Four Marines killed; 19 days, six copters downed

[ProSense]

Four Marines killed; Iraq official held

By SAMEER N. YACOUB, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 18 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Four U.S. Marines were killed in fighting in Anbar province, the military said Thursday. The Marines, who were assigned to Multi-National Force — West, died Wednesday from wounds sustained due to enemy action in two separate incidents in the insurgent stronghold west of Baghdad, according to a statement.

The deaths raised to at least 3,114 members of the U.S. military who have died since the Iraq war started in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

Iraqi forces on Thursday detained a senior Health Ministry official accused of corruption and helping to funnel millions of dollars to Shiite militiamen blamed for much of the recent sectarian violence in the capital, the U.S. military said.

The raid was the latest action in a crackdown on radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's militia, coming a day after the chief U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said a security sweep to stop the rampant attacks in the capital was under way.

more...

U.S. Copter Crashes Northwest of Baghdad

By Robert H. Reid
Associated Press Writer

A U.S. Marine transport helicopter crashed in flames Wednesday in a field northwest of Baghdad, killing all seven people aboard, the U.S. military said. It was the sixth U.S. aircraft reported lost in less than three weeks and the latest sign of growing problems with aviation in Iraq.

A U.S. military statement gave no reason for the crash of the CH-46 Sea Knight, which went down near Fallujah in Anbar province, about 20 miles from Baghdad. However, at the Pentagon, three Marine Corps officials said the troop-transport helicopter was in flames when it went down, with the pilot appearing to attempt a hasty landing but losing control as the aircraft descended.

Snip...

Wednesday's crash occurred five days after a U.S. Army Apache helicopter went down in a hail of gunfire north of Baghdad. Three other helicopters - two from the Army and one operated by an American security firm - also have crashed since Jan. 20. A total of 27 people - 23 U.S. service members and four American civilian contractors - were killed in the five crashes.

Those four helicopters were all believed to have been shot down, the military has said, raising new questions about whether Iraqi extremists are using more sophisticated weapons or whether U.S. tactics need changing.

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[Botany]

1. And all the time Senator Mitch McChinless of KY blocks .........

...... debate over the surge in Iraq.

I just read the ISG report and started Galbreth's book too.

Fact .... We have lost the war.

We can and will win every battle but sooner or later we will have to go home
and people like Sadr know this.

Blessings and prayers for the families and friends of the Marines and those
on the Helicopters.

4 Marines & all 4 crews and troops on the Helicopters :patriot:

:cry:

[liberal renegade]

2. here's a tactic they can change

pull the fuck out of Iraq. It's really quite simple for crying out loud, it ain't rocket science...

[LibDemAlways]

3. The conquest of Iraq was a

neocon delusion that has played out predictably as a grotesque bloodbath. Saddam Hussein was all that stood between Iraq and the ensuing chaos. Those responsible for instigating this illegal, immoral invasion and occupation are all guilty of crimes against humanity.

Anyone who thinks we will leave in any way other than how we fled during the fall of Saigon is overly optimistic.