question about Iraq

[NeoV]

I'll be the first to admit I'm no military expert, but I have a question.

How many times, and how many soldiers have to die, before we stop sending patrols out in anything other than a tank? I read nearly every single day about soldiers being killed by IED's while they were 'on patrol' in their humvee's..why are we still sending out small groups of soldiers on patrols in dangerous areas?

Is there nothing we can do to scan the ground ahead for explosive devices?

Can't we monitor any digging on roads used for patrols?

 

[AnyMal]

Tanks are not meant to be used in urban settings. Tank crew has limited 360 deg visibility and would be very vulnurable to attacks, especially from the sides and rear. Tank speed is also limited and are usless in case of pursuit or quick getaway from the line of fire. Tanks size is also a limiting factor.

 

[smashp]

Those IED are mines. They are traps. I have seen pictures of a couple hundres IEDs that a friend of mine had on his notebook when he came home from a tour over there.

They dissarm an amazing amount of these devices daily. The soldiers learn what to look for, but they are getting better at hiding them and disguising them.


this is the down side of fighting a guerrilla enemy, while trying to maintain a presence in the area.

 

[Polish3d]

I agree the IED thing is maddening.. I just hope they have better armor now than they used to on their Humvees and bodies

 

[Lemon law]

Many of the ideas expressed on scanning for mines are already in use. But too many roads go through populated urban neighborhoods to ever permit patrolling--especially at night.

And the military has a knee jerk reaction to show the flag, take those joy rides, and say ha ha ha we are in control here.--------the way it worked in Vietnam----the same insurgency principles apply in Iraq. Except in Iraq the battlefield is urban and the causalties are higher because the urban setting is far more deadly and air support is far less usefull.

But I am being an armchair general here safe at home---would be nice to hear the take of some boots on the ground types who are presently being fired at or have been fired at and are now home.

Those are the authorties----not me, not the generals, not Rumsfeld & the rest of the neocons. Its nice to toss around ideas-------but the persons who is being fired at and risks of life and limb, is the source authority I listen to. Their concerns trump mine.

And I also want to hear from Iraqie civilians no doubt unhappy that their neighborhood is now ground zero in a shooting war. Their concerns are all important and those concerns might well determine the future of Iraq-------but human rationality must always take a backseat to deadly force.

 

[CaptnKirk]

Originally posted by: Frackal

I agree the IED thing is maddening..
I just hope they have better armor now than they used to on their Humvees and bodies

Improving

 

[Starbuck1975]

How many times, and how many soldiers have to die, before we stop sending patrols out in anything other than a tank? I read nearly every single day about soldiers being killed by IED's while they were 'on patrol' in their humvee's..why are we still sending out small groups of soldiers on patrols in dangerous areas?

Patrols are required to maintain a presence and establish security...unfortunately, America's force structure was largely designed to fight large scale conventional wars, like the armored and infantry engagements of WW2...a Bradley fighting vehicle or Abrams tank is simply not a viable platform for the types of patrol missions required in Iraq...also, Abrams and Bradley's are just as vulnerable to many IEDs.

Is there nothing we can do to scan the ground ahead for explosive devices?

The military is fielding a number of devices and techniques to identify IEDs ahead of patrols...robots are one viable option...the problem is that scanning ahead slows convoys, and then makes them vulnerable to RPG or small arms fire...fast moving vehicles are vulnerable to IEDs...slow moving vehicles are vulnerable to direct fire weapons...choose your poison.

Can't we monitor any digging on roads used for patrols?

If we had more soldiers on the ground, perhaps.