Oh lord...31 marines die in chopper crash (36 dead overall)

Not much commentary, because I'm sick about this. But if dKos is one of your early-morning news resources, here it is.

From CNN.

AGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Thirty-one Marines were killed in a helicopter crash near Iraq's border with Jordan, bringing the number of U.S. troops killed Wednesday to 36 -- the deadliest day for U.S. forces since the start of the war in Iraq. Four U.S. Marines were killed during combat in Iraq's Al-Anbar province, and a U.S. soldier died when insurgents attacked a combat patrol north of Baghdad, according to the U.S. military. The cause of the chopper crash was not immediately known and is being investigated, according to the military. Wednesday's death toll surpassed the 31 U.S. forces killed on March 23, 2003 -- four days after the start of the war in Iraq. Twenty-nine of them died in combat that day.

More from the story below the fold. This is the most deadly incident for Americans so far in Iraq, even worse than the mess hall bombing. I know accidents can happen anytime, anywhere, but they shouldn't have even BEEN in that damn chopper in Iraq.

Wednesday's death toll surpassed the 31 U.S. forces killed on March 23, 2003 -- four days after the start of the war in Iraq. Twenty-nine of them died in combat that day. Wednesday's incidents brought the U.S. death toll in the war to 1,417. The CH-53 Sea Stallion chopper crashed near Ar Rutbah in western Iraq about 1:20 a.m. local time (5:20 p.m. Tuesday ET). It was carrying personnel from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and the 1st Marine Division. Military officials said a search and rescue team was at the site and an investigation of the crash was under way.

[Another Update:] In addition to the 31, another 5 soldiers were killed today in combat. Again, from from CNN:

Four U.S. Marines were killed during combat in Iraq's Al-Anbar province, and a U.S. soldier died when insurgents attacked a combat patrol north of Baghdad, according to the U.S. military.

It's now up to 36 on the day.

"All the oil in Saudi Arabia will not sweeten this little hand!"