Fifteen American Soldiers Killed in Attack on Military Helicopter - 2003-11-02

In an attack on a giant military helicopter in Iraq, 15 soldiers were killed and over 20 others were injured. Eyewitnesses reported that two Chinook helicopters flying near the city of Fallujah were hit by at least two missiles. A spokesman for the U.S. Army stated that the incident is under investigation. In Washington, U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld described the incident as a tragedy for America and promised that those responsible for the incident would be held accountable. This attack is the deadliest against American forces in the past six months since the end of major combat operations. Additionally, in another attack in Baghdad, an American soldier was killed early today – Sunday – due to the explosion of a roadside bomb while a military convoy was passing. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld stated that attacks on Americans would not deter what he called a long, hard war against global terrorism. Mr. Rumsfeld told reporters on Sunday that there would be 'tragic days,' but President Bush remains determined to win the war against terrorists. The Secretary of Defense noted that U.S. forces have had 'great success' in recruiting former Iraqi army soldiers to assist in stabilizing security in Iraq. Shortly after the war, U.S. forces disbanded the Iraqi army, a move criticized by some who argued that it would harm the country's security.