put 22 SEALS together in one huge, slow, noisy (target) helicopter? In itself, that’s a disaster waiting to happen.
2.) There are conflicting stories of why they were sent in the first place and what their mission was. Don’t we know?
3.) The story yesterday was that it was a trap that the Taliban set up to get revenge on the SEALS for killing Bin Laden. Someone please tell me how they can do that without help from our side. So, they just figured out on their own that the SEALs would all be in the same slow helicopter at that exact place, at that exact time in the middle of the night?
4.) But now everything is okay – we can all forget about this and go on with our lives because we are positive we killed the bad guys who did this…by bombing them from F-16s…without killing any innocent bystanders…and we did this from gathering information from our intelligence on the ground. If this is true, wouldn’t it have been more prudent to use that intelligence to try to capture them first to find out how in the heck they could accomplish such a feat on their own? Too late now – they’re all dead. How convenient.
Sorry, but I just don’t buy it. A very bright guy once said, “The truth has no agenda.” Can we just be told the truth? Or would that possibly expose a very unpopular agenda?
We may never know the truth about this, but one thing I know IS true: our retir
Report Post »AZpatriotmama
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 1:11pm(continued)…our retired and returning vets are at the top of America‘s ’terrorist watch’ list created by our own Homeland Security Department and Janet Napolitano – she admitted it. I find that VERY disturbing!!!
Report Post »civilman43
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 1:28pmHey ******* its your president issuing these orders.
Report Post »Cruzan
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 3:59pmAZPatriot: I sortt of agree. Ans wht release photos and why did the families go on TV? ABut my real concern is that BamBam and Gates are under strict orders to take NO ONE alive, includiing OBL. Think of the info we could have taken from him. <y first reaction to this downing was that Obama ordered the men who killed OBL to be 'removed' permanently so they put them alllin one chopper and told yet another team that the chopper was full of bad guys in a AChinook they had just stolen and their orders were to take it down.
gate
Report Post »Marinewife2003
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 5:02pmWHO are YOU to accuse that man of lying?????? Have you ever been to war? Have you ever fought for this country, knowing that you may someday die to protect it? YOU know NOTHING of the sacrifice of these men and women in uniform, and just like somebody else posted earlier, HE didn’t make the policies, he simply follows them to the best of his ability. If you’ve never served in the military, have never been married to somebody serving in the military, or haven’t grown up with parents serving or who have served in the military, then you have no idea what you’re talking about. Take your grossly misrepresented comments elsewhere.
Report Post »AZpatriotmama
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 6:14pm@Marinewife2003:
You’re right, the General was only doing his job. And I think we all understand and appreciate the sacrifices of our fighting heroes and their families. That’s what makes this tragedy so outrageous and unbearable. We’re losing the best of the best who are sacrificing their lives and limbs for our freedoms and safety. I cry with each drop of blood they shed. Do our leaders that currrently sit in their ivory towers calling the shots cry for these heroes? Obama plays a round of golf, goes on vacation or parties ’til the break of dawn with the Hollywood crowd. As a Senator he refused to wear a flag pin and pledge allegiance to our flag. Is there any wonder why we don’t trust his judgment as Commander and Chief? Or wonder where his true allegiances lie? The fact that our vets were put on a terrorist watch list by this administration and they consider the Tea Party terrorists should shake you to your core.
Report Post »Dons621
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 8:47pmWill we never learn? Politicians start wars period!!! FDR and Churchill had Japan Blockade set up even against refusual of his Navy Admirals, just so his “Our Boys will never go to War” speech would get him off the hook. He knew about the attack and did nothing. He was responsible for all of the deaths at Pearl Harbor. Fast Forward Obama cut from the same cloth a Muslim in a Demorat suit. this is beyond being fishy it smells of high treason!!
Report Post »cranbman
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 9:15pmyou mindless idiot wake up and get a life.if you dont like this country get out. your kind wont be missed. maybe you can go to afgan and see for your self.
Report Post »txn4justice
Posted on August 11, 2011 at 10:36amTroll, this site is for Americans. Not Americants!
TEA!
Report Post »dovesong
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:54amJob well done!
Report Post »CulperGang
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 11:08amjob well done? NOT really those men should not have had to die. We have open borders and the terrorist live right among us. Get real. We need not be there. We are there because a whole lot of rich people are getting rich off of “wars.“ If politicians were real about ”terrorism” they would stop allowing muslims into the country, then I could see this as death as a tragedy, but as it stands, it is beyond a tragedy…it was senseless slaughter brought to you by none other than your own bought and paid for politicians
Report Post »avenger
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 4:24pmhow convenient.. sorry..not buying into this ********…
Report Post »NSDQ
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:47amWe need not to forget that also the 160th SOAR(A) pilots and crew chiefs aboard that helicopter also. Rip brothers NSDQ
Report Post »Garbageman
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 12:27pmAccording to what I have read the air crew was not with the 160th SOAR. They were still highly trained American‘s doing a dangerous job that isn’t a reality show on US television. I feel as if I have lost members of my own family.
Report Post »NSDQ
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 1:59pmForward CAS(close air support) for the specops community especially for insertion/extraction is the 160th (Trust me on this) and if you dont here http://aviationintel.com/?p=2346
Report Post »cranbman
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 9:08pmyes they were 160th my son lost some friends RIP God bless them all.
Report Post »cece959
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:45amI’m curious. Are we supposed to take the governments word for it? There were a lot of stories floating around in the days after bin Laden was killed. How do they know that they got *THEE* person who downed that chopper?
Jezreel
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:59amRemember when they quit the Vietnam war, how many navy seals and other special unit men were killed by our own government because they were afraid to bring them home? I feel that the same thing is happening here. I would not be surprised if Obama or some of our other government officials are responsible for their deaths.
Report Post »AZpatriotmama
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 3:46pm@Jezreel
My thought exactly. I hope we’re wrong, but if we’re right I hope the rest make it home to avenge the deaths of their brothers-in-arms.
Report Post »Damn_Lucky
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 5:48pm@Jezreel truth stranger than fiction.WTF
Report Post »greggor
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:43amWho gives a damn?
They should kill Joe Biden, as he was ultimately responsible for releasing the name of the group which “supposedly” killed (we have seen no evidence) Bin Laden.
American Soldier (Separated)
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:58amWhether or not the names were released, there is absolutely no way for the insurgents to know they were on that particular bird. The only way they would know is if someone at the TOC somehow got a manifest to the insurgents then somehow was able to indicate exactly which bird they were on.
I believe in my fair share of conspiracy theories, but this one is over the top. No one set these guys up….
Report Post »greggor
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 11:39amAmerican Soldier.. I want to agree with you, and yes, I do find it extremely difficult to imagine such a scenario, but still.. is it not rather odd that the exact team who was credited with the “hit” has been almost completely taken out? And all at one time?
Report Post »Sorry.. but I despise this American administration with every ounce of my being.. and I put nothing past them. They are capable of anything.. except ever winning us over.
Still.. Of course, I pray and hope that you are right.
cemerius
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 11:52amOf course our “glorious” MSM has made this terrible loss into a GREAT victory for our enemies as they salivate over death and carnage their peace sign wearing butts will NEVER see!!!
Report Post »Bullcop34
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 1:26pm@American soldier….my god, your are so naive. Wake up son and realize that yes, the government kills their own to hide things they do not want out. Read some books that ARE NOT LIBERAL and you will see disturbing things. Think the government can’t/won‘t harm it’s own….we interned our own US citezens based soley on their race. Wilson segregated the US military which led to deaths of black soldiers purely based on their race(read, “The Good War”) so do not think for one moment that they can’t off a seal team if they wanted. You are way to stupid if you think they can’t.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 3:18pmI’ve been out of the Navy for 23 years. I found it really hard at first (when Obama got elected) to believe that someone who wanted to destroy America had been elected to the highest office. I’ve researched, I’ve read, I’ve watched his actions. This is a man who truly believes that America’s time is over and he wants to spread our wealth to other countries. He wants to bring America down. I never believed in conspiracy theories until THIS administration. And, the good thing about this administration is it has made me open my eyes and see things in previous administrations that I really didn’t want to admit was going on, either.
Report Post »Juergensen
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:38amHow does one know that a dead Muslim took down a specific chopper?
Did he have a sign on him reading, “I took down a CH-47 Chinook with SEALs on board”?
This story is BS.
Naram-Sin
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:57amThere are a number of ways to determine who fired the grenade and if he was killed. Most likely is that we have an informant or spy. Do you really believe that for the past ten years we’ve done nothing in the intellegence area? (Now that would be BS.) We may have even recovered film. The Taliban like to film themselves attacking targets for PR and recruiting (are you saying that you’ve never seen a similar film on the news?). Combine that with a body and you’ve got your man. Just like with Osama. And there are still other ways, some of which would make the democrats very unhappy.
Most likely we have an informant in place. Of course making an announcement like this would compromise his position if he were still in place.
Report Post »xoke
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 11:04amNaram, I agree. They might have also had eyes on the objective…ie a scout or sniper team. If the objective was important enough to send a herd of SEALs in then it was probably under 24/7 surveillance by our boys, be they spooks/spies/scouts/or snipers.
Report Post »Sleazy Hippo
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 11:05amThey probably used Human Intelligence to ID the Taliban units involved, and then eradicated them with extreme prejudice. (Meaning they took out families and neighbors at the same time).
Report Post »terriergal
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 11:11amEven assuming the one who fired the RPG at the chopper was taken out, I would like to know who passed the intel to that guy and take out the whole chain.
Report Post »Bullcop34
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 1:30pmIt is BS and what is even more disturbing is that we have been there for 10 years, with no end in sight and these mud hut dwellers still are kicking our a$$. Noone learned from Vietnam, Korea or any other BS war we get into for no reason at all. Think about it….according to the stories out there, this sandal wearing, toothless, goat herder shot down a helicopter with an unguided RPG. There is no winning this thing, never will be, never has been.
Report Post »An AmericanMom
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:36amI pray our troops stay safe and are able to come home soon…..
marshwillow
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:35amSo we are now to believe that we got these murders?It took us how long to get Bin Laden? In my heart I believe that our Seals were given over to them to appease Allah and I do believe it went all the way up the chain of command.This situation smells and even a hick from the hills of Kentucky can see it.I would guess if this didn’t go to the top that we would be running an investigation to see were the “Executive Leak”was………..
American Soldier (Separated)
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 11:00amThere is absolutely no way someone “sold them out.”
This is beyond a conspiracy theory….
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:34amGood…Now get all out troops home and let the Muslims fight it out and kill each other…
Juergensen
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:34amNot buying it. Too convenient.
Given all the economic, financial, and military failures of the past week, this sounds like a textbook fabricated story straight from the Rahm Israel Emanuel School of Politics: fabricate a story to make Obumble look competent and give it to the Associated Press, which will run with it without asking any questions.
I mean, we don’t even know how the chopper went down, but we know who brought it down?
And we killed them?
BS.
AZpatriotmama
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 1:21pmGood Point!!
Report Post »rojotx
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 2:36pmwell said!!
and @AZpatriotmama, what you said above is spot on!!
Report Post »Uechi
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:29amYeah right they were all wearing name tags. Please spare me the BS. Kill Taliban good try and make us believe we got the specific animals bad.
RightUnite
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:29amAgreed…. I’m not buying it either.
Living In NYC
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:27amOur military is the best in world ….thanks for keeping our liberties and freedoms! Keep up the good work work …Thank You!
Now. just don’t let the “Clown in Chief” take a victory tour on your backs and put you in harms way again for his political gains in the polls!
Report Post »Zoe
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:59amAs Oliver North reported, the take down of Bin laden should have remained vague. Who the hell had to advertise Seal Team Six Like it was the Superbowl Line up? You think they needed the press.
Shame on all of you isn’t enough….
Bright or not the Seal Team would have been a high value target for them.- the “enemy”
Is this is the feather on Mr. O’ Transparencies cap? Loose Lips sink ships……
I’ve got Change on my mind alright!
Report Post »Living In NYC
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 1:02pmZoe…could not have said it better myself…..Thanks!
Report Post »capecodsully
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:26amI hope this brings some comfort to the families of those lost. I hope they know how much we honor their sacrifice.
Report Post »Sleazy Hippo
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:25amI was reviewing other Blaze posts on this topic from last weekend and came across this amazingly inappropriate and hurtful statement from August 7th:
(We both think it [the successful Chinook attack] was a trade-off for taking out Ben [sic] Laden… “I’m going to have Ben [sic] Laden taken out, but don’t worry. At a later date I’ll hand over the men who took him out.” …I think this goes all the way to the top.)
I just want to congratulate Governor Palin and all the loyal American patriots who have refuted and repudiated small-minded, paranoid and explosive statements like this, meant to incite lunatic fringe fear.
Our beloved America is the greatest country on Earth. We need to heal and come together. Lose the Fear. Then we will be One Nation, Under God. The UNITED States of America
Report Post »capecodsully
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:34amGovernor Palin has nothing to do with statements like that. Your statement is small minded and paranoid as well. You can’t blame Americans for not trusting Obama, he has not shown himself to be worthy of our trust.
Report Post »Sleazy Hippo
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:54amPlease go to SaraPAC.com
Read or listen to the Governor’s heart felt speech to introduce the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), which will include the Chinook Downing Disaster families.
As a Blue Star Mother, Governor Palin is acutely aware of the risk of overseas service in combat. Her family stands ready to provide the ultimate sacrifice for this country at any moment. She does not stoop to mix politics with patriotic defense.
Report Post »republitarian
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 12:00pmI did some reviewing too. And just look at the hurtful comment I found:
SLEAZY HIPPO
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 11:05am
They probably used Human Intelligence to ID the Taliban units involved, and then eradicated them with extreme prejudice. (Meaning they took out families and neighbors at the same time).
“We need to heal and come together. Lose the Fear.”
Report Post »Where were you for the last ten years? There will be no more ‘coming together’ unless the progressives start agreeing with us. And we are not afraid. You are.
TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:24amSemper Fi!!!!
Report Post »Sleazy Hippo
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:28amThe marine general was a spokesman, it’s probably Army Rangers and Afghans who made the retribution raid, not sure though.
Report Post »Oh My God
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:23amHow do they know they got the right guys?????
Report Post »nysparkie
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:25amAnyone in a sheet is the right guy.
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:22amWe need to reduce their numbers to so few that they couldn’t participate in a doubles tennis match.
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:22amThis whole thing doesn’t pass the smell test….. all these great Marines-one chopper, Taliban set up the Marines, now they are all dead. … Really…… the Taliban are that good & set up our Marines….. not buying it.
Report Post »Sleazy Hippo
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:27amSorry it was SEAL Team members who are Navy, and Air Force specialists and Afghan forces (plus interpreter services).
Not Marines that time.
Report Post »capecodsully
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:30amThere were Afghan soldiers on board, my first thought was did the Afghan higher-ups sell us out. Would not be surprised.
Report Post »nysparkie
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:21amOUTSTANDING! Can you whoop a s s on a bunch more? HEY ROSE_ELLEN! We got some more of those evil and vile Islamist’s. Can you please write me some words on how they were Freedom Fighters raising up against a tyrannical USA who bombs innocent children. Personally I feel if we could put some kings alongside those other FREEDOM FIGHTERS, we would eliminate a bunch of future problems. Eh Rose?
Report Post »nysparkie
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:22amNot kings but kids.
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:21amGood.
Report Post »Now go after their families.
See how they’ll like it if we play by their rules.
PA PATRIOT
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:21amAn EYE FOR AN EYE
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:47amWe need a thousand eyes for an eye. That’s how you win.
Report Post »DeannaRae
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:20amOnce again our bravest take victory out of tragedy. God bless them all.
Mullah Mohibullah? Could be a Ray Stevens song or at least a new verse to “Ahab the Arab”
Report Post »randy
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:19amSorry, but I do not believe this story at all…….
Report Post »NSDQ
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:21amTotally Agree! There’s no way for them to know for sure who fired what. A total move to try and save face and placate the public.
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:23amRandy, I just posted the same thing….. not buying it
Report Post »Sleazy Hippo
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:24amThis IS how it goes in country. Sorry but this is quite the way it is.
Report Post »nysparkie
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:24amWho cares. If they looked the part, blow em into parts.
Report Post »AlansTigg
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:18amnot one to celebrate death normally but… WHOOHOOO
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:17amNow, hang them from a tree with a pig’s foot in their mouth and shoot anyone who tries to cut them down.
Report Post »Oh My God
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:24amGood Idea, but, I don’t think we should waste a good animal (pigs) on bad (Taliban)
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:26amGood plan.
Report Post »AlansTigg
Posted on August 10, 2011 at 10:34amohhhh I like it!!!
Report Post »