IEDs: How can we stop them? (Vanity...sort of)

None (My brain) ^ | 5/2/2004 | mattdono

[mattdono]

Ok, I have a basic question that has been bugging me: how come we haven't figured out a way to detonate these IEDs (improvised explosive device) from a distance?

I may need some help here, but I want to throw an idea out. Over 85% of these devices are remotely-controlled by garage-door openers, cell phones, beepers, etc.

Couldn't we have some scanners on our Humvees that can detect and detonate these devices from a certain distance (say, 150 feet) away from the vehicle? What about a forward scanning EMP-type thing that disables electronic devices within a 30° radius in front of the vehicle, which would necessary include the sides of the road 100 feet in front of the vehicle?

I admit that I'm not an engineer or one who knows how radio frequencies work, so maybe I am talking out my a$$. But, it seems there should be something that we can do to provide a bit better protection. Having the Humvees armored offers better protection too, but maybe there is something else that can help?

Don't think I am losing my faith on the war. I was just thinking that these IEDs seem to be the nastys seem to be the real threat to our men and women. Anytime the enemy directly engages our troops, its game over for them, but these IEDs seem to be the threat we have to learn to put down. I was reading another thread and the Marines are getting on top of it, but they are still the only weapon that is consistently causing casualties.

Perhaps someone with a greater understanding of IEDs can help me understand if there is anyway to, from a distance, electrnoically dentonate or disable these IEDs?

God Bless the men and women of our armed forces!

[sharktrager]

Don't seel yourself short.

This is totally a vanity.

[DiscoStu1979]

I've seen reports that the troops in the field have rigged things like garage door openers to always transmit a signal in order to detonate devices in front of them.

Maybe it's just me, but it seems as if there are less and less of these types of attacks (and more conventional ambushes).

[Ken522]

An EOD guy could tell you, but it seems like the IEDs - being hand-made (improvised) - would not respond to such remote-command sequences. Ask an EOD. My $.02-worth.

[Fester Chugabrew]

The last thing we want to do is open all the automatic garage doors in Iraq.

[Viking2002]

You want to stop the IED's, and every other object that could cause us harm? Simple: take away every last invention that Western society ever bestowed upon them. Cell phones, electrical grids, explosives, televisions, automobiles, indoor plumbing, firearms, air conditioning, refined metals, The Whole Nine Yards. Let 'em live in musty huts. And they can keep their damned oil - we'll find our own.

[cripplecreek]

There are some (not enough) specially designed vehicles in Iraq that are used for disarmming and disposal of IEDs. I saw the vehicles on one of the news shows a few weeks back, i believe it was called a "meercat".

[Oblongata]

EMP and Garage door openers wont work. EMP only kills integrated circuits, most IEDs are not that complex (an exception being cell phone triggered IEDs). A garage door opener would only work if the IED responds to the specific frequency.

Something that might work though is a medium strength microwave transitter. This wouldn't disable the IED but it would detonate them before the convoy is close enough to be in danger.

Along the same lines I was thinking of mortar netting. It would be a kevlar net, looking much like window screen that would be suspended above living quarters and occupied posts in bases. Since small unpropelled mortars are not moving very fast, it would be akin to catching a falling two pound rock from say 3000ft. It seems this should be possible.

[mcshot]

Good question and something I've been wondering about for some time. There must be an answer but all we hear about is more of our good troops getting blown away be these IEDs. Perhaps we have an EOD on board that can shed some light on what is or is not going on.
Thx,
mc

[Burkeman1]

I have heard that they have even packed road kill with these IEDs.

[dighton]

A problem here, IMHO, with no personal criticism intended. Any idea good enough to be useful in this line, should not be aired in public.

Pinging someone who (unlike me) knows this subject and the limits on its discussion.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Couldn't we have some scanners on our Humvees that can detect and detonate these devices from a certain distance (say, 150 feet) away from the vehicle?

They'd spend a billion of our tax dollars on this and then the dirt farmers in Iraq would figure out how to jam them with a cell phone, or a stick and some wire....

[Armedanddangerous]

During the 1980s, Red Cell drove through downtown Beirut with a device that activated remote controlled bombs that were under construction, according to Richard Marcinko's autobiography Rogue Warrior.

Said they worked like a charm.