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August 9th, 2011
06:59 PM ET

What SEALs were doing before attack

New military details contradict earlier reports that the team killed in Afghanistan were on a rescue mission. CNN's Barbara Starr reports.


Filed under: Afghanistan • Military
soundoff (7 Responses)
  1. John

    Sorry, my error . . three 4-team and two 5-team units.

    September 7, 2011 at 1:12 pm |
  2. John

    There is far more underlying this tragedy than is being released. I'm an old ranger and I'm here to tell you that no responsible and seasoned command would place four 3-team and two 5-team SEAL units, together with other critical SF assets all into one transport like that. Never. It's just not possible. Whatever took place that led to the order for those teams to be assembled in that fashion and fly directly into an area of high exposure has a very bad rumble to it and the American people should not simply let this matter fade from scrutiny. I'm telling you that as a former operative in such a unit that no such mission and orders would ever, ever ever be drafted in such a manner. Never. It would never have survived the scrutiny of command that knows far too better than to allow something so irregular to take place. And the follow-up story that the actual technical responsible for firing on the Chinook was quickly located and apprehended within only a 48-hour period is pure fiction. It just doesn't happen that way in the real world. Something is very rotten in Denmark and we lost highly-trained assets in a manner that never should have occurred. It was not simply "unfortunate."

    September 7, 2011 at 1:09 pm |
  3. Robert Ainsworth

    This was horrible and really CRIMINAL. The command center that ordered this precious national asset/precious cargo into this area without proper intelligence and without air cover & protection should be immediately relieved for cause. The Pentagon and the White House should NOT be allowed to take our minds off this tragedy with news on AAA rating drops to AA. GOP Iowa poles – we don't care!, the economy. Bring our people home now-let the MiddleEast form their own "NATO" and rebuild their own countries. CH-47- NO precious cargo should be moved without protection. A concerned retired USN-Captain

    August 13, 2011 at 7:15 pm |
  4. Anthony

    Jim i agree with u. Rescue mission, to rescue who, d soldiers should get d hell out of there & leave those people who gat no respect & feelings 4 human life, let them keep killing themselves since they enjoy doing that.

    August 10, 2011 at 8:47 pm |
  5. Ron from WA

    I’m not sure any of the new info contradicts any of the previous info officially released by the Pentagon or ISAF because as far as I know they have only released some very generalized info with no details which contradict anything that is “new” – so the lead in to this story is misleading.

    August 9, 2011 at 11:18 pm |
  6. Ron from WA

    The Pentagon always releases the names & branch of service for fallen service members … but I know the media & many others know full well DoD does not release the real unit, assignment & circumstances regarding the loss of covert military operators.

    This is intended to protect fellow team members & their families lest the fallen are associated w/ other members of the unit & they gain potentially dangerous attention.

    While the DoD can’t prevent families releasing info those releasing names & pics are putting other members of the unit (& their families), especially those who took down UBL at extreme risk.

    For the media to try to pressure the families of these fallen silent warriors & the Pentagon is disingenuous & shameful.

    August 9, 2011 at 11:14 pm |
  7. Jim Thomas

    It is to bad what happened to our G.I.'s and there is no excuse for it.I have said it before,use our B-52's,blow the hell out of that land and get the hell out period.Those heathens will always be the same,Russia couldn't beat them either.Get our G.I.'s home and let these countries kill each other if they so desire.Why waste our troops lives.Jim Thomas Phx.Az.

    August 9, 2011 at 8:56 pm |

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