Rick Raw: Defeating IED Menace in Afghanistan Top Pentagon Priority

By Rick Grant Commentary rickgrant01@comcast.net

Since the invasion of Afghanistan in early 2002 after the 9/11 attack, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) have become the enemy’s most effective weapon to kill American and Coalition soldiers. The Pentagon has poured billions of dollars into research to counteract these deadly weapons. But still, in November, 2009, IEDs have killed more American troops than any other weapon.

The Taliban and al Qaeda have received vast numbers of artillery shells and shape charges to easily assemble these menacing devices and plant them near roads or convoy routes. The IED itself consists of an adapted landmine or artillery shells rigged up to a crude detonator.

The bombs are placed under the road or beside the road and can be detonated by wire, radio, or cell phone. Even garage door openers have been used to detonate these makeshift bombs.
Recently, the enemy has upped the ante by using shaped charges that, when ignited, form a superheated stream of liquid copper that penetrates the thickest of armor. These shaped charges can penetrate tanks, armored personnel carriers, and easily blow up supply trucks.

Presently there is no countermeasure for these advanced IEDs except using special tanks that fire a long cord of C4 explosive into a forward position to clear any mines or IEDs. However, the enemy defeats this method by planting the IEDs on the side of the roads in animal carcases or buried in the sand.

Common sense dictates that an effective countermeasure would be not to travel the roads in vehicles, but to use helicopters and other aircraft to transport troops and supplies. However, the military still insists on convoying supplies along dangerous roads and paths. Humvees have no chance, so don’t use them. Going on patrols in Humvess is playing Russian roulette and the troops know it. "Will today be my day that the bullet in is the chamber," they think.

The Pentagon wags have been frustrated by the enemy’s ability to adapt to changing situations and to defeat any American countermeasures against IEDs. Recently, the American special forces have effectively interrupted the supply chain of IED components and artillery shells coming into Afghanistan. It’s been harder for the enemy to get resupplied.

More significantly, American intelligence officers working with special forces have been able to get the cooperation of various tribal councils to find caches of IED components and to arrest enemy operatives bringing in these supplies. In other words cutting the head off the snake.

Still, every day IEDs kill American and Coalition soldiers. These battle casualties cause the brass to work harder to defeat them. They can send a Predator unmanned aircraft to find and kill high ranking Taliban and al Qaeda operatives. But, IEDs are still a deadly weapon that has confounded the most brilliant military weapon’s masters.

When Army officers know that taking vehicles down roads and pathways in Afghanistan will result in IED deaths, they should think of an alternative way of patrolling for contact with the enemy. Here’s a thought: Keep our soldiers off those roads and save lives.

In Vietnam soldiers jumped on HUEY helicopters and flew into hot zones to kill the enemy. That was an effective way to avoid IEDs and landmines. I say if IEDs are killing our soldiers, let’s stop traveling the IED infested roads. By now though, with all the high tech talent working on this problem, we should have developed an effective countermeasure. I’m tired of seeing those flag draped caskets coming home, victims of IEDs