BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Thirty-one Marines were killed in a helicopter crash near Iraq's border with Jordan, bringing the number of U.S. troops killed Wednesday to 36 -- the deadliest day for U.S. forces since the start of the war in Iraq.
Four U.S. Marines were killed during combat in Iraq's Al-Anbar province, and a U.S. soldier died when insurgents attacked a combat patrol north of Baghdad, according to the U.S. military.
The cause of the chopper crash is still under investigation, although it appears to be weather-related, according to Gen. John Abizaid, chief of U.S. Central Command.
"The weather was bad, we don't know of any enemy action, the investigation continues," he said.
There is no evidence of any survivors, according to Abizaid, who said the helicopter was on "a routine mission in support of the elections."
"It's a dangerous environment that we operate in Iraq, we all understand that, and again our condolences to the families," he said.
Wednesday's death toll surpassed the 31 U.S. forces killed on March 23, 2003 -- four days after the start of the war in Iraq. Twenty-nine of them died in combat that day.
Wednesday's incidents brought the U.S. death toll in the war to 1,417.
I am supposed to believe that a Sikorsky CH53E crashed in inclement weather, this helicopter was more likely shot down. It's a fact that the insurgents have surface-to-air missles (SAM's), if not then why were we buying Strela's (shoulder fired anti-aircraft missle) at $1500 dollars apiece just last week.
It's my belief the U.S. government hasn't been forthcoming about the true number of casualties in Iraq. Why did the government bar the photographing of U.S. casualties coming home from Iraq in flag draped coffins. Why? The reason they gave was something about it dishonoring the dead. How's that? Why drape the coffin in a flag then, that very few will ever see.
Do they just not want the American people to see the real number of American sons and daughters dying?
Four U.S. Marines were killed during combat in Iraq's Al-Anbar province, and a U.S. soldier died when insurgents attacked a combat patrol north of Baghdad, according to the U.S. military.
The cause of the chopper crash is still under investigation, although it appears to be weather-related, according to Gen. John Abizaid, chief of U.S. Central Command.
"The weather was bad, we don't know of any enemy action, the investigation continues," he said.
There is no evidence of any survivors, according to Abizaid, who said the helicopter was on "a routine mission in support of the elections."
"It's a dangerous environment that we operate in Iraq, we all understand that, and again our condolences to the families," he said.
Wednesday's death toll surpassed the 31 U.S. forces killed on March 23, 2003 -- four days after the start of the war in Iraq. Twenty-nine of them died in combat that day.
Wednesday's incidents brought the U.S. death toll in the war to 1,417.
I am supposed to believe that a Sikorsky CH53E crashed in inclement weather, this helicopter was more likely shot down. It's a fact that the insurgents have surface-to-air missles (SAM's), if not then why were we buying Strela's (shoulder fired anti-aircraft missle) at $1500 dollars apiece just last week.
It's my belief the U.S. government hasn't been forthcoming about the true number of casualties in Iraq. Why did the government bar the photographing of U.S. casualties coming home from Iraq in flag draped coffins. Why? The reason they gave was something about it dishonoring the dead. How's that? Why drape the coffin in a flag then, that very few will ever see.
Do they just not want the American people to see the real number of American sons and daughters dying?
To see a CH53E Super Stallion in action go here:
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