Afghanistan Helicopter Crash Kills Navy Seals, Results in Fire Fight with Insurgents

By Douglas V. Gibbs

In the worst single-day death toll of Americans in Afghanistan since the operation began during the Bush Administration, Muslim insurgents shot down a U.S. military helicopter killing 30 Americans, most of them belonging to the same elite Navy SEALs unit that killed Osama bin Laden.

A heavy set-back to operations in Afghanistan, as Obama's administration works to draw down thousands of combat troops from the region, this will be yet another argument against the war by those that believe the operation to be costly, and unnecessary to continue.

Special operations forces, like the SEALs, are at the forefront of a strategy determined to take out key insurgent leaders. The special forces are participating in targeted raids, and their continued involvement in Afghanistan will be relied upon even more as the pull out of regular troops increases.

The problem with this strike is that such damage to the American effort boosts the morale of the Muslim fighters, convincing them that theirs is one that is in the will of Allah. As a result, the Taliban will increase their activity, while using the attack as a rallying cry in the hopes of energizing those that have been sitting on the sidelines.

On the American side, the attack reminds us that these operations, no matter how important, are a part of a deadly war, and that as long as the Islamists continue to wage jihad against America, her allies, and for that matter any non-Muslim nation, we will continue to suffer deaths.

The deaths suffered in this attack includes 30 American service members, a civilian interpreter and seven Afghan commandos. The tragedy resulted from a missile attack against a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, causing the vehicle to crash in the early hours Saturday.

Of the American service members, the group included 22 SEALs, three Air Force air controllers and a dog handler and his dog.

After the crash, fighting ensued as NATO attempted to retrieve the remains.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

NATO, Afghan forces fight insurgents near crash - Associated Press

US special forces Afghan helicopter downed 'by Taliban' - BBC

Copter shot down, killing 30 US troops, 7 Afghans - Associated Press

Worst single-day toll in Afghanistan - The Spokesman-Review

Helicopter Crash in Afghanistan Reportedly Kills Members of SEAL Team 6 - Fox News