May 06, 2006

British Copter Downed, Iraqis Cheer (video / images)

A British military helicopter crashed in the predominately Shia city of Basra today. Reports from the crash indicate Iraqi cheered the helicopter crash and threw stones at British troops who arrived at the scene.

Image: AP. Video of the aftermath here.

The Iraqis involved were followers of Muqtada al-Sadr. It boggles the mind that al-Sadr and his militias weren't wiped out long ago. In recent weeks, members of al-Sadr's Mehdi Army have begun to mimick the tactics of other insurgent groups and have begun posting propaganda films on the internet. Up to this point, the Mehdi Army has simply claimed to be a militia fighting to protect Shia from Sunni abuses. Recently, a group claiming to be the Mehdi Army posted video of an attack against a Coalition tank. This is not a good sign.

All four of the British troops are reported dead. Tragic.

So much for the alleged success of the British whose 'hands off' occupation policy is so often seen as succesful in 'winning the hearts and minds' of the Iraqi people. Is it better to be feared or loved? Feared.

In related news, a U.S. CH-47 Chinook helicopter has been downed in Afghanistan. Ten U.S. soldiers were killed. (hat tip: Traderrob). A bad day for our brave soldiers.

Fox:

A British military helicopter crashed in Basra on Saturday, and Iraqis hurled stones at British troops and set fire to at least one armored vehicle that rushed to the scene. Clashes broke out between British troops and Shiite militias, police and witnesses said....

British forces backed by armored vehicles rushed to the area but were met by a hail of stones from the crowd of at least 250 people, who jumped for joy and raised their fists as a plume of thick smoke rose into the air from the crash site.

The crowd also set at least one British armored vehicle on fire, apparently with a rocket-propelled grenade, but the British soldiers inside escaped unhurt, witnesses said. British fired weapons into the air in an effort to disperse the crowd.

Shooting broke out between the British and armed militiamen, and at least two people, including a child, were killed, Khazim said.

Crowds chanted "we are all soldiers of al-Sayed," a reference to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, an ardent foe of the presence of foreign troops in Iraq.

This guy says: I’d like to think that the people who are throwing rocks at the burning wreckage of the helicopter are terrorists. I'd suggest watching the video.

Clarity and Resolve call it: Mogadishu, Somalia Redux

Robert Spencer: Tiny Minority of Extremists and They'll Welcome Us As Liberators Updates