Unmanned U.S. Spy Aircraft Crashes in Iraq

[Rose Siding]

FALLUJAH, Iraq -- An unmanned U.S. spy aircraft crashed Monday in Fallujah, spreading debris over the southern corner of the city, witnesses said.

Jubilant residents picked up pieces of the drone and danced in the streets, displaying pieces of the aircraft to reporters, witnesses said.

U.S. Marines, who are responsible for security in the Fallujah area, confirmed the report.

"An unmanned aerial vehicle crashed in the vicinity of Fallujah earlier today. The loss of this UAV will not have a significant effect upon" military operations, said Marine spokesman Lt. Col. T. V. Johnson.

Word of the crash came hours after a suicide car bombing at a U.S. base north of Fallujah killed seven U.S. Marines and three Iraqi national guardsmen in the deadliest attack against American troops since May.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-iraq-spy-aircraft,0,2541453.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[wrang_wrang]

1. Looks like Terminator

Drones and killer machines trying to crush the human race.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. Better go down to the Hobby Lobby and put another one together!

[LynnTheDem]

3. INVADE!!!!!!!!

KILLER DRONES!!!

INVADE INVADE INVA...US drone???...*cough*...never mind.

[Rose Siding]

6. We are spying on a country we occupy

Except for all the death, maiming, injustice, and liklihood that it could happen here, it would be hilarious.

[rfkrocks]

7. great point

Iraq is so out of control we need robot drones to know what is going on because it is too unsafe for the US Marines!!!!!

[nolabels]

8. Some rather sage advice from a US miltary general

“Change the channel”
- Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt's advice to Iraqis who see TV images of innocent civilians killed by coalition troops.


http://www.iraqbodycount.net/

[leftchick]

4. this is not the first one....

I saw a photo a couple of weeks ago with resistance fighters holding one. It appeared to be still pretty well intact.

[wrang_wrang]

5. The Chinese are willing to pay a pretty penny for the avionics

They know they need to develop counter-measures as they may face them in the future.

[BeHereNow]

9. How much did we pay for that?

Anyone know how much money the
US tax payers lost on that war toy?
I wonder...maybe disasters like this drone
are why the neocons plan to cut 1.6 billion
in education? So they can accumulate
more profits by building things that don't
work?
BHN

[Eloriel]

10. Aw, who cares?

It's only money. /sarcasm

[BeHereNow]

14. Ya, no problem!

They can just print some more!
Everyday I wake and ask...
"What fresh hell is this?"
It's truly overwhelming.
BHN

[slojim240]

11. It won't be long before our enemies have the technology to block these

war toys.

[BeHereNow]

12. Maybe they already do?

Any news on WHY the drone went down?
Hmmm.
BHN

[salin]

13. Looks like we need funding for Missle Defense

*projecting one of the bizarre type of responses that might be heard by Rumsfeld...*

[BeHereNow]

15. Yes it is a known unknown

just how much more funding we will need...
BLEH! I think I am losing my mind...and this too
is a known unknown...just how much more can we
take before we are all stark raving mad?
It is all so outrageous.
BHN

[salin]

16. Here is a frightening thought...

I am following the spy/OSP story closely... one name which isn't yet coming up - but that is tied is John Bolton... I think we should watch for him - particularly in stepping up the Iran "we must do something" rhetoric.

The response here, and elsewhere (including Yglesia's blog)... is not to worry they wouldn't even contemplate another military action. (And they shouldn't - with what resources?)... yet, this is what was said shortly after the Afghanistan operations when the war case was just beginning to be floated back in March 2002. These folks are so arrogant, so crazy, and so out of touch with reality - that they are not constrained. It really looks like they are trying to mount another case for another war. It also looks as though there are some counterveiling forces behind the scenes that are trying to blow up the effort before it gets going (hence the investigations)... but note, I believe in the most recent reporting - the DOJ is putting out the order not to go forward with arrests, and possibly to stall the whole investigation. The counterveiling efforts might yet be stymied - and while it makes NO rationale sense... it appears that these nutjobs really are trying to stage another effort... perhaps in time to get the public completely frightened and behind their man??? hard to tell... only thing that is clear is that those pushing this line are completely insane.

[BeHereNow]

17. The draft is inevitable-

http://www.indybay.org/news/2003/10/1654942.php
This writer outlines 33 points or "problems" that the
government is facing over the next generation-
the draft solves them all...LONG read and unfortunately
infallible in its logic and conclusion.
BHN