Copter down in Iraq; 2 Marines missing

[Barrett808]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A U.S. Marine AH-1 Cobra helicopter crashed in an insurgent stronghold in western Iraq on Saturday, and two crew members were missing, the U.S. military said. Hostile fire was not suspected as the cause.

The helicopter was on a maintenance test flight when it went down, and search-and-rescue efforts were under way, the statement said.

"We are using all the resources available to find our missing comrades," Marine spokesman Lt. Col. Bryan Salas said.

The statement added that "the incident does not appear to be a result of enemy action."

The statement did not specify where exactly the helicopter crashed in Anbar, a huge, insurgent-infested province extending from the western outskirts of Baghdad to the Syrian and Jordanian borders.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060527/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_helicopter_down

[BrotherBuzz]

1. Not trying to be crass but why in the hell is a maintenance test flight

being conducted over a known insurgent stronghold?

[Barrett808]

3. I think they mean that all of Anbar is an insurgent stronghold. n/t

[acmavm]

4. Maintenance test flight got me too. And the immediate negation that

this was due to any hostile activity.

Better be getting some new maintenance personnel in that facility. I wonder if they have access to enough replacement parts and equipment or if they have to scrounge around for parts.

[Tin Man]

9. Al Anbar province is big - several Marine encampments are there

...like Camp Taqqadum - big base with 10,000ft runways and hangers. This type of facility would likely host maintenance ops for any USMC aircraft based there.

Proper maintenance is essential to ensure airworthiness and prevent unnecessary loss of million(s) dollar aircraft. In particular, helos have rigorous/frequent maintenance requirements - and 'maintenace check flights' are performed by (typically non-combat) pilots at periodic intervals and/or following major repairs.

And considering the restive nature of Al Anbar, something like an emergency landing outside the base perimeter becomes doubly dangerous - if you survive the landing, you still gotta escape the insurgents...

[daleo]

10. Where could they fly in Iraq that isn't an insurgent stronghold?

Just the Green Zone, as far as I can tell, and that would be a pretty short flight.

[maddezmom]

2. Bring them home now

:(

[fakingit]

11. Yes, bring them home now.

~Missing America's soul.

[kenny blankenship]

5. When you're surrounded no place is safe

[leftchick]

6. this is confusing

are the bodies not with the helicopter? Or can they not find the crash site?

[cliss]

7. Strange....but not surprising.

The Pentagon routinely says "it was not the result of hostile action" or something to that effect.

The military will seldom issue statements which give any indication that the "enemy" has done something that will make the US military weak, or winning anything.

What they usually do is wait about 2 days, after the dust has settled, and then they make a statement.

"It appears that the helicopter was downed by enemy fire". The remnants of a shoulder-launched missile will be found nearby, along with the dog tags and other items from the troops.

[Igel]

8. They're usually cautious and choose their words carefully.

In this case, 'appear' is the operative word. People routinely omit it (along with 'seems', 'to the best of our knowledge', and other hedges) when paraphrasing and quoting, but without it, it makes them appear to be liars.

They didn't say 'it was not the result of hostile action', nor does it mean 'it was the result of hostile action.'

Sometimes they're downed by enemy fire, sometimes they're not.

But if the two on board survived, I hope they got to cover safely, and weren't captured.

[0007]

12. Argh!!