Really? Now? This? In a very dangerous world at present, aren't there other things we can cut than the military? "Save your rounds." Really? You want the guys, and women who are "saving their rounds" instead of training as hard as possible in front of you when trouble hits?
View Larger Map 5 Americans killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash By Masoud Popalzai, CNN updated 6:48 AM EDT, Tue March 12, 2013 Daman, Kandahar, Afghanistan STORY HIGHLIGHTS NEW: A U.S. official says those killed were Americans Crash happens in southern Afghanistan on Monday Military says there was no enemy activity in the area There have been 18 coalition deaths in 2013 Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Five U.S. service members were killed when a helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan, a U.S. official said early Tuesday. The chopper went down Monday in the Daman district of southern Kandahar during a rain storm, said Jawid Faisal, a government spokesman for the province. There was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the incident, according to a statement by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The U.S. official, who did not want to be identified, did not offer additional information about the victims. U.S. deaths mar Hagel Afghanistan visit Suicide attacks in Afghanistan It was the first coalition helicopter crash with fatalities since September, when two separate crashes killed a total of 11 coalition service members. One occurred in early September, killing two; the other in the third week, killing seven service members and injuring two more. There were no reports of enemy fire in either of those incidents. There have been 18 coalition deaths in 2013, including two U.S. service members who were killed Monday by an assailant wearing an Afghan National Security Forces uniform. The deaths come just after newly installed U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel visited Afghanistan on his first overseas trip since his confirmation and as coalition members draw down their forces in the nation where war has been ongoing since 2001. In August 2011, a helicopter went down killing at least 30 U.S. service members, the single deadliest loss for U.S. troops in the Afghan war. Insurgents shot down the CH-47 Chinook, which was carrying 25 U.S. special operations forces. Some the those who died belonged to the same covert unit that conducted the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, though they were not the same men, a military official said at the time. CNN's Barbara Starr contributed to this report; Ben Brumfield wrote in Atlanta Part of complete coverage on Afghanistan Afghanistan's future: 5 questions updated 11:22 AM EST, Sat February 16, 2013 President Obama has revealed new details about the troop withdrawal. But there are several key issues that still must be resolved. Afghanistan's war history updated 7:35 AM EST, Mon February 11, 2013 Author William Dalrymple's new book "Return of a King" looks at the history of foreign-led wars in Afghanistan. Honoring those who gave their lives CNN.com's 'Home and Away' initiative honors the lives of U.S. and coalition troops who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Medal of Honor to hero of worst battle updated 10:28 AM EST, Tue February 12, 2013 Former Army Staff Sgt. Clint Romesha receives the Medal of Honor for his role in one of the worst ground attacks of the Afghanistan war. The new story of bin Laden's death updated 4:18 PM EST, Tue February 12, 2013 On Monday Esquire magazine published a massive profile of the Navy SEAL who says he shot Osama bin Laden. Selling little girls to pay back debt The mother of a little Afghan girl cannot face her daughter. She looks down in shame as she explains why she must hand her over to drug lords. Pimp my jihadist updated 5:21 PM EST, Sun January 27, 2013 Aman Mojadidi, an American of Afghan descent, is an artist who has worked in Kabul and chosen particularly provocative themes. Meet Afghanistan's future updated 12:10 PM EST, Fri December 14, 2012 Erin Burnett speaks to a future Afghan space engineer and president. The family of Fawzia Koofi is OutFront. Opinion: Abandon Afghanistan? updated 11:14 AM EST, Thu January 10, 2013 Afghan President Hamid Karzai met with President Barack Obama to discuss the post-2014 American presence in Afghanistan. Opinion: Islam key to Afghan dream U.S. underestimates importance of Islam in making Afghanistan a better place, say authors. Study finds displaced Afghans updated 9:28 PM EST, Thu November 29, 2012 The number of people forced to flee their homes is increasing and the conditions for the displaced are far below international standards. Afghans: 'We don't need the Americans' updated 7:06 AM EST, Fri December 14, 2012 Panetta seems optimistic about Afghan security. Erin Burnett talks to two individuals about the reality on the ground. 11 years of war: Was it worth it? updated 6:01 AM EST, Fri December 14, 2012 It has been 11 years of war in Afghanistan. Erin Burnett reports on where things stand now and what's next? A dangerous legacy updated 3:24 PM EDT, Fri June 8, 2012 Unexploded munitions from war games in Afghanistan make a dangerous play ground for local children. Can you deal with the Taliban? updated 4:45 PM EDT, Wed May 16, 2012 When it comes to negotiating with the Taliban, it's always one step forward, two steps back. Saving Aesha Her story of torture by the Taliban made her the iconic face of the oppression of women in Afghanistan. Perhaps instead of "saving [their] rounds" during training, the American military can convince the President and Congress to read history, and pull out of a war that can't, that never has been, winnable.