Afghanistan Helicopter Crash: More Than 20 Navy SEAL Team 6 Members Killed

WASHINGTON -- U.S. officials tell The Associated Press that they believe that none of the Navy SEALs who died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan had participated in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, although they were from the same unit that carried out the bin Laden mission.

Sources say that more than 20 Navy SEALs were among those lost in the crash in Afghanistan.

The operators from SEAL Team Six were flown by a regular Army crew. That's according to AP military sources.

Another source says the team was thought to include 22 SEALs, three Air Force air controllers, seven Afghan Army troops, a dog and his handler, and a civilian interpreter, plus the helicopter crew.

The sources thought this was the largest single loss of life ever for SEAL Team Six, known as the Naval Special Warfare Development Group.

All sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.

Comments

[Raymond Witkowski]

12:59 AM on 08/14/2011

I absolutely love how so many people feel free to denounce the SEALs, the rest of the US military, and armed services in general, despite the glaring and tremendously hypocritical fact that none of these people have ever made any attempt to serve their countries or fellow citizens in any way shape or form at any time in their existence. Some of you may live in the United States like me. The rest of you still share the same planet. We are all in the same boat. Do not forget that the actions of the various militaries in Afghanistan are directly contributing to your safety and continued existence on this planet. Need I list the terrorist attacks planned or carried out by Al Qaeda, which is heavily based in Afghanistan? I think that all you haters of service members have forgotten the toll that the Al Qaeda savages have taken on your spineless socities (I'm assuming you're all from Europe). Do you remember the 2005 London Bombings? Or the UK letter bombs? Or Glasgow Airport? Or the Exeter bombing? And for you Frenchies, Air France 8969? The '95 Metro bombing? How many of your countrymen were murdered on September 11th 2001?
I've got more to say, but I'll handle that when you make your inevitable ignorant, ill-informed, and grammatically incorrect replies to this.

[Babele]

04:02 PM on 09/10/2011

You misspelled societies.

[Raymond Witkowski]

10:14 PM on 09/10/2011

I'm sorry, I left out one letter while typing in a moving car. HUGE mistake on my part.

[Nadine Lumley]

11:14 AM on 09/12/2011

Oh, and I have a bridge in Brooklyn you may be interested in buying, you deluded wingnut.

[Raymond Witkowski]

01:48 PM on 09/12/2011

I didn't mean to start an argument on here. Yes, I acknowledge that I may have been more than a little aggressive in my original post, which depending on your opinion may or may not be called for. However, since posting, I have realized this and I would like to make every attempt to remain civil in posting things on here. So... you can call me a deluded wingnut. That's fine. But I don't want to make fun of you, so that's that.

[Trussvegas]

09:38 PM on 08/13/2011

An Afgan tribesman with a $200 launcher and a few $100 RPGs can destroy a $20 million Chinook and kill 17 highly trained SEALS at what, $1 million worth of training each and the support personnel, also highly trained, NOT TO MENTION the incalculable loss to family, friends, general military and civilian morale. Their side spends $500--we lose $50 million and more--so much more. bin Laden knew this--as long as we're there, we lose.

[Practicality]

12:00 PM on 08/12/2011

Funny how we dismiss the loss of hundreds of innocent Afghan civilians, while immediately prioritizing the mourning of a few soldiers who are expected to face operational hazards.

[SteveC 1979]

11:30 AM on 08/09/2011

Tragic loss of 20 of our most elite soldiers. I was very saddened to read about this.

[barbara0309]

12:50 PM on 08/09/2011

And the other soldiers and interpreter lost? That's not as tragic?

I'm really at a loss why people are focused so intently on the SEALS. 38 people died, it's a tragedy for ALL of their lives that were lost.

[SteveC 1979]

04:21 PM on 08/09/2011

Barbara - you're absolutely right. Consider my comment amended accordingly.

[Exit Screaming]

12:22 AM on 08/09/2011

What are we waiting for....its Shock and Awe time....

[Nadine Lumley]

11:15 AM on 09/12/2011

The Shock Doctrine by Canada’s Naomi Klein
Read her book online for free:
http://www.naomiklein.org/shock-doctrine/the-book

As for the economic class war, it’s the universe exposed by Naomi Klein’s revelatory book, The Shock Doctrine – the story of how America’s “free market” policies have come to dominate much of the world through the exploitation of people and countries destabilized by recent disasters.

What might have appeared to be isolated incidents, Ms. Klein showed to be a carefully calculated pattern.

[JessCostello]

03:30 AM on 09/28/2011

Wow, you're a caricature...

[SgtUSMC]

09:30 PM on 08/08/2011

I wonder how many of the civilians the taliban have killed Im betting its a lot more than the Military has Our military is severly hampered by the rules of engagment

[sedc72]

09:14 PM on 08/08/2011

I need to say this...
There have been a lot of h8 coming from so-called 'americuns' (that's how they spelled it) about the US troops who are fighting a war they NEVER asked to fight. Some go as so far to say that the brave men and women who fight and die DESERVE what they're getting from the enemy. When requested (I'm trying to still be respectful towards others, though they don't merit it), I find that NONE of these 'persons' ever served, but that great pleasure at the fact that the freedoms we as Americans enjoy were NOT given to this country freely. Now, when I protested against Bush, I was considered a traitor by some of these same people, thought I am a 4th Gen. Vet., and they NEVER SERVED. I now ask those of you who honor our family/friends/total strangers who serve this country, how should I respond to such an inordinate amount of disrespect not just to the Armed Services, but to our nation. Note, I am a liberal leaning Atheist whose mantra is Matthew 7:12 - 'So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.'

[luxou812]

06:39 PM on 08/08/2011

I wonder how many of the people here really know the tragic story of Pat Tillman. Part of the tragedy was the cover-up, the lies, the abuse of his family.

Please take a moment to understand fully what happened to this American hero before your next post. "Smart" people couldn't wait to smirk and call those calling for more investigation c-theorists.

These are the same folks who attacked 911 families for being upset with the process of investigation and weak-in-all-repects conclusions.

[Kelly Hayes]

01:56 PM on 08/09/2011

I am well aware of Pat Tillman's story. The cover up was shameful. There were, however, inconsistencies that suggested, from the start, that something was amiss. There were witnesses who contradicted the official version of events, and aspects of the story that clearly didn't add up. In short, there was EVIDENCE of a conspiracy.

Expecting some basis for a theory, beyond the musings of someone who doesn't even read the articles he links as "proof" of his claims, whilst spouting insults, telling people to "shut up" (for pointing out his misstatements about the very articles that he has posted), and claiming that others are ill informed, is pretty reasonable, as far as I'm concerned. As I have stated previously, I have spent plenty of time around conspiracy fans. Most of them are ill informed individuals who will latch onto any source that agrees with them, and reject any source that does not as disinformation. When they disagree amongst themselves, they will accuse each other of spouting disinfo.

Citing one case where a conspiracy actually existed does not lend credibility to every conspiracy buff who makes baseless claims and accusations. It's like saying that one crazy man turned out to be right about his delusions, and thus, all delusions should be taken seriously.

[yourjewel]

03:16 PM on 08/08/2011

Don't you think it's a little funny how this story got pushed to the back page so fast?!! Somethings just not right here!!! It's a cover up - we never killed Bin Ladin... That was just one of the Gov. little stunts to make us feel better about being over there!!! So now these poor guys are shut up about it.
You know the saying, (Dead men don't talk). Because sooner or later one of the seals would of got feed up with this crap and would of talked, plain and simple... May they rest in peace!

[molamark]

10:57 PM on 08/08/2011

I think your thinking is a little funny. They were on their way to help the rangers and the bad guys knew when to hit It was an RPG fired by one person .The government is not that smart no insult intended , Thanks a vet

[Hugebrass]

01:16 PM on 08/08/2011

http://navysealfoundation.org/

[sedc72]

04:23 PM on 08/08/2011

Excuse me, just a question. I read your micro-bio says, 'defend the Constitution from Progressive Change'. Are you one of those who think ONLY conservatives values are better for EVERYONE? I await your response.

[Hugebrass]

11:21 PM on 08/08/2011

Pick up a copy of Mark Levin's book "Liberty and Tyranny", and you'll understsnd my disposition quite well.

In the interim, I am a Constitutional Conservative who believes that the words we live by are as applicable today as they were in 1787.

[wannabefree]

10:10 AM on 08/08/2011

This is one of the areas we need to address. US should not give, even a remote chance to these terrorists Taliban, a chance to take revenge on Bin Laden's death. I feel very bad we lost these precious men, it does not matter whether these Seals were involved in the killing of OBL.

I think US should bring back all those Seals that were really involved in the killing of the notorius Bin L.aden. We do not know where these Seals are, but if they are in Afghanistan please bring them back here, do not give these Taliban, a chance to claim to have revenged the killing of OBL by killing one these Seals. We are not coward, but be shrewed

We should not involve these Afghan commandos, when we go on very special operations. These Afghan guys can pass the information to Taliban like what happens in Pakistan. One thing we should remember is that that many of these fanatics are prepared to die in the name of Islam. So nothing matters to them more than their religion. We should love religion, but we have to live by it, and not for it.
My point is don't load so many Seals and some Afghan mix (who can leak information to the Taliban) in a helicopter and give a chance to Taliban to score a big target.

[luxou812]

06:28 PM on 08/08/2011

A military operation is no place for common sense. I would like you in a position of oversight. Too bad none of us ever know anything but bits and pieces of the truth.

[molamark]

07:00 PM on 08/08/2011

vietnam was the same. Thanks for sounding off . airborne vet

[rmhale]

03:31 AM on 08/08/2011

Why are my pertinent comments being removed ?

[reasonlives]

02:03 PM on 08/08/2011

join the club, what else is new?

[rmhale]

03:01 PM on 08/09/2011

Are you a member too? I guess the editors(sic) don't like being criticized for failing to do their jobs.

[cobry4949]

02:03 AM on 08/08/2011

http://www.rense.com/general94/execc.htm
http://beforeitsnews.com/story/917/461/Inside_Scoop:_31_US_Occupiers_Killed_in_Afghanistan_and_Much_More.html
http://www.rense.com/general94/comments.htm

[molamark]

01:30 PM on 08/08/2011

Prior service You told him good. Right on a vet airborne

[Hugebrass]

01:17 PM on 08/08/2011

A student of history you're not.

[sharin]

09:36 AM on 08/08/2011

spam