Two GIs Injured In Iraq "Hard Landing"

Another Helicopter Comes Down, Military Says It Was Mechanical Problem, Not Enemy

(CBS/AP)  A U.S. Army helicopter made a "hard landing" in northern Iraq on Thursday, but the military said the problem was mechanical and not the result of hostile fire.

Two pilots were injured and evacuated to an American military hospital in Kirkuk, about 180 miles north of Baghdad, the military said in a statement. There was no word on the extent of the pilots' injuries.

The helicopter, an OH-58 Kiowa, is mostly used in surveillance and some light combat missions.

"Preliminary reporting shows the cause of the hard landing was mechanical and not hostile fire," the statement said.

Last week, ground fire forced a Black Hawk helicopter to make an emergency landing north of Baghdad, the military said. At least eight other U.S. helicopters have crashed or been brought down by hostile fire in Iraq this year.

The military also announced the killing Wednesday of a U.S. Marine in the western Anbar province, a hotbed of the Sunni insurgency. The Marine's name was withheld pending family notification.

The death brought to 79 the total number of Americans killed in Iraq in February. At least 3,163 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes seven military civilians. At least 2,546 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.

Baghdad appeared quieter Thursday, with only one person killed in a roadside bomb, police said. The lull came a day after a car bomb ripped through a bustling shopping district in western Baghdad, killing at least 10 people and wounding about 20.

Wednesday's blast in Baiyaa, a Sunni-Shiite neighborhood, sent flames and debris shooting two stories high, witnesses said. The force of the explosion peeled back corrugated tin roofs. Charred clothing still clung to the remnants of vendors' stalls hours later.

A U.S. military spokesman condemned the bombing as "ruthless" and "barbaric" but said overall violence was down, three weeks into a joint U.S.-Iraqi security crackdown.

"Although we've seen some initial progress, we know our enemies will continue to attempt to disrupt our efforts, and that improving security in Iraq will take time," Rear Adm. Mark Fox told reporters Wednesday.

In other developments:

The U.S. military says American and Iraqi troops killed 10 militants and seized six weapons stashes in Diyala province northeast of Baghdad. The raids took place over the past three days, it said. Diyala is a mixed Sunni-Shiite area that has seen increased violence in recent months, as insurgents stream out of Baghdad during a security crackdown there

Iran's level of participation remained uncertain Thursday as Iraq pushed ahead with plans to hold a March 10 conference with its neighbors and key Western countries on the Iraqi security crisis. Some Arab neighbors like Egypt, for their part, still have grave doubts the gathering will accomplish much.

Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives are developing an anti-war proposal that would not cut off money for U.S. troops in Iraq but would require President George Bush to acknowledge problems with an overburdened military. The plan could draw bipartisan support but is expected to be a tough sell to members who say they do not think it goes far enough to assuage voters angered by the four-year conflict.

© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Add a Comment See all 12 Comments

by formrusmcsgt March 1, 2007 10:54 AM EST

I would like to ask those who claim we're making progress in iraq why it is then that we don't even control the area around Baghdad airport after four years?

A couple of weeks ago, Rice's plane had to hold before landing because of hostile activity in the vicinity of the airport.

And if we're making progress, why is it that after four years there, our dignitaries have to sneak in and out of Iraq on unannounced visits like terrorists?

Reply to this comment

by bluestardad March 1, 2007 10:59 AM EST

Write your Representatives and Senators! SHOW THEM YOUR DISDAIN OF THEIR COWARDOUS ACTIONS WHILE OUR TROOPS ARE DYING!

http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

Here is the House Speakers email address:

[e-mail]

Reply to this comment

by nativewoman March 1, 2007 11:14 AM EST

After being mislead, probably actually lied to, uncountable times, how can we believe anything from our military spokesmen or our government?

Weren't all the previous helicopter crashes first reported as "hard landings"?

If any of these actually are "hard landings", either our helicopter fleet is in dire need of service or our pilots need a refresher course.

I would imagine that it is the former: our fleet is probably in dire need of service.

Reply to this comment

by musty2u March 1, 2007 11:32 AM EST

Sgt, ready for the neutrons yet?

Reply to this comment

by middleman8 March 1, 2007 3:18 PM EST

"our dignitaries sneak in and out like terrorists"...usmcsgt

The reason they sneak in and out like terrorists is because THEY ARE TERRORISTS.

Reply to this comment

by gunnerv1 March 1, 2007 3:36 PM EST

You are correct in calling the Democrats Cowardly, as a matter of fact I'm having "Bumper Stickers" made up showing the American flag with the logo "These colors don't run (except when the Democrats are in office) I'll send you one for free."

Reply to this comment

by bildooreilly March 1, 2007 3:40 PM EST

washingtonpost.com August 9, 2003
Bush Cites 'Progress' Being Made in Iraq
White House Report on 'Successes' in Iraq Counters Criticism of Postwar Plan

Rumsfeld Says Progress Being Made in Iraq
By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer
Thursday, July 21, 2005

Americans Can't Neglect Signs of Progress in Iraq, Rice Says
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 20, 2005
Americans cannot forget the progress being made in Iraq, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said from Jerusalem today.


'Progress Being Made' in Iraq, Abizaid Says
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2005

29 March 2006
Cheney Says United States Making Progress in Stabilizing Iraq

Feb. 21, 2007 - EXCLUSIVE: Vice President Cheney tells ABC News that British P.M.Tony Blair's just-announced troop reduction is a sign progress is being made in Iraq.

Reply to this comment

by bildooreilly March 1, 2007 4:18 PM EST

Most Americans don't even know what kind of country we live in, they think it's a "DEMOCRACY" which is total BS, democracy is one of the worst forms of government ever, democracy is majority rule, whatever the majority wants. Well we don't live in a DEMOCRACY, we live in a CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC, where our RIGHTS are guaranteed no matter who is in power. You democrats and republicans better go do your homework you fools.

Reply to this comment

by lars008-2009 March 1, 2007 5:02 PM EST

Appeal for Redress
Sign this Appeal.
This site is an Appeal For Redress in support of our mission in Iraq.
An Appeal For Redress is an authorized means for active duty military to submit a grievance to Congress. It can be signed by Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard military personnel.
It is authorized by DoD Directive 1325.6 and DoD Directive 7050.6.
The wording of the Appeal for Redress is:
As an American currently serving my nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to fully support our mission in Iraq and halt any calls for retreat. I also respectfully urge my political leaders to actively oppose media efforts which embolden my enemy while demoralizing American support at home. The War in Iraq is a necessary and just effort to bring freedom to the Middle East and protect America from further attack.
If you are active duty, reservist or national guard, please Sign this Appeal.
Most service members fully support the war in Iraq and feel calls to retreat by Congress and attacks by our media on our conduct and mission act to motivate our enemy while demoralizing our support at home, directly increasing the threat we face and resulting in greater American casualties. This Appeal for Redress provides a way in which individual service members can appeal to Congress to fully support us and actively oppose media attacks on our mission and our morale.
This Appeal will be delivered to members of Congress.
http://www.appealforcourage.org/

Reply to this comment

by crater7 March 1, 2007 7:20 PM EST

DIGNITORIES SNEAK IN AND OUT LIKE TERRIOST: MAYBE THESE DIGNITORIES SHOULD DITCH THE BLACK (X-FILES) SUV'S. LIKE RIDING AROUND IRAQ WITH A TARGET SAYING I'M AN AMERICAN, SHOOT ME. GET SOME P.U., AND LET THE DIGNE'S RIDE IN THE BACK, THEY WILL BLEND IN JUST FINE. PROBLEM SOLVED.

Reply to this comment

by grazinggoat March 1, 2007 8:42 PM EST

Sgt, ready for the neutrons yet?
Posted by Musty2U

-No Moisty2: take this electronic personal vibrator for the time being. Neutronic ones are not ready yet. If electronic is not good enough for you, then come and see me...
Captain Devery L. Taylor of US Airforce.

Reply to this comment

by mh4cbs1 March 2, 2007 2:00 AM EST

Read the article below if you are sick and tired of the same old wimpy do-nothing Democrats, who are complicit in this Iraq disaster, and who after 4 years do NOTHING to slow down the death and destruction.

Read the ling to see what the GREEN PARTY says, what Democrats SHOULD be saying if they had ANY moral integrity and commitment! But they are just the other half of the corporation-funded political system, and so they DO Nothing.

http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2007_02_20.shtml

http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2007_02_20.shtml

http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2007_02_20.shtml

http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2007_02_20.shtml

http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2007_02_20.shtml

Reply to this comment

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[formrusmcsgt]

I would like to ask those who claim we're making progress in iraq why it is then that we don't even control the area around Baghdad airport after four years?

A couple of weeks ago, Rice's plane had to hold before landing because of hostile activity in the vicinity of the airport.

And if we're making progress, why is it that after four years there, our dignitaries have to sneak in and out of Iraq on unannounced visits like terrorists?

[bluestardad]

Write your Representatives and Senators! SHOW THEM YOUR DISDAIN OF THEIR COWARDOUS ACTIONS WHILE OUR TROOPS ARE DYING!

http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

Here is the House Speakers email address:

[e-mail]

[nativewoman]

After being mislead, probably actually lied to, uncountable times, how can we believe anything from our military spokesmen or our government?

Weren't all the previous helicopter crashes first reported as "hard landings"?

If any of these actually are "hard landings", either our helicopter fleet is in dire need of service or our pilots need a refresher course.

I would imagine that it is the former: our fleet is probably in dire need of service.

[musty2u]

Sgt, ready for the neutrons yet?

[middleman8]

"our dignitaries sneak in and out like terrorists"...usmcsgt

The reason they sneak in and out like terrorists is because THEY ARE TERRORISTS.

[gunnerv1]

You are correct in calling the Democrats Cowardly, as a matter of fact I'm having "Bumper Stickers" made up showing the American flag with the logo "These colors don't run (except when the Democrats are in office) I'll send you one for free."

[bildooreilly]

washingtonpost.com August 9, 2003
Bush Cites 'Progress' Being Made in Iraq
White House Report on 'Successes' in Iraq Counters Criticism of Postwar Plan

Rumsfeld Says Progress Being Made in Iraq
By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer
Thursday, July 21, 2005

Americans Can't Neglect Signs of Progress in Iraq, Rice Says
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 20, 2005
Americans cannot forget the progress being made in Iraq, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said from Jerusalem today.


'Progress Being Made' in Iraq, Abizaid Says
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2005

29 March 2006
Cheney Says United States Making Progress in Stabilizing Iraq

Feb. 21, 2007 - EXCLUSIVE: Vice President Cheney tells ABC News that British P.M.Tony Blair's just-announced troop reduction is a sign progress is being made in Iraq.

[bildooreilly]

Most Americans don't even know what kind of country we live in, they think it's a "DEMOCRACY" which is total BS, democracy is one of the worst forms of government ever, democracy is majority rule, whatever the majority wants. Well we don't live in a DEMOCRACY, we live in a CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC, where our RIGHTS are guaranteed no matter who is in power. You democrats and republicans better go do your homework you fools.

[lars008-2009]

Appeal for Redress
Sign this Appeal.
This site is an Appeal For Redress in support of our mission in Iraq.
An Appeal For Redress is an authorized means for active duty military to submit a grievance to Congress. It can be signed by Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard military personnel.
It is authorized by DoD Directive 1325.6 and DoD Directive 7050.6.
The wording of the Appeal for Redress is:
As an American currently serving my nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to fully support our mission in Iraq and halt any calls for retreat. I also respectfully urge my political leaders to actively oppose media efforts which embolden my enemy while demoralizing American support at home. The War in Iraq is a necessary and just effort to bring freedom to the Middle East and protect America from further attack.
If you are active duty, reservist or national guard, please Sign this Appeal.
Most service members fully support the war in Iraq and feel calls to retreat by Congress and attacks by our media on our conduct and mission act to motivate our enemy while demoralizing our support at home, directly increasing the threat we face and resulting in greater American casualties. This Appeal for Redress provides a way in which individual service members can appeal to Congress to fully support us and actively oppose media attacks on our mission and our morale.
This Appeal will be delivered to members of Congress.
http://www.appealforcourage.org/

[crater7]

DIGNITORIES SNEAK IN AND OUT LIKE TERRIOST: MAYBE THESE DIGNITORIES SHOULD DITCH THE BLACK (X-FILES) SUV'S. LIKE RIDING AROUND IRAQ WITH A TARGET SAYING I'M AN AMERICAN, SHOOT ME. GET SOME P.U., AND LET THE DIGNE'S RIDE IN THE BACK, THEY WILL BLEND IN JUST FINE. PROBLEM SOLVED.

[grazinggoat]

Sgt, ready for the neutrons yet?
Posted by Musty2U

-No Moisty2: take this electronic personal vibrator for the time being. Neutronic ones are not ready yet. If electronic is not good enough for you, then come and see me...
Captain Devery L. Taylor of US Airforce.

[mh4cbs1]

Read the article below if you are sick and tired of the same old wimpy do-nothing Democrats, who are complicit in this Iraq disaster, and who after 4 years do NOTHING to slow down the death and destruction.

Read the ling to see what the GREEN PARTY says, what Democrats SHOULD be saying if they had ANY moral integrity and commitment! But they are just the other half of the corporation-funded political system, and so they DO Nothing.

http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2007_02_20.shtml

http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2007_02_20.shtml

http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2007_02_20.shtml

http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2007_02_20.shtml

http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2007_02_20.shtml