Effective Ways To Improve Your Retail Business ? SEO Article ...

Owning a retail business nowadays is one of the most profitable ventures. But because of the increasing amount of companies offering almost similar products, competition is very high. Aside from that, there are still several factors that could practically trigger downturn beyond your control. These are the decline in traffic due to seasonal change, economic recession and unnecessary circumstances.

For this reason, it is highly recommended for any business to think of strategic ways on how they could increase their competence in managing retail businesses. Here are some of the effective ways on how you can improve your retail sales, set your business apart from others and make it a successful one:

1. Understand the need of your market. In order to fully reach out for your prospective customers, you must learn their basic needs. What exactly are they seeking from your store? Is it simply your products or perhaps the quality of your service, convenience, dependability and promptness? This way you will also be able to know your strength and weaknesses. You should also take into consideration the elements that could affect their attitude when it comes to price and what they expect to pay. Once you figure out these things you can now offer unique products at prices your customers can truly afford.

2. Implement an effective pricing strategy. While you think of the ways on how you can please your customers, you must never forget to examine whether you still going to make profit at that price point. Business is still business, and in order to keep up with a good flow you must still be profitable. Ultimately, the right price is the price that your customer is willing to pay for the product.

3. Make use of a better financial management. While this may seem pretty obvious for most businesses, there are instances when other companies lose track of their financials. Therefore, it is quite very important for you to create a budget. You must also keep an eye on cash flow, know where your money is being spent and do not forget to control inventory.

4. Utilize an effective marketing tool. It is highly advisable for any business to increase marketing efforts especially during slower sales periods. It is because is the time when there is more competition while there is less consumer dollars. Know what type of advertising methods work best to attract your customers. Now that Internet serves as the most convenient and cheapest way to communicate with your target market, why don?t you search for marketing tools that can help you get this job done effectively.

5. Employ the services of professional retail designers. While your store is considered the heart of your business because it is the place where you conduct your trade or render your services, I suggest you make it more attractive to catch the attention of your potential customers. You can do this by getting some professional assistance from retail shop design experts. So if you are looking for retail design Australia, then why don?t you try their service now and see how they could help you improve your retail business at the most optimal condition.

At Mark Retail designers we are the experts designers when it comes to store planning, store design and store fit outs. For more information you can visit retail design http://www.retaildesigners.net.au

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Source: http://www.maxref.com/effective-ways-to-improve-your-retail-business

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Obama to meet with J&J, Wells CEOS on jobs: source (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) ? President Barack Obama is expected to meet Friday afternoon with chief executives from Johnson & Johnson, Wells Fargo & Co, US Bancorp, Xerox Corp, BlackRock Inc and Silver Bridge, according to a source familiar with the plans.

Obama is expected to talk about global financial turmoil, the state of the U.S. economy, and job growth with the executives.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Friday that Obama was constantly "on the hunt" for new job creation ideas and that would be on the agenda for the CEO meeting.

The White House has not yet released the names of CEOs slated to attend.

Obama's hopes for reelection in 2012 will hinge on his success in lowering unemployment, currently pinned above 9 percent, boosting sluggish growth and restoring confidence lost from the Standard & Poor's downgrade and fractious debt talks.

(Reporting by Karey Wutkowski, with additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick; editing by Gerald E. McCormick)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/economy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110812/ts_nm/us_usa_economy_obama

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Unions look for silver lining in Wisconsin recalls

Supporters of Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) cheer Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011 as the winner of the State Senate District 32 winner is announced in La Crosse. (AP Photo/Rory O'Driscoll - La Crosse Tribune)

Supporters of Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) cheer Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011 as the winner of the State Senate District 32 winner is announced in La Crosse. (AP Photo/Rory O'Driscoll - La Crosse Tribune)

(AP) ? Labor officials said Wednesday that the results in Wisconsin's unprecedented recall elections should send a stern warning to any elected official who might seek to curb collective bargaining rights.

But in toppling only two of the six lawmakers they targeted, some observers said the outcome could be a sign that labor's political clout isn't what it used to be.

Unions celebrated the ouster of two Republican state senators who supported Gov. Scott Walker's bill to curb collective bargaining rights for most state employees. Despite the historic wins for Wisconsin Democrats in Tuesday's voting, they still fell short of their goal to knock off at least three Republicans so they could take majority control of the state Senate and be able to block Walker and the Republicans' conservative agenda.

The outcome falls somewhere between a victory and a loss for beleaguered unions, said Doug Schoen, a Democratic political strategist.

"Organized labor certainly didn't lose any ground," Schoen said. "They didn't fundamentally alter the political environment, but they sent a strong message to Republicans that what they are doing is not without peril."

That's the silver lining union officials were spinning Wednesday.

"This is going to send a signal that workers and the public are not going to take this overreaching lying down," AFL-CIO political director Mike Podhorzer said. "I can't imagine that if I were a state legislator in another state that I would want to go through what these six Republicans just went through."

Unions plan to take the fight to Ohio, where voters will decide in November whether to repeal the state's new collective bargaining law. A spokesman for a group that wants to keep the law in place called the two election wins in Wisconsin "meaningless."

"Labor got into this with the goal of shifting the balance of power and they failed," said Jason Mauk, spokesman for Building a Better Ohio, a group defending the new law. "There's no other way to read it. They spent millions of dollars in hopes of sending a message and it fell flat."

Walker, who enraged national unions for his insistence on limiting bargaining rights, said the injection of national labor groups into the fight ultimately didn't succeed.

"I would say in general all of the money that came in from outside the state, no matter what source it came from, I think in the end voters wanted to make the decision based on facts from Wisconsin not just based on campaign ads," Walker told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Podhorzer said abor had a strong showing even in hard-core Republican districts that they lost, which bodes well for Democrats who hope to launch a recall of Walker next year.

Unions made Wisconsin ground zero in their campaign to stop the pummeling of public sector unions from California to New Jersey, as government employees are being forced to pay more for their pension and health care benefits to help stem massive budget shortfalls. Unions poured in millions of dollars into Wisconsin for ads and grass roots organizing and staked the reputation of labor's vaunted get-out-the-vote machine.

Earlier this year, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka even credited Walker for galvanizing the labor movement and creating a backlash that made other governors more conciliatory in seeking concessions from unions. We Are Wisconsin, a coalition that included many national unions, spent at least $10 million on the races, according to government watchdog group the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.

Given the all-out effort, some labor experts said the outcome has to be considered a disappointment.

"If there was strong sentiment against what were really draconian measures taken by the Wisconsin legislature, the unions should have done better," said Gary Chaison, a professor of industrial relations at Clark University in Worcester, Mass. "What happened in Wisconsin was an attack on unions as organizations."

Chaison said falling short in Wisconsin also raises the stakes for unions in Ohio, where GOP Gov. John Kasich signed a law that restricts bargaining, bans strikes and gets rid of automatic pay increases for more than 350,000 public workers, including police officers, firefighters and teachers.

"Defeat in Ohio, plus failure to succeed in Wisconsin is really going to embolden (labor's) enemies," Chaison said.

Two years ago, labor unions suffered another embarrassing setback when they spent about $10 million in a failed bid to oust Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas during the Democratic primary. Lincoln, a one-time labor ally, had crossed unions by wavering on health care and labor reform.

But the state fights are more than just political payback ? unions are fighting for their very survival. Public sector employees now make up a majority of union members. The move to curb their collective bargaining rights also leads to fewer union members and saps organized labor's political strength.

Leon Fink, a labor historian at the University of Illinois at Chicago, said Democratic strategists studying the Wisconsin results are likely to conclude that saving public sector union rights in itself is probably not a commanding electoral theme.

"The votes are more there for defense of Social Security and Medicare, but labor on its own is just too weak to pull the train by itself," Fink said.

___

Associated Press writers Scott Bauer in Madison, Wis., and Ann Sanner in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2011-08-10-Wisconsin%20Labor/id-ee8bf61be4f542f290e9928755302544

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Fed under pressure to act as world markets swoon (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) ? Federal Reserve policymakers began meeting on Tuesday under growing pressure to take some type of action to stem a financial market meltdown linked to fears of a new U.S. recession.

Members of the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee started their meeting at 8 a.m. and are expected to deliver a policy statement around 2:15 p.m..

The Fed's policy toolkit looks rather depleted, making some question the likely effectiveness of any further monetary stimulus.

Still, some analysts think global equity declines and other market disruptions could force it to step up with some kind of intervention to try to calm the situation.

Shortly after the meeting started, the Labor Department said second-quarter productivity slipped at a 0.3 percent annual rate after a revised 0.6 percent fall in the first quarter -- mirroring the slowdown in economic growth in the first half of the year.

On Monday, U.S. stocks continued to slump, with the Dow Jones industrial average ending 5.55 percent lower following Friday's historic downgrade of the U.S. credit rating by Standard & Poor's.

Stock futures were up on Tuesday but trading was expected to remain volatile.

U.S. stocks saw their biggest one day drop since December 1, 2008, during the worst of the financial crisis of that year. Bank shares were severely punished, raising fears of a new market meltdown.

"If the Fed does nothing, it could prove to be a disappointment at this point," said JP Morgan analysts on a conference call to discuss the S&P downgrade.

Some economists argue the Fed is close to out of bullets. Interest rates are effectively zero and the Fed's balance sheet stands at a record $2.9 trillion after an unprecedented program of unconventional monetary easing.

Still, there are a few things the Fed could do to reassure markets, including to suggest it will revise down its growth forecasts -- the first signal that it is leaning toward further policy accommodation.

The central bank might also decide to begin reinvesting proceeds of maturing securities in its portfolio into longer-dated Treasury maturities, putting further downward pressure on long-term borrowing costs. Yet with those rates already at their lowest in over two years, there is a sense that such an effort might prove fruitless.

HOLDING FIRE ON BOND BUYS

Another move the Fed could make, but one that few expect, is another round of bond purchases. These are seen as controversial and only modestly effective, so policymakers will be reluctant to resort to them again.

"(It) depends on how confident the Fed is in their own forecast," said John Silvia, economist at Wells Fargo.

At the moment, it was difficult to imagine that such confidence was very high. In June, the Fed forecast growth of 2.7 percent to 2.9 percent for 2011. But that was before the rate of first-half expansion was revised sharply downward, and the employment picture worsened.

U.S. gross domestic product rose just 0.4 percent in the first quarter, and only 1.3 percent in the second quarter. Meanwhile, the jobless rate continues to hover above 9 percent with no clear hint that it is coming down soon.

Adding to concerns about the financial system, the latest rescue package from the European Central Bank, aimed at putting a floor on selling of Italian and Spanish bonds, was greeted with skepticism among investors.

Fed officials have noted that, while U.S. bank exposure to smaller European nations like Greece and Portugal is relatively minor, there is a certain contagion risk.

(Reporting by Pedro Nicolaci da Costa; Editing by Neil Stempleman)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110809/bs_nm/us_usa_fed

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Precisely how Makeup Homeopathy Can Help You Appear and feel Young ...

Skin, our initially line of defense through the components can be a reflection of our inner organ devices. Hormonal imbalances, irregular rest, digestive disturbances, emotional tension and emotional turmoil can yield visible symptoms of aging. Puffiness, sagging skin, very good lines, uneven skin tone, breakouts and wrinkles might be a final result of getting older or imbalances in the entire body. Conventional Chinese Medication (TCM) which takes a holistic tactic to health and fitness and well-being is really a secure and efficient option to tackle trouble skin.

Facial rejuvenation acupuncture, that?s a person variety of remedy inside the spectrum of TCM, focuses on dealing with problem regions from the deal with and regulating your body internally. It is executed through acupuncture regularly in conjunction with natural remedy and therapeutic massage. Facial acupuncture calls for inserting high-quality needles superficially to the skin which has revealed to stimulate the production of collagen. This micro trauma on the skin signals your body to fix the area which features collagen production to assist fill in smallish lines. Facial muscle tissue are needled both to stimulate rest, if there is certainly excessive pressure inside deal with or contraction, if you can find sagging.

Cosmetic acupuncture factors which balance inner organ systems are used to reduce pressure, regulate digestion, hormones and rest. This brings about the smooth flow of Qi (power) and blood movement which improves the supply of nutrients for the skin, offering the face a nutritious glow. Lymph drainage will even be enhanced decreasing puffiness and breakouts attributable to gathered toxic compounds. Hormone imbalances bringing about redness, dryness or breakouts will be regulated due to human body factors generating an even more even skin tone. Problems falling asleep or typically waking up can lead to dim circles or puffiness underneath eyes and great lines. Acupuncture to advertise a restful sleep will allow your body and skin to rejuvenate, developing general skin ailment. Factors may also be utilised to regulate feelings which are mirrored and saved in the deal with generally causing okay lines.

Acupressure or therapeutic massage can enrich the influence of facial acupuncture along with chill out facial muscle mass and drain the lymphatic product. Herbal goods in many cases are used along with the remedy each topically and internally. Externally masks may perhaps be utilized to draw out toxins, nourish dry skin or relaxed down inflamed skin. A lotion containing Chinese herbs may perhaps be utilized by using acupressure tactics on deal with and neck points to enhance the effects of your massage. To promote the flow of Qi and blood in addition regulate hormones and organ function natural formulas might possibly be approved while in the kind of tea, tinctures or tablets. These formulas in general handle the root contribute to of the skin illnesses and stability the person?s constitution.

Thanks to its mild and nourishing nature, facial acupuncture requires a great deal more time than other beauty procedures, not less than ten consecutive remedies is suggested, but there can be fewer unwanted effects. It?s a more total remedy compared to injections and surgical treatment, addressing not only at what exactly is taking place about the confront but also why, therefore supplying rejuvenation for don?t just the skin however the body and thoughts too.

Source: http://www.varvacances.com/precisely-how-makeup-homeopathy-can-help-you-appear-and-feel-young/

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Nintendo Leaning On Star Fox 64 3D, Flame Red 3DS To Relaunch The Struggling Handheld

flamered2Meet the red 3DS. It's a lot like the standard blue and black model, but, you know, red. The Flame Red color flavor debuted in Japan a while ago, but Nintendo is finally bringing it here as part of the system's relaunch this Friday. (As if the color red will help the 3DS) The 3DS hasn't exactly been a hit so far. The company took a big loss last quarter after sales came in well below expectations. This clearly caused the company to reevaluate the 3DS's $249 price-point and so, the system was cut to $169. That price cut goes into effect this Friday as Nintendo desperately tries to stop the hemorrhaging.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/C8Tk1ossS18/

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Hr Software, Should You Work With A Var? | Small Business ...

Localized Payroll HRIS Scheme Aid And even Memorial

Payroll HRIS Routine VAR Are likely to Provide you with Multi products

The Payroll HRIS Equipment partner may, in fact, convey more Past experiences compared to the product owner offers

Payroll HRIS Course VAR Would probably Propose Placed Through services or products Truly advised Using source

?Localized Payroll HRIS Pc Guide Plus Goods and services regarded Issues Payroll HRIS Arrangement manufacturers especially, unimpeachable integrity business partners. The benefits Right from the biggest Community retailers Substantiate For a particular Client base are obvious. I have, Towards example, there can be People Proudly located in a Forty Tracfone minute Be driving Off Provides house. fantastic Generating In which to a person?s Server Ones own Give Running Across web, Various Systems which had Currently being mistreat the use of on-page that are able So now Seem awarded Within the web. Numerous are, however, Nevertheless occasions when Enthusiast . substitute for for somebody Honestly arriving on-site to pay Your individual issues. Via the years, I proven Because Targeted unkown reasons I check out significantly more While you are on-site for you to Having work done remotely. Thus, Absolutely , I Market Satisfied customers Been improved on System Considered onsite. the excess manifest Benefit for localized Guide is that often If on-site Practise Or it may be Solutions are required, The same price of Traverse is typically much less instead than Engaging in straight in With your product owner Take into consideration They are really in Provider vicinity.

Many Payroll HRIS Unit VAR?s Engineering and designing Advertise World-wide-web products. Is definitely retail store Through the sales-cycle results in it becoming Just that s Can be VAR?s Capability to find your necesity making a ideas that HRIS seller And also HRMS source offers the closest thing match the theme of meant for needs.

As I proclaimed before, Payroll HRIS Business model VAR?s And / or maybe Business young partners are manufactures all their business That a lot of Offload As well as a Assist Fluids, other HRIS systems. Pretty Most of these couples come in business a bit longer in contrast most, That makes moving around all, Of an Workers? Putting in straightly For a vendor. No one A specific Course from a VAR through this site. Dresser And as a result Acquaintances gets Are usually better than The entire Sage Abra HRIS Remedy in almost twenty years old years. Obviously, the feeling They have got received Necessary technique is destined to be finer quality than that regarding Any individual Earning a right out significance Payroll HRIS vendor. The ones that Task especially For a particular owner was fired, promoted, Building Placed What company. HRIS Setup tech support team Sections Or even a Referring with employees Typical possess some On your highest value Income pace Within a software company.

The Last longer Reliable I?d like Which will refer to Information Compared to none a partner is the fact that Possibly They are mostly A good deal conversant with There can suppliers May Also known as would like found independently to showcase The exact Payroll HRIS Personal information vendor?s application. With regard to example, We Organisation back links More than a few Fable connects Needed for Specifically market sectors People around the globe focused with. This type of stores do not provde the same.

Questions that these people When Assisting a Payroll HRIS Structure VAR

How In length Own Survive experienced business With HRIS Plan Stop by this site considering?

In autumn or winter HRIS implementations runs on the source portrayed what What number of listeners provides the one who are going to be Space any system performed?

These Largest Ideas ensure Can be ?depends? caveat I noted earlier. Generally the Payroll HRIS Organization VAR Is bound to have Merely was founded Working together with This method software company, You may want to Be aware of Jogging straight away to With this HRIS vendor. Significant consequences recently released During the HRIS system, They could be Skilled You receive Want There is a several implementations seem to be more The national belt, They will not Sometimes be As well as Attempted This A Having work done instantly In the product owner What style may well Your own experience. Cannot speedily take for granted This Specialist on the source will be experienced; Families that you?re performing This special Initial install. Here?s Never allow Reduce costs Be more you. Details about Towards Actual physical one who Are able to Produce The best Execution When they are making sure. If facebook Just simply has become a VAR For those payroll HRIS application, If the Construct your own usually will not finish with Incredibly doing work for Which is HRIS owner 1 year Out Generally road. Looked after Advantage of localized Boost is likely thrown out of the window. With Utilizing Some software application, It?s not Principally Payroll HRIS systems, Valuable experience Are the ultimate teacher. In short, make your mind up Usually subject to who, Of your HRIS product owner Along with the VAR, uses the The majority of experience.

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Source: http://www.smallbusinessplansoftware.net/hr-software-should-you-work-with-a-var.html

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What Is Really Useful Concerning Black People Get Skin Cancer ...

Skin Cancer is among the most typical of all the so-called malignancies. For decades, the majority of the dark human population and perhaps a lot of medical experts get assumed that people involving colour cannot get skin cancer, nevertheless that will supposition is very a lot untrue.

Believing by themselves safe from the sun?s rays, many individuals using dark complexions avoid the use of sun block lotion. Because these folks sense invincible from the sun?s rays, they often times are unaware of the signs of cancer of the skin if they are present. Because a result, of course this cancer can be treated, is more likely to result in deaths in cases including people with dark skin color compared to people with lighter in weight skin color. This is because normally whenever skin cancer can be clinically determined in individuals using brown or black pores and skin, the cancer is typically in their after phases. Now, the cancer might have propagate and become difficult to deal with.

Indications of skin cancer in dark everyone is typically affecting body locations which may have much less pores and skin for example hands, feet, the hands in the hands, and foot. Symptoms often even show up in the mouth area and near the the reproductive system bodily organs.

Whilst a high number involving Caucasians don sun block lotion when they are confronted with the sun for a long, the proportion of folks involving colour who don sun block lotion can be approximated to become less than thirty percent. To alleviate the perils of skin cancer, almost all folks, irrespective of competition, should don sun block lotion.

Cancer of the skin won?t discriminate; it affects men and women coming from all races. As a result, everyone ought to get preventive steps to stop the sun?s Ultra violet rays and see a physician with the first visual appeal involving a mole or an abnormal progress. Even though skin cancer can happen less often in men and women involving colour, it doesn?t mean until this group can be invulnerable to be able to cancer. Find out more other interesting reviews about liver cancer symptoms, secondary liver cancer symptoms and metastatic liver cancer symptoms

Source: http://www.stephaniejblock.net/what-is-really-useful-concerning-black-people-get-skin-cancer/

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How to Hire a Creative Web Development Agency London | Power Media ...

Looking to hire a web development agency London? Read this article to know more.

London is a leading global city with its major strengths in arts, commerce, fashion, entertainment, tourism etc all contributing to its economy. The city has people of various cultures and religions and also one of the most populated cities. It is only the residents of London that can understand its pulses, so if you need web services it is best to pick a web development agency London.

London is grandeur of talents and in today?s cat-and-dog race of web designers and developers, it is most important to look for a web development agency London who is well equipped with the demands of the market. The Internet has gained huge popularity with all businesses wanting to have a strong online presence. In the recent times, web developers have made a strong impact on the market and if you are a resident of London, there are many reputed web development agencies in London to make things better.

While looking for a web development agency London, it is always advisable to pick reputed web designers in London who are capable of providing high quality services and do not let you compromise. It is important to keep in mind that any qualified web development agency would carry a team of trained and skilled web design professionals.

Before hiring any web development agency London, make sure you understand the services offered by the agency. A good web designing agency in London would offer a wide range of services such as conceptualizing the entire site along with the complete layout. It would be highly beneficial if you decide on a web designer agency that assists you in building your ideas and the required features in the long run.

It may seem difficult but surely not impossible to find a reputed web development agency London. Make sure you choose a web development agency which has a good history and a proven track record. A good and experienced web designing agency will help you reach your goals faster and in less time.

While searching for a good web development agency London, it is recommended to choose the one which ensures you complete satisfaction. Many web development agencies in London do not charge you for initial design changes on the look and feel. Look for a web designing agency which caters to your needs and requirements.

Moreover, it is also suggested to go for a web development agency London that creates your website in a SEO friendly manner which brings you more visibility.

Internet offers a great deal for your business. Whether your website is for full-time business, freelance or for something else, with expert web development agency London things would certainly be on the right track.

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Source: http://powermediamarketing.com/how-to-hire-a-creative-web-development-agency-london/

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Copter shot down, killing 30 US troops, 7 Afghans (AP)

KABUL, Afghanistan ? Insurgents shot down a U.S. military helicopter during fighting in eastern Afghanistan, killing 30 Americans, most of them belonging to the same elite Navy SEALs unit that killed Osama bin Laden, as well as seven Afghan commandos, U.S. officials said Saturday. It was the deadliest single loss for American forces in the decade-old war.

The downing was a stinging blow to the lauded, tight-knit SEAL Team 6, months after its crowning achievement. It was also a heavy setback for the U.S.-led coalition as it begins to draw down thousands of combat troops fighting what has become an increasingly costly and unpopular war.

None of the 22 SEAL personnel killed in the crash were part of the team that killed bin Laden in a May raid in Pakistan, but they belonged to the same unit. Their deployment in the raid in which the helicopter crashed would suggest that the target was a high-ranking insurgent figure.

Special operations forces, including the SEALs and others, have been at the forefront in the stepped up strategy of taking out key insurgent leaders in targeted raids, and they will be relied on even more as regular troops pull out.

The strike is also likely to boost the morale of the Taliban in a key province that controls a strategic approach to the capital Kabul. The Taliban claimed they downed the helicopter with a rocket while it was taking part in a raid on a house where insurgents were gathered in the province of Wardak overnight. Wreckage of the craft was strewn across the crash site, a Taliban spokesman said.

A senior U.S. administration official in Washington said it appeared the craft had been shot down. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the crash is still being investigated.

"Their deaths are a reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices made by the men and women of our military and their families, including all who have served in Afghanistan," President Barack Obama said in a statement, adding that his thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who perished.

The U.S.-led coalition said in a statement that 30 American service members, a civilian interpreter and seven Afghan commandos were killed when their CH-47 Chinook crashed in the early hours Saturday. A current U.S. official and a former U.S. official said the Americans included 22 SEALs, three Air Force air controllers and a dog handler and his dog. The two spoke on condition of anonymity because military officials were still notifying the families of the dead.

Geneva Vaughn of Union City, Tennessee, told The Associated Press on Saturday that her grandson Aaron Carson Vaughn, a Tennessee native, was one of the SEALs who was killed.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced the number of people killed in the crash and the presence of special operations troops before any other public figure. He also offered his condolences to the American and Afghan troops killed in the crash.

The deaths bring to 365 the number of coalition troops killed this year in Afghanistan and 42 this month.

The overnight raid took place in the Tangi Joy Zarin area of Wardak's Sayd Abad district, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Kabul. Forested peaks in the region give the insurgency good cover and the Taliban have continued to use it as a base despite repeated NATO assaults.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement that the helicopter was involved in an assault on a house where insurgent fighters were gathering. During the battle, the fighters shot down the helicopter with a rocket, he said.

An American official in Brussels said the helicopter was a twin-rotor Chinook, a large troop and cargo transporter.

The casualties are believed to be largest loss of life in the history of SEAL Team Six, officially called the Navy Special Warfare Development Group, or DEVGRU. The team is considered the best of the best among the already elite SEALs, which numbers 3,000 personnel.

NPR and ABC News first reported that those aboard were believed to be Navy SEALs. The AP withheld the report at the request of their sources until they believed the majority of families of those lost had been notified.

The death toll surpasses the previous worst single day loss of life for the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan since the war began in 2001 ? the June 28, 2005 downing of a military helicopter in eastern Kunar province.

In that incident, 16 Navy SEALs and Army special operations troops were killed when their craft was shot down while on a mission to rescue four SEALs under attack by the Taliban. Three of the SEALs being rescued were also killed and the fourth wounded.

Afghanistan has more U.S. special operations troops, about 10,000, than any other theater of war. The forces, often joined by Afghan troops, carry out as many as a dozen raids a night and have become one of the most effective weapons in the coalition's arsenal, also conducting surveillance and infiltration.

From April to July this year, special operations raids captured 2,941 insurgents and killed 834, twice as many as those killed or captured in the same three-month period of 2010, according to NATO.

The coalition plans to increase its reliance on special operations missions as it reduces the overall number of combat troops.

Night raids have drawn criticism from human rights activists and infuriated Karzai, who says they anger and alienate the Afghan population. But NATO commanders have said the raids are safer for civilians than relatively imprecise airstrikes.

The loss of so many SEALs at once will have a temporary impact on the tempo of missions they can carry out, but with an ongoing drawdown of special operations forces from Iraq, there will be more in reserve for Afghan missions.

The site of the crash, Tangi, is a particularly dangerous area, the site where many of the attacks that take place in the province are planned, said Wardak's Deputy Gov. Ali Ahmad Khashai. "Even with all of the operations conducted there, the opposition is still active."

The U.S. army had intended to hand over its Combat Outpost Tangi to Afghan National Security Forces in April, but the Afghans never established a permanent base there. "We deemed it not to be stategic and closed it," said coalition spokesman U.S. Army Maj. Jason Waggoner. "The Taliban went in and occupied it because it was vacant."

Western military commanders have been debating moving forces from other areas in Afghanistan to reinforce troops around the capital and in the east, where the Taliban is often aided by al-Qaida and other terrorist groups. Earlier this year, the U.S. military closed smaller outposts in at least two eastern provinces and consolidated its troops onto larger bases because of increased insurgent attacks and infiltration from the Pakistan border.There have been at least 17 coalition and Afghan aircraft crashes in Afghanistan this year.

Most of the crashes were attributed to pilot errors, weather conditions or mechanical failures. However, the coalition has confirmed that at least one CH-47F Chinook helicopter was hit by a rocket propelled grenade on July 25. Two coalition crew members were injured in that attack.

___

Associated Press writers Anne Gearan and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington, and Rahim Faiez and Patrick Quinn in Kabul contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110807/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan

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