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More Blackwater Employees Executed in Iraq
A photograph released by Ansar al-Sunnah Army, an Iraqi insurgent group, shows ID badges and the driver's license of Arthur Laguna, a 52-year-old pilot for Blackwater, a U.S. security company. Laguna's helicopter crashed in a dangerous Sunni neighborhood in Baghdad on Tuesday.
4 Americans in Iraq Crash Shot in Head
By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
(01-24) 10:50 PST BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) --
Four of the five Americans killed when a U.S. security company's helicopter crashed in a dangerous Sunni neighborhood in central Baghdad were shot execution style in the back of the head, Iraqi and U.S. officials said Wednesday.
A senior Iraqi military official said a machine gunner downed the helicopter, but a U.S. military official in Washington said there were no indications that the aircraft, owned by Blackwater USA, had been shot out of the sky. Two Sunni insurgent groups, separately, claimed responsibility for the crash.
In Washington, a U.S. defense official said four of the five killed were shot in the back of the head but did not know whether they were still alive when they were shot. The defense official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record.
The helicopter was shot down after responding to assist a U.S. Embassy ground convoy that came under fire in a Sunni neighborhood in central Baghdad, said a U.S. diplomatic official in Washington.
A second helicopter also was struck, but there were no casualties among its crew, said the diplomatic official, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to make statements.
The doomed helicopter swooped into electrical wires before the crash. U.S. officials said it was not clear if gunfire brought the aircraft down or caused its pilot to veer into the wires during evasive manuevers.
The Iraqi official, who also declined to be identified because details had not been made public, said the four were shot in the back of the head while they were on the ground. The crash occurred in an old neighborhood of narrow streets on the east bank of the Tigris River, north of the central city.
By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
(01-24) 10:50 PST BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) --
Four of the five Americans killed when a U.S. security company's helicopter crashed in a dangerous Sunni neighborhood in central Baghdad were shot execution style in the back of the head, Iraqi and U.S. officials said Wednesday.
A senior Iraqi military official said a machine gunner downed the helicopter, but a U.S. military official in Washington said there were no indications that the aircraft, owned by Blackwater USA, had been shot out of the sky. Two Sunni insurgent groups, separately, claimed responsibility for the crash.
In Washington, a U.S. defense official said four of the five killed were shot in the back of the head but did not know whether they were still alive when they were shot. The defense official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record.
The helicopter was shot down after responding to assist a U.S. Embassy ground convoy that came under fire in a Sunni neighborhood in central Baghdad, said a U.S. diplomatic official in Washington.
A second helicopter also was struck, but there were no casualties among its crew, said the diplomatic official, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to make statements.
The doomed helicopter swooped into electrical wires before the crash. U.S. officials said it was not clear if gunfire brought the aircraft down or caused its pilot to veer into the wires during evasive manuevers.
The Iraqi official, who also declined to be identified because details had not been made public, said the four were shot in the back of the head while they were on the ground. The crash occurred in an old neighborhood of narrow streets on the east bank of the Tigris River, north of the central city.
For more information:
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On January 2, 1997, Correctional Officers James J. Moore and Arthur Laguna reported for duty with the Army National Guard Reserve, 126th Air Ambulance Search and Rescue division, instead of going to their regular jobs with the California State Prison, Sacramento, and Folsom State Prison. On this day, Officers Moore and Laguna were being sent on a mission of mercy, to seek out and aid the scores of citizens endangered by widespread flooding throughout the state.
Around 2 that afternoon, Officer Laguna and his helicopter crew spotted a man stranded on top of his pickup truck surrounded by deep, raging floodwaters near Wilton, in Sacramento County. High voltage electric lines loomed nearby. Despite the clear danger involved, Officer Laguna hovered the chopper above the trapped man as Officer Moore hooked himself to the chopper’s winch and was lowered 125 feet to the truck below. Officer Laguna held the aircraft in place as heavy winds and rain buffeted the helicopter. Officer Moore was tossed about as he dropped through the rain, past electric lines, treetops and barbed wire fences. He reached the truck just as floodwaters were cresting over the top of the cab. The victim jumped onto Officer Moore and held on for dear life. The added weight pulled the helicopter down and plunged both men into the swirling waters. Officer Laguna quickly maneuvered the helicopter back up and hoisted the men to safety.
Both Officer Laguna and Officer Moore displayed remarkable courage and dedication in the face of great danger, and risked their lives to save another. They exemplify the highest standards of professionalism and bravery and are to be commended for their deeds.
perhaps it was the money? yup. real hero there. helping child rapists in an illegal war. yup, that is sure fucking heroic.
i'm glad your fucking hero is dead. that is what he and the rest of the filthy murderers like him deserve.
perhaps it was the money? yup. real hero there. helping child rapists in an illegal war. yup, that is sure fucking heroic.
i'm glad your fucking hero is dead. that is what he and the rest of the filthy murderers like him deserve.
-YOU MUST BE A RAG HEAD.GO BACK TO THE SAND AND DIE..
By STEVEN R. HURST and QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press Writers 32 minutes ago
BAGHDAD, Iraq - In perhaps the boldest and most sophisticated attack in four years of warfare, gunmen speaking English, wearing U.S. military uniforms and carrying American weapons abducted four U.S. soldiers last week at the provincial headquarters in the Shiite holy city of Karbala and then shot them to death.
The new account contradicted a U.S. military statement on Jan. 20, the day of the raid on an Iraqi governor's office, that five soldiers were killed "repelling" the attack.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070126/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_sneak_attack