Five

From AP-

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A Sea Knight helicopter went down northwest of Baghdad on Wednesday, the military said, the fifth helicopter lost in Iraq in just over two weeks.

The CH-46 helicopter went down about 20 miles northwest of the capital, U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said, but he declined to comment on casualties.

"A quick reaction force is on site and the investigation is going on as we speak," he said in Baghdad, without giving a cause for the crash. "It would probably be inappropriate for me to talk about whether or not there are or are not casualties."

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The helicopter went down five days after a U.S. Army helicopter crashed in a hail of gunfire north of Baghdad, police and witnesses said. The U.S. command said two crew members were killed in that crash, and the al-Qaida-affiliated group the Islamic State of Iraq claimed responsibility.

Three other helicopters also have gone down since Jan. 20, killing a total of 19 Americans — 14 troops and five civilian security contractors.

Please pray for those on board today's copter and their families.

No amount of spin by the Bush administration, the military or conservative bloggers can change the fact this is a serious trend we're seeing. The conflict in Iraq is worsening and not getting better. Five helicopter attacks can't be coincidence. The insurgents more than likely are better armed than ever and now troops in the air are vulnerable just like those on the ground.

I'm not a military expert, but one would have to guess that more sophisticated weaponry than that used for IEDs are at work here. Is some country supplying them? Iran pops to mind, and as I blogged earlier is some reason to believe it though the proof is thin at present.

Casualties are rising, Public opinion continues to grow against the war, and the Democrats are in control of Congress. We've bungled and Iraq and I'm not sure the situation is reversible. A US pullout is coming closer to a reality and the consequences for both Iraq and this country are going to have a long term effect for years.

Linked to- Bullwinkle, Cao's Blog, Right Voices,