You can’t blame Panetta for what happened last week to 30 of our finest aboard a Chinook helicopter in Afghanistan that were shot down. The blame resides with a Commander-in-Chief who dithered and debated about troop levels and military spending at the end of last year. The Chinook should have been retired years ago. If the military ran an airline, they would have to have done so.
In short, our lack of funds and old military equipment just don’t cut it in the era of Having to fly in under the radar and to have all choppers equipped as the one used in the Bin Laden attack.
Well the next group of specialized men trying to pull off a mission will fare any better. Cutbacks will literally put our men at Risk. We need to be very careful about our military cut backs, very careful.
roblorinov
August 8, 2011
SH I think maybe you’d better read this:
http://texasfred.net/archives/11470
This is very highly disturbing and if true then our Republic is in bigger trouble than any of us suspect. I myself had had serious reservations and suspicions ever since the killing of Osama bin Laden. There is a possibility that our finest were set up for the kill. If this is so then BO and his cronies need to be ousted now and jailed for life! I heard that this copter was a National Guard copter. Why put America’s elite on such an old and worn out copter to begin with? Unless it was a setup? The article mentioned above is wrong in one respect, however. An RPG CAN take out anything that flies under the right circumstances such as if it were flying low and slow. My biggest question is how did the Taliban know the flight path and who was on board? Someone gave them intel and we need to find out who that someone is.
samhenry
August 8, 2011
My dear L, I do believe the Chinook was a national guard craft. The Huey (retired from the military) and the Chinook are both very loud. The group that took out Bin Laden had helicopters fitted out with devices that made them much less loud. You know a Chinook is in the area way before you can see it. They fly National Guard troops over my home on a regular basis.
I don’t think the Taliban knew the flight path. I think the sound gave it’s location away and of course the Chinook was on its way with special forces to reinforce our troops on the ground pinned down by enemy incoming. The men on the ground may indeed have been set up and the Chinook in the knowledge that reinforcements would be sent. As you know, you begin to know your enemy’s tactics.
Newer aircraft equipped with sound muffling equipment was in order.
DarcsFalcon
August 8, 2011
Whatever the reason, whatever the cause, there are more than 2 dozen families mourning and my heart breaks and goes out to them.
As an American, I mourn the loss of our military elite – they are awesome and amazing men and women who deserve special awards just for being SEALS.
As a mom, I know there is a heartache being born that will never ease.
My prayers to all the loved ones grieving. May God comfort them in their sorrow.
samhenry
August 8, 2011
Beautifully said, DK.
The Morb
August 8, 2011
You think YOU’VE got problems !!! … Up here in Canada we purchase your old , used equipment for our military !!! … But HEY !!! … We’ve got top notch slingshot technology !!! …
samhenry
August 8, 2011
And spit balls….LOL.
I had no idea. We are all in deep doo doo. The drug cartels have better equipment.
The Morb
August 8, 2011
That’s for sure !!! .. Plus THEY run a profit !!! …