12 thought dead after copter crash in Iraq : AZ IMC

Jan 8, 2:44 PM EST

12 thought dead after copter crash in Iraq

By PATRICK QUINN
Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed and killed all 12 Americans believed to be aboard, while five Marines died in weekend attacks.

The mounting death toll -about two hundred Iraqis were killed and a dozen U.S. troops were slain last week - came as Iraq's politicians claimed headway in forming a stable coalition government following the Dec. 15 elections, whose final results may be released this week.

Meanwhile, 52-year-old kidnapped French engineer Bernard Planche was pushed out of a car near a checkpoint in a Baghdad suburb, apparently freed by nervous captors who then fled, Iraqi police said Sunday.

Planche was kidnapped on Dec. 5 on his way to work at a water plant. An employee of a non-governmental organization called AACCESS, he was found Saturday night near the checkpoint in the Abu Ghraib neighborhood. His captors had demanded the withdrawal from Iraq of nonexistent French troops.

The UH-60 Black Hawk crashed just before midnight Saturday about seven miles east of Tal Afar, a northern city near the Syrian border that has in the past seen heavy fighting with insurgents.

"All are believed to be U.S. citizens," Lt. Col. Barry Johnson, a military spokesman, said.

He did not say what caused the crash, but bad weather has wracked most of Iraq.

The Black Hawk was part of a two-helicopter team proving support for the 101st Airborne Division and was moving between bases when communications were lost, the military said. After a search, the helicopter was found about noon Sunday, the military said.

Quinn reports a Black Hawk chopper has gone down in Iraq, killing all 12 believed to be aboard.

The helicopter was part of Task Force Band of Brothers and attached to the 101st Aviation Brigade, but Maj. Tom Bryant, spokesman for the division's 3rd Brigade, said the helicopter belonged to another unit.

"It was not from Fort Campbell," he said, referring to the division's American post.

Bryant could not say what unit the helicopter belonged to or whether there were any soldiers from the 101st aboard. Master Sgt. Terry Webster, division public affairs, could not identify what unit operated the helicopter.

"As of right now, we're treating it as a 101st bird," Webster said. "We don't want to get into any specifics."

It was the deadliest helicopter crash in Iraq since a CH-53 Sea Stallion crashed in bad weather in western Iraq on Jan. 26, 2005, killing 31 U.S. service members.

In Saturday's crash, records indicated that eight passengers and four crew members were aboard.

Three Marines were killed Sunday by small arms attacks in Fallujah, 40 miles west of Baghdad, the military said. Two other Marines were killed Saturday by roadside bombs in separate incidents, the military said.

With the latest Marine deaths, at least 2,199 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the war in 2003, according to an Associated Press count. That toll did not include those killed aboard the Black Hawk.

In other violence Sunday, five people were killed in separate attacks in Baghdad, including a policeman killed by a suicide car bomber that targeted an Interior Ministry patrol. Seven others were wounded.

In Baghdad, the leader of Iraq's main Sunni Arab political group said after meeting President Jalal Talabani that significant headway had been made in efforts to form a government of national unity.

"Talabani and I have an identical point of view regarding the formation of a national unity government based on consensus," Adnan al-Dulaimi said.

Al-Dulaimi confirmed that Iraq's two Kurdish leaders, Talabani and Kurdistan regional president Massoud Barzani, have been mediating with other groups to form a coalition government.

Their efforts seem to have forged an understanding between the main Shiite religious bloc and al-Dulaimi's group - which represent two traditionally hostile camps whose enmity often threatens to plunge Iraq into sectarian warfare.

Shiite leaders have in recent days threatened reprisals against the minority Sunni Arabs following twin suicide attacks that killed more than 100 people. They have blamed the attacks on both the Sunni-Arab-led insurgency and some political groups they say openly support the militants.

"This should be done by consensus for the sake of Iraq's unity and independence. Barzani, Talabani and I agree on this condition, and this our sole condition and demand." al-Dulaimi said.

Talabani said Saturday that Iraq's political groups could form a coalition government within weeks - and some experts say the new government could be formed next month.

"Barzani and Talabani are conducting contacts with the Shiite Alliance and I think that the Alliance should agree on this project otherwise stability in Iraq cannot be achieved," al-Dulaimi said of a broad-based government.

Forming a viable broad-based government is a key American goal in Iraq because such an administration, if it includes Sunni Arabs, could go a long way toward defusing the insurgency.

In an effort to help draw Sunni Arabs into the political process, as a way of dampening the violence, U.S. officials for months have been communicating directly or through channels with members of the disaffected minority connected to the insurgency.

The Iraqi government also said it was talking directly to all militant groups who are willing to communicate, but no commitments have been made to any of them, said Wafiq al-Samarie, an adviser on security affairs to Talabani.

"Yes, many groups are communicating with us. We are listening to them and providing them with advices with open arms and transparency," he said.

Al-Samarie, a Sunni Arab and a former intelligence chief under Saddam Hussein, spoke to reporters after Talabani's meeting with al-Dulaimi.

Sunni Arabs, however, expressed anger over a raid by U.S. troops on the headquarters of the Association of Muslim Scholars, a major Sunni clerical group.

The troops raided their headquarters of the Association, thought by some to be close to some insurgent groups, at Baghdad's Umm al-Qura mosque before dawn Sunday.

"The Americans bear the responsibility for this assault," said Sheik Younis al-Ekaidi. "This crime came as punishment for the association's position on the occupation and its position on the latest elections."

A U.S. military official said the raid was conducted because of a tip from an Iraqi citizen that there was "significant terrorist related activity in the building" and six people were detained.

Insurgents have kidnapped more than 250 foreigners in the past two years, aiming to force U.S.-led troops to leave Iraq or prevent Arab nations from strengthening their ties with the Baghdad government.

In other violence Sunday:

- Gunmen assassinated a member of former Prime Minster Ayad Allawi's secular Shiite Iraqi National List in Baghdad, police 1st Lt. Mohammed Kheyoun said.

- A gunman was killed when clashes broke out between militants and Iraqi police, Maj. Musa Abdul Karim said.

- Militants opened fire on a vehicle in Baghdad, killing the driver, police Capt. Qasim Hussein said.

- Gunmen killed a policeman in western Baghdad, Capt. Qassim Hussein said.

- Police found six bodies, most shot in the head, at a sewage plant in southeast Baghdad.

Associated Press Writers Ryan Lenz in Beiji and Sinan Salaheddin in Baghdad

Another helicopter of the occupiers has been shot down by the brave freedom-fighters in Iraq! The U.S. chopper was brought down by small-arms fire from the stalwart forces of resistance near the city of Mosul. The two pilots of the occupation were killed, and the aircraft crashed, fittingly in the town garbage dump.
Long live the Iraqi people that fight for freedom!

Of course i'll keep laughing, and harder! Unable to answer my comment with logic and reason, lying cowards like you post non-sensical weak minded insults.
You are funny, too!

*various inflammatory comments hidden by admin*

Weak minded insults by cowardly liars like you always leave me in stitches!
i'm laughing at you!
Do you get it? i'm calling you a coward and a liar. Go hide like a child, liar. hahaha

Brave freedom fighters? How about subhuman scum. The majority of whom aren't even Iraqi but Syrian and Iranian coming across the border.

Such primative and uncivilized animals they are, I wish they would move out of 7th century arabia and join the rest of the world.

Cavemen.

The steadfast forces of resistance to the inhuman occupiers and their quislings have shot down another helicopter. The U.S. helicopter was bravely brought down by rocket fire Monday from the town of Mishahda, just 20 miles North of Baghdad.
The crew of U.S. occupiers is reported dead.
The fearless freedom fighters in Iraq have struck yet another blow against the monsters of U.S. occupation!

I see that you have a low opinion of guerrilla fighters who use disguises and ambushes, etc., instead of going head to head against a better equipped military.

I guess that must be why you also hate the American revolutionaries like the Sons of Liberty as well, since I'm sure being consistent is really important to you. Some patriot you are.

Some folx get really turned on by people in uniforms.
i think that's called a fetish.

"And others make such stupid comments that only another Unbathed mental cripple could understand it."

You're talking about yourself here, I presume. Either that or you're expressing your exhasperation at not having been able to understand my quite simple comparison (which I will note that yet again you fail to utilize a single fact to refute). Either way, you have again proven yourself to be a complete fool. Thank you for amusing me again with your stupidity.

Are you kidding me? This from the guy who refuses to either engage in a reasonable dialogue or to answer a single question posed of him? After I have quite extensively responded, with citations, to several of your assanine little provocations?

It was fun for a while, when I wanted to show just how stupid you are by doing things like citing facts. But now we're playing a new game, where I just make you do stupid stuff online for laughs.

You keep amusing all of us with your ridiculous, pompous and ill-informed nonsense time and time again. All we have to do is push your button and off you go. Hilarious. Please do it again.

And by the way, none of the stuff you just said has anything to do with me. So, stop making up an opponent to argue with and start dealing with reality. Man, you are so confused about who you are arguing with that it is really freaking hilarious. Again.

The palsied editors make you look like a fool, Brainless. Who are you talking to, yourself?

And when is the Collective gonna shut itself down and stop using Big Oil?

Such staggering intellect of the crippled "editor(s)" is revealed by this comment:

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hidden
by various Sunday January 15, 2006 at 09:24 AM

*various inflammatory comments hidden by admin*

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Yet this remains:

Another helicopter of the occupiers has been shot down by the brave freedom-fighters in Iraq! The U.S. chopper was brought down by small-arms fire from the stalwart forces of resistance near the city of Mosul. The two pilots of the occupation were killed, and the aircraft crashed, fittingly in the town garbage dump.
Long live the Iraqi people that fight for freedom!

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The editors of this site are Collaborators.

The term "collaborators" is properly applied to Iraqis that willingly cooperate in any way with the devils of occupation.
Your country is occupying another.
Some brave Iraqis are resisting "the most powerful country on earth" and are killing the occupiers, quisling collaborators and their hirelings with the intent of freeing their country of the accursed occupation.
You have a problem with people fighting occupation?
How would you like it if your country were occupied by an alien army with a different religion, language and culture?

<i>How would you like it if your country were occupied by an alien army with a different religion, language and culture? </i><p>They brought it here, asswipe, and no matter what you say, they're nothing but sewage and needs to be flushed from the Universe, and the same goes for you, terrorist fellator.

I don't give one flying damn about Islam. I learned all I need to know about it on September the 11th of 2001.

There's no shades of grey with me. It's them or me, and I choose me.

Fuck Islam. Damn them all to hell. Do I make myself clear, Collaborator?

Damn, you're have a spectacularly amusing and public breakdown. Awesome. I knew it wouldn't take long.

I'm honored, I suppose, that you took the time to raise your microcephalic head from bin Laden's lap. But you ain't looking well, Brainiac. Besides your stereotypical apprearance as an Unbathed fuckwit, you obviously haven't learned how to swallow yet.

I'm sure your idol would respect me more than you. I make no bones of my disgust for Collaborators, and that I'd just soon gut a pig as look at it.

Oh, almost forgot: have you reduced your dependency on Big Oil, Brainiac? I've been scouring the web, but haven't seen you clamoring for all the indymedias and commondreams, et al, to be shut down since they're powered by Big Oil.

"No blood for oil" sounds so damned stupid coming from hypocritical sacks of crap, wouldn't you agree?

See ya later, Brainiac. Don't forget to come up for air every now and then.

'"No blood for oil" sounds so damned stupid coming from hypocritical sacks of crap, wouldn't you agree?'

As always, I ask you to cite any statements you purport to attribute to me. Otherwise, please start paying attention to reality. Of course, the fact is, you can't attribute that statement to me, can you? You wish you could, though, and in your tiny brain that's all you need. Pathetic.

You pathetic U.S. losers cannot come to grips with the reality of your failure at the hands of the glorious peasants and workers of Iraq.
Like a schoolyard bully you Amerikkkans picked on Iraq- a poor, small nation; and now you are weeping tears of rage because the brave freedom fighters gave you a bloody nose.
You ran away when confronted by the stalwart people of Vietnam, Lebanon, Cuba and Korea, but today in a fit of national amnesia you sport your bloody flag and boast "These Colors Don't Run".
Your vicious occupiers shall be driven from Iraq; at least those occupiers that are left alive.
You are cowardly liars.

This is true, these colors do run, it turns out. You forgot Somalia, though, kb.

A question for Karpet Burns:

Do you know who Betty Dawisha is?

And as for Brainiac, answer the question, you dimwitted asswipe. Have you given up your GameBoy and computer, which Big Oil plays no small part in?

kb, you are the funniest person on this forum.

Axis Sally, Betty Dawisha, Lord Haw-Haw, Tokyo Rose; it's all a vast tapestry.

Yes, and that vast tapestry is hell on your knees, ain't that right?

'"Have you given up your GameBoy and computer, which Big Oil plays no small part in?'

I fail to see how this question is relavent. You have not established that I have a position on any of these issues. As usual, you're just making up an argument and going at it. Very sad indeed, but it doesn't require much brains to do.

What you are trying to do is have the argument you WISH I would have with you rather than dealing with the facts in evidence. But I reject your premise and I point out again that you have no evidence for your position.

But, we have already established that you don't have much use for facts, so it's not like it's a surprise or anything. Every time the facts come up, you get your whole worldview bashed into little pieces by me, so it's no wonder you want to avoid them like the plague.

I'm worried about your debating skills, seriously. I would like you to be a better arguer because, not only would it be more fun, but you would also see the ridiculousness of your past statements. Then we could have a good laugh together at the silly things you have said. I hate for you to be left out of the joke like this. So, here's a free tip from me to you.

The Straw Man Argument:

"This is one of the most unethical and cowardly of debating tactics, since the person using the Straw Man has so little confidence in their own position that they cannot even address the real position of their opponent! At the heart of the Straw Man Argument is deception."

Good luck.

Four foreign fighters were killed in Iraq yesterday, proof that the forces of Freedom are winning! It's only a matter of time until all the foreign terrorists are hunted down and destroyed.

Posted on Tue, Feb. 07, 2006
Roadside bombings kill four Marines
The Associated PressBAGHDAD, Iraq —
Four U.S. Marines were killed by roadside bombings in western Iraq’s volatile Anbar province, the military said today.
Three Marines were killed by a bomb blast Monday in Hit, 85 miles west of Baghdad, according to a military statement. The victims were assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit that has operated in Anbar province since mid-December with an Iraqi Army battalion.
Another Marine, attached to the 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, died from wounds caused by a bomb blast Sunday in an unspecified location within Anbar, which includes the cities of Fallujah and Ramadi.
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/13807776.htm

Lets hope the American terrorists who illegally invaded Iraq and Afganistan lose this war. It will be a long up hill fight against the Amerikan terrorists like in Vietnam, but in the long run the Iraqi and Afgan freedom fighters will win the war against the evil American Emporer George W. Bush

Just adding that my brother-in-law is a UH 60 pilot over there right now and it is extremely gut wrenching and heart breaking sitting here waiting for word on whether this is him or not... How cruel to say how fitting that they crashed in the town dump as if to refer to my brother-in-law as trash. He is the most outstanding, loving, caring father I have ever seen.