Posted on 08/09/2009 6:15:58 PM PDT by RDTF
Helicopter gun camera video footage released today shows the deliberate steps International Security Assistance Force personnel took when countering the threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) placed by two insurgents Aug. 5 along a road in southern Zabul province, Afghanistan.
From January to July this year, 250 innocent Afghan citizens have been killed, and more than 500 have been wounded by roadside bombs planted around the province.
While conducting Counter-IED operations in Zabul, an Attack Weapons Team of helicopters assigned to the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade of Task Force Pegasus observed and engaged two insurgents emplacing an IED, destroying them and eliminating the threat.
After watching an international forces convoy pass along this route, the insurgents began rigging the IED. The AWT saw one insurgent approach a hole in the road and un-spool wire to a position just off the road as the other insurgent acted as a look-out nearby. After confirming the two individuals were engaged in IED emplacement, the AWT requested clearance to destroy the threat.
An operations cell at a nearby base confirmed the area was clear of international forces, Afghan National Army and National Police elements. The aircrews were able to confirm that the area was clear of civilians and that there was no risk of collateral damage.
The AWT launched one hellfire missile and machine gun fire at the enemy personnel, killing them.
A Route Clearance Patrol was dispatched the following day to ensure the site posed no further threat. At the scene, the team discovered a pressure plate, which are used for the detonation of certain IEDs, an anti-tank mine, a battery source, a radio, an axe and two dead insurgents. Once securing the scene, they called in an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team to further examine the site and learn the insurgents tactics.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at facebook.com ...
Great job!
If you can’t get to the Facebook link, try this one:
http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=video/video_show.php&id=65882
These dummies try to plant their bomb with a chopper in the sky. Sheesh.
They (U.S. Forces - Afghanistan) have a goal of 25,000 fans, so click the facebook link and become a fan! They need out support anyway they can get it.
I know - and they keep hiding in a hole and getting out to finish the job. And they were finished.
Interesting as the guy says this occured around mid-night.
War Pr0n BTTT!
At one point they said it was midnight and they were 2,400 meters out, so the bombers probably thought they were in the clear to keep working on their IED.
I’m looking out my window now and am thinking that if a helicopter had my living room targeted with FLIR and a Hellfire and 30mm cannon sight, I’d have no idea about it and would just keep typ....ng..........
Hellfire and Ma Deuce: Terrorist Rehabilitation that works!
Death isn’t funny. But, I couldn’t help the chuckle that slipped out when I saw the terrorist actually tiptoeing across the road. LOL
Note how long they have to spend explaining the situation and getting permission to waste them.
made me chuckle too
my only problem is they took too long to “build their case”. no way should they have to do that.
digging a hole in the road at night = say hello to hellfire
At least they didn’t have to Mirandize them .... God Bless our Military
That was my thought too. For the first three minutes of the video, I was screaming SHOOT THEM at my computer!
“...my only problem is they took too long to build their case. no way should they have to do that.
digging a hole in the road at night = say hello to hellfire...”
They have to clear with the local command that there aren’t any “friendly” out there. Since a patrol just passed, it could have been U.S. troops setting up an ambush or snipers setting up an observation post.
Sucks to be them.
>> At least they didnt have to Mirandize them ...
And just how much waiting around and yacking to HQ did it take before they got approval to smoke the “insurgents”?
Thank G-d we defeated Hitler and Tojo before the lawyers got involved.
May it please the Lord to vouchsafe our men and women in uniform.
This is a quasi-police operation, not a war.
Apache helo $56,000,000
Hellfire missle $68,000
30mm (M-799 per round) $950
Watching this all wasted to shot a couple of hadjis in open terrain Priceless.
A AH-6 with a FLIR and NOTR options would
Cost much less
take less maintenace
be at least as and very possibley far more effective and
is already in the inventory.
I’m just say’n - nothing wrong with using a sledgehammer on an ant, but a claw hammer would cost less and the ant would be just as squished....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.