Article

2011-09-06 Afghanistan

Coalition doubles IED seizures in Afghanistan

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Posted by 2011-09-06 04:51|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top

#1 So, are we getting better at finding them or are they getting worse at hiding them? If the latter, does it indicate a deterioration in skill and training level? Due to decline in motivation or killing of trainers?
On the other hand, the number of IEDs planted has gone up, so there is no damage to the manufacture and delivery system.

Posted by Glenmore 2011-09-06 07:45|| 2011-09-06 07:45|| Front Page Top

#2 #1 So, are we getting better at finding them or are they getting worse at hiding them?

Both actually. The technology used, Route Clearance Patrol (RCP) mine rollers, brave EOD teams, full-motion video from UAV's, and other programs have been very successful. There's a method to their madness and IED placement is oftentimes quite predictable. Suicide bombers, not so much. Finding the IED's or suicde bombers are of course a key aspect. Another aspect is identifying and taking out the emplacers and facilitators, the network... which generally terminates in the Madrassas of Quetta or Chaman Pakistan. Losses in leadership and facilitation is where the Taliban has taken some rather severe losses. Detention of suspected Taliban is maddening a sore point I won't go into. For the past few months the TB have been targeting Afghan gov't officials, Afghan Police and Military. They know we're leaving and we're generally 'hard targets' who shoot back with a vengence. Not a particularly brave bunch, they avoid the hard targets. 40lbs of Home Made Explosives (HME) will turn an Afghan Police Ford Ranger into ball of unidentifiable twisted steel and kill the occupants instantly. Their goal now is to intimidate or kill the people who will be taking over after we live. With the help of Pakistan and the usual anti-US suspects, they're doing a pretty smart job of it. Please pray for our young people in uniform. Nothing will change these twisted, tribal bastards. This is the 2nd century BC. We can't get out of this drug smuggling, dung hole fast enough.

Posted by Besoeker 2011-09-06 10:47|| 2011-09-06 10:47|| Front Page Top

#3 Got to hurry off, or I'll miss chow.

Posted by Besoeker 2011-09-06 10:54|| 2011-09-06 10:54|| Front Page Top

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