Explosives used against U.S. forces are so sophisticated that they must have originated in Iran. As the U.S. comes to grips with the deadliest loss of American lives since the war in Afghanistan began, more has been revealed about the helicopter crash that claimed 38 lives.<br />
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The Chinook chopper was on a mission to back up U.S. Army Rangers, who had come under fire by Afghan insurgents in the area, military official said. The team had completed their mission of subduing the attackers, and was departing in the helicopter when it was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. The most telling comment coming out of the tragedy was, "this was not a new tactic and it wasn't a new weapon."<br />
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A spokesman for the Taliban movement said the craft had been shot down with a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) from as close as 150yds in an ambush attack soon after it took off following the raid. Ambushing aircrafts is a common tactic of insurgents in parts of southern and eastern Afghanistan, making the aircraft vulnerable during take-off.<br />
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When our President learned of the incident at Camp David, he issued a statement saying his thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who perished. At the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said he was deeply saddened by the loss and vowed that the U.S. will stay the course to complete the mission to make the world a safer place. A better response would have been for President Obama and Defense Secretary Panetta to pledge and demonstrate a renewed effort to "get to the source of the weapons killing our soldiers."<br />
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Let me be very clear, anyone who doesn't understand the role of Iran in the killing of American soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq must be suffering from grand delusions. The truth:<br />
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*Iran has been waging a proxy war against U.S. and other western countries since 1979, and this latest attack on an American Chinook chopper should surprise no one. <br />
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*In the past British Special Forces have seized shipments of Iranian arms intended for the Taliban. 48 rockets were intercepted in Nimruz Province in southern Afghanistan in February of 2010.<br />
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*Some of the explosives used against U.S. forces are so sophisticated that they must have originated in Iran.<br />
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This recent attack may have been a "lucky shot" but it should serve as motivation to go after the suppliers of weapons which are killing Americans.<br />
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<i>Dr. Tom Smiley is Senior Pastor of Lakewood Baptist Church, Gainesville, Georgia. The 2600 member congregation is a vibrant Christian fellowship locally and globally. Dr. Smiley is the founder of "Life with Smiles Ministry". His messages are broadcast on AM 550 WDUN, and his "blog" entries and thoughts on God, faith, current events, and Islam are available at the website below. His books: "Runaway Lives: Overcoming Emotional Undercurrents", "Angels all Around", and "Uncommon Common Sense" can be ordered at his Life with Smiles website. Contact Dr. Smiley at
[email protected].</i><br />
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