US Navy SEALs’ Families Blame The White House For The 2011 Afghan Mission That Killed Their Sons

 

SEALs’ Families Hit 2011 Afghan Mission In Which Sons Were Killed; Deem Probe A Cover-Up -- Washington Times 

The families of Navy SEALs killed in an August 2011 shoot-down of a helicopter in Afghanistan came forward Thursday to blast the U.S. command and the Obama administration for the mission itself and for an official investigation they deemed a cover-up.

During a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, they said the Chinook helicopter had no gunship escort and no cover when it was attempting to land during a nighttime Taliban incursion. Insurgents on a roof top shot it down with a rocket-propelled grenade.

All 38 onboard died in the fiery crash including 17 SEALs, making it one of the elite unit’s worst losses in combat.  

Read more ....    

Previous Post: Families Of Navy SEAL Team 6 Members Killed In A Fatal Helicopter Crash In Afghanistan Blame The White House For Their Deaths

More News On The US Navy SEALs’ Families Blaming The White House For The 2011 Afghan Mission That Killed Their Sons  

Families of Navy SEALs killed in 2011 attack say government is to blame -- FOX News
‘Lies and Deceit’: See What the Families of the SEAL Team 6 Members Slain in Chopper Crash Alleged at Their Press Conference -- The Blaze
Seal Team Six families speak out near White House -- WJLA/ABC News
Obama 'Put a Target on Their Backs', SEAL Team 6 Family Members Say -- US News and World Report Second-Guessing the SEALs’ Deaths -- Mark Thompson, Battleland/Time  

WNU Editor: The press conference that was held by these families today is posted below.

Aircraft Crashes Are Now The Biggest Killer Of U.S. Troops In Afghanistan

As Combat Role Eases, Aircraft Crashes Are Biggest Killer Of U.S. Troops In Afghanistan -- McClatchy News

KABUL, Afghanistan — With the combat roles of U.S. troops in Afghanistan tapering off, aircraft accidents emerged as the biggest killer of U.S. troops here during the first four months of the year. Since Jan. 1, 13 service members have been killed in five crashes.U.S. troop deaths remain at their lowest levels here in recent years. The number so far this year, 33 through Tuesday, is the lowest at this point since 2008.

After air accidents, the next biggest cause of death was improvised bombs, which claimed at least eight service members. Four died from causes unrelated to combat.

In all, 42 members of the international coalition have been killed in Afghanistan this year, including three of unknown nationalities, whose deaths in an explosion in southern Afghanistan were announced Tuesday night.

Read more ....

My Comment: This will probably change when the fighting season for the Taliban starts.

No U.S. Military Deaths In Afghanistan For The Past 30 Days

U.S. Army Sgt. Roy Arney ground guides his mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle inside Forward Operating Base Joyce in Kunar province, Afghanistan Feb. 7, 2013. Arney, a scout squad leader, is assigned to the 101st Airborne Division's 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jon Heinrich

30 Days Without A U.S. Military Death in Afghanistan -- ABC News

A milestone was reached in Afghanistan Wednesday that has not happened in six years: 30 days without a U.S. military fatality.

It is the longest gap between U.S. military fatalities in Afghanistan since February and March of 2007, when there was a similar 30 day gap.

The winter months in Afghanistan always see a relative reduction in American military casualties as the cold weather and the elements restricts combat engagements.

But this winter season has seen one of the lowest casualty rates in years.

Read more ....

My Comment: At least there is one positive piece of news from Afghanistan. But the fighting season starts in 2 months .... and this is going to change very quickly. The Taliban are also aware that NATO/U.S. forces are leaving .... why fight a retreating force (and lose lives) that you may never see again.

Update: At least 2,045 US military deaths in Afghanistan since 2001 -- AP

When Will This Grim Afghanistan Milestone Be Reached?

WNU Editor: Image from Stars and Stripes.

A Profile Of U.S. Casualties In Afghanistan Takes Shape

An undated photo shows American military personnel with coffins of soldiers killed in Iraq at Dover Air Base in Delaware. Memoryhole.org, via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

U.S. Casualties In Afghanistan Profiled -- UPI

STONY BROOK, N.Y., Oct. 7 (UPI) -- On the 10th anniversary of war in Afghanistan, U.S. researchers say most American troops killed in combat were white men who had completed high school.

Michael Zweig, Michael Porter and Yuxiang Huang of the Center for Study of Working Class Life at the State University of New York at Stony Brook said the report was based on a reading of obituaries and tribute pages for each of the 1,446 U.S. military personnel -- 23 were women -- who died in Afghanistan from October 2001 to the end of 2010, and analysis of U.S. Census and other data for the communities from where they came.

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My Comment: Sobering statistics.

Two Bad Days For NATO/U.S. Soldiers In Afghanistan

U.S. Marines Corps Sgt. Ryan McCreary and Capt. Francisco X. Zavala patrol through Trek Nawa, Afghanistan, during Operation Mako, Sept. 21, 2010. McCleary and Zavala are assigned to India Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. Mako was on a one-day clearing mission to disrupt enemy activity. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mark Fayloga

More Foreign Troop Deaths In Afghanistan -- CNN

Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Eight NATO troops were killed in Afghanistan Thursday, bringing the number of foreign troop deaths in the past two days to 14, the International Security Assistance Force said.

An improvised explosive device attack killed three service members in the west, and two died in an insurgent attack in the south.

One died after an insurgent attack in the east, one died in an insurgent attack in the south and another was killed in an IED attack in the south.

Read more ....

My Comment: Our prayers go to the families and their loved ones.

A Bad Day For U.S./Nato Troops In Afghanistan

Canadian Task Force Kandahar soldiers take part in a shooting excercise at Camp Nathan Smith in Kandahar. Photo AFP

Nato Loses 10 Troops In Deadly Afghanistan Day -- BBC

Ten Nato soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan in the deadliest day in months for the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf).

In the worst of several attacks, five US soldiers died in an improvised bomb blast in east Afghanistan, the US said.

Five other Nato troops were killed in a spate of attacks across the country's restive South and East, where Isaf is battling the Taliban.

The militants have been waging a battle to overthrow the US-backed government.

The UK Ministry of Defence said no British troops were killed in Monday's attacks.

Read more ....

More News On U.S./Nato Casualties In Afghanistan Today

Ten foreign troops killed in Afghanistan -- Reuters
Nato troops killed in Afghanistan -- Al Jazeera
Bomb kills 5 U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan -- CBC
10 NATO soldiers killed in single day in Afghanistan -- AFP
More foreign casualties in Afghanistan -- Press TV

US Troop Deaths Have Doubled In Afghanistan

MEMORIAL MOMENT - U.S. Marines hold a memorial service for Pfc. Jason H. Estopinal, Staff Sgt. Christopher W. Eckard, Lance Cpl. Adam D. Peak, Lance Cpl. Eric L. Ward and Lance Cpl. Garrett W. Gamble on Patrol Base Hassan Abad in Garmsir district in Afghanistan's Helmand province, March 22, 2010. The five Marines were killed in action while conducting counterinsurgency operations in Garmsir district. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dwight A. Henderson

From The Fresno Bee/AP:

KABUL -- The number of U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan has roughly doubled in the first three months of 2010 compared to the same period last year as Washington has added tens of thousands of additional soldiers to reverse the Taliban's momentum.

Those deaths have been accompanied by a dramatic spike in the number of wounded, with injuries more than tripling in the first two months of the year and trending in the same direction based on the latest available data for March.

Read more ....

Update: US military deaths in Afghan region at 945 -- AP

My Comment: With the US surge of troops into Afghanistan now fully underway, coupled with an increase in military operations against Taliban strongholds .... this increase in US troop deaths is not a surprise. Unfortunately, we are not in the fighting season yet, and with drug interdiction being a priority for NATO/Afghan forces I can now only expect the Taliban to gain even more men into their ranks to fight the coalition forces.

My prediction .... and it is not a stretch .... US and coalition casualties are going to be "sky high" this summer.

1,000 US Dead In Afghanistan And Still Counting

CAUTIOUS APPROACH - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporals Daniel Garner, kneeling, and Chris Ducharme investigate a possible improvised explosive device while on a patrol in Marjah in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 22, 2010. Garner and Ducharme are assigned to India Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. U.S. Marine Crops photo by Lance Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde

US Toll In Afghanistan War Reaches 1,000 -- The Telegraph

The US death toll in Afghanistan has reached 1,000 with the number of soldiers killed doubling since last year.

The icasualties.org website, which tracks military deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq, said 54 US soldiers had died in the war so far this year, as the coalition tries to regain momentum in its eight-year campaign.

It was the worst toll for two consecutive months since the US-led invasion of 2001 and compared with a toll of 30 in the same period last year.

Read more ....

More News on the 1,000th Fatality In The Afghan War

U.S. death toll in Afghanistan 'reaches 1000' -- The Daily Mail
U.S. Afghan death toll hits 1,000 -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Eight die in Afghan bombing as US loses 1,000th soldier -- Yahoo News/AFP
US death toll in Afghanistan tops 1,000 -- ABC News (Australia)

My Comment: Our prayers are with their families tonight.

July Becomes Deadliest Month For US In Afghanistan

There are about 90,000 foreign troops, mainly
US, British and Canadian, deployed in Afghanistan. Photo AFP

From Yahoo News/AP:

KABUL – Four Americans were killed Monday when a roadside bomb exploded in eastern Afghanistan, NATO said, making July the deadliest month for U.S. troops in this war.

A NATO statement did not give nationalities, but U.S. spokesman Lt. Robert Carr confirmed that all four were Americans. The deaths bring to 55 the number of international service members killed in July, also the deadliest month for NATO forces.

At least 30 U.S. troops have died this month — two more than the toll for June 2008, which had been the deadliest month for the American force in Afghanistan.

Read more ....

More News On Casualties In Afghanistan

Bomb kills four U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan -- Reuters
US: 4 US troops die in Afghanistan -- AP
RAF jet crashes in Afghanistan as four NATO troops killed -- AFP
Four U.S. soldiers killed by roadside bomb in Afghanistan -- L.A. Times
Debate Over Afghanistan Rages in Britain as Casualties Rise -- Voice of America
Relentless rise of Afghanistan casualties laid bare -- Times Online
Iraq, Afghanistan troop deaths near 5,000 -- Market Watch
As wars' death toll nears 5,000, Dover shows quiet dignity -- USA Today