Doggies R Us
Truth and love must triumph over lies and hatred
--Vaclav Havel
We keep hearing assurances from the United States,
but we are, like, once bitten, twice shy
--Afghan President Hamid Karzai
________________
During Ranger's time playing soldier the Marines had a derogatory term for doggies: Bullet Magnets. As though doggie wasn't lowly enough.
Welcome to the Phony War on Terror (PWOT ©), the Great Equalizer: now members of both services have become bomb magnets, and it is no laughing matter. A recent 60 Minutes news report covered a purely volunteer EOD in Afghanistan whose mission it was to run roads and search, defuse and/or serve as targets for roadside bombs (IED's). the Unit was commanded by an 06 and appeared to be an element of the Michigan National Guard.
These soldiers are equipped with million dollar MRAP's that they use up at a rather quick pace, the concept being it is better to lose equipment than troops. A laudable concept, but a dream I had serves to make a pointed comment on the policy.
There was a dimensional element missing from the operational scenario that should have been addressed. It would benefit the unit's effectiveness if a Light Observation Helicopter (LOCH) with a mini gun were added to the teams.
This aircraft would operate as a "low bird" and air reconnaissance all likely bomber locations, and also help cut off avenues of escape after a manual bomb detonation. It appears that the Afghanistan IED's are electric capped and command-detonated, differing from those generally used in Iraq that were set off with wireless electronic detonations. The Afghanistan resistance is less sophisticated and limited to direct action.
Since an assigned helicopter could prove to be a valuable asset, so why are these soldiers going without? We are spending billions of dollars on Predators but cannot provide vertical support for troops doing an extremely hazardous job?
As for that job, the bombs are aimed at U.S./NATO forces, not the Afghan people. The best way to neutralize these bombs is first to stay off the roads. This can be accomplished by putting our people on an airplane headed West.
If there are frequent IED's, then it is obvious that the people we are there to protect might have other goals than those being mouthed by Generals Petraeus and McChrystal. Just maybe.
--Vaclav Havel
We keep hearing assurances from the United States,
but we are, like, once bitten, twice shy
--Afghan President Hamid Karzai
________________
During Ranger's time playing soldier the Marines had a derogatory term for doggies: Bullet Magnets. As though doggie wasn't lowly enough.
Welcome to the Phony War on Terror (PWOT ©), the Great Equalizer: now members of both services have become bomb magnets, and it is no laughing matter. A recent 60 Minutes news report covered a purely volunteer EOD in Afghanistan whose mission it was to run roads and search, defuse and/or serve as targets for roadside bombs (IED's). the Unit was commanded by an 06 and appeared to be an element of the Michigan National Guard.
These soldiers are equipped with million dollar MRAP's that they use up at a rather quick pace, the concept being it is better to lose equipment than troops. A laudable concept, but a dream I had serves to make a pointed comment on the policy.
There was a dimensional element missing from the operational scenario that should have been addressed. It would benefit the unit's effectiveness if a Light Observation Helicopter (LOCH) with a mini gun were added to the teams.
This aircraft would operate as a "low bird" and air reconnaissance all likely bomber locations, and also help cut off avenues of escape after a manual bomb detonation. It appears that the Afghanistan IED's are electric capped and command-detonated, differing from those generally used in Iraq that were set off with wireless electronic detonations. The Afghanistan resistance is less sophisticated and limited to direct action.
Since an assigned helicopter could prove to be a valuable asset, so why are these soldiers going without? We are spending billions of dollars on Predators but cannot provide vertical support for troops doing an extremely hazardous job?
As for that job, the bombs are aimed at U.S./NATO forces, not the Afghan people. The best way to neutralize these bombs is first to stay off the roads. This can be accomplished by putting our people on an airplane headed West.
If there are frequent IED's, then it is obvious that the people we are there to protect might have other goals than those being mouthed by Generals Petraeus and McChrystal. Just maybe.
Labels: afghanistan, helo support, IED's, phony war on terror, PWOT
posted by rangeragainstwar at 6:11 PM
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