US Helicopter Shot Down in Afghanistan: 31 US Special Forces Killed – Taliban Takes Credit

Thirty one American special forces and troops and seven Afghan commandos were killed in Afghanistan after a military helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan.The Taliban has taken credit for the incident. ABC News reports that 25 US Navy Seals were on board. American officials stated that it is the deadliest single incident for American forces in Afghanistan since the decade long war began.

The Taliban claimed they downed the helicopter with rocket fire while it was taking part in a raid on a house where insurgents were gathered in the province of Wardak late Friday. It said wreckage of the craft was strewn at the scene.

NATO confirmed the overnight crash took place and that there “was enemy activity in the area.” But it said it was still investigating the cause and conducting a recovery operation at the site. It did not release details or casualty figures.

We say a prayer and thank the brave souls that died for keeping us free and battling terrorism. We also say a prayer and given our condolences to the families, loved ones and friends of those that have died, how difficult a time this must be for them. God bless and rest in peace.

The Jawa Report brings up an very interesting question that needs to be answered; however, we most likely already know who is responsible. The Taliban have taken credit for the downing of this chopper; however, where would the Taliban have obtained surface to air armaments?

Now the question is: who in the world would have an interest in supplying the Taliban with such good surface to air armaments?

If you think about it there is only one answer. Pakistani intelligence who were humiliated by the death of UBL have every motivation to prevent another similar operation.

Of course the Gateway Pundit reminds us that in June the White House confirmed that they were holding peace talks with the Taliban.

UPDATE I: Crash kills members of SEAL Team 6.

Although many of the Seals belonged to the same unit as the Seal team that took out Bin Laden, none of them are blieved to be ones that took part in the raid that took out Bin Laden.

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.