Chopper crash video posted on internet by Iraqi insurgents

After the fifth U.S. helicopter since January 20 was downed in Iraq the other day, a Senior U.S. defense official said the helicopter did not appear to have been hit by hostile fire, despite witness reports claiming otherwise. Well today an al-Qaeda-backed group in Iraq posted footage showing the copter being shot down on the internet, killing seven U.S. marines.

The video, posted on a Web site used by insurgents, showed an apparent missile hitting the helicopter. The footage also showed the aircraft pulling away while trailing smoke before being engulfed in flames and crashing behind distant trees.

Five choppers down in just over two weeks, 3,000 Iraqis fleeing Iraq each day, and well over 3,100 U.S. service members dead... Once again, I guess this is Bush's definition of progress.