Air Force may buzz before bombing in Afghanistan

AP ^ | 8/13/2009

[james500]

The Air Force general in charge of the air war in Afghanistan says a new strategy means warplanes in some cases may be buzzing rather than bombing some insurgents.

Lt. Gen. Gilmary Hostage said Thursday that his job is to support the strategy of winning Afghan support as formulated by the new U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal. As part of that, McChrystal imposed restrictions on air power to limit civilian casualties.

...

But the three-star general said that at times, it may be better to fly low over enemy forces and disperse them with noisy warplanes that threaten with firepower but don't immediately unleash it.

[james500]

Next up, Marines will be ordered to fire 'warning' shots before firing on suspected Taliban. Embedded lawyers will ensure compliance.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Why don't they just Twitter or give them a heads up on their Facebook page?

[silverleaf]

We will buzz them and if THAT doesn’t work - well, there is taunting.

Seriously, do they think these guys won’t figure out the “buzz” game after 2 go-rounds? And be waiting with SAMs?

[OldDeckHand]

"...fly low over enemy forces and disperse them with noisy warplanes ..."

Why would you want to "disperse" people you presumably would want to kill?

Why is this President so insistent in having America give up it's single greatest tactical advantage - air dominance?

[marron]

If soldiers get the idea that you care more about the enemy than you do the mission or the lives of the soldiers themselves, you may suddenly have problems staffing this mission.

[KarlInOhio]

We could save a lot of money if we just have cardboard boxes and broomsticks instead of tanks. We'll just ask the Taliban not to shoot their AK-47s at them because they can't penetrate the armor.

[null and void]

Plumbing new depths of stupidity every day since 1/20/09...

[KarlInOhio]

Why would you want to "disperse" people you presumably would want to kill?

To get them in the open where the Army can aim their M-16s and yell "Bang!" at them.

[HD1200]

Need we wonder why moral among soldiers is dropping?

Good Lord, we train these brave young men to win wars; not to die for the worst president ever in a war he doesn’t want to fight to win!

[Armedanddangerous]

Let me check my calendar, nope..its not april fools day..

[SIDENET]

This is nothing new.

It's called a "show of force".

Note: I didn't say that I agree with it. My thought is that a bunch of bombs falling on bad guys is a MUCH more effective "show of force".

[RAO1125]

Wouldn’t want to hurt the enemy. </s>

[DeaconRed]

You mean they haven't been doing this already?
Why hells bells that ain't fair.
In war you MUST give the enemy a sporting chance. MUST.
Its so unfair if you don't.
What is wrong with ZERO. I know he is too busy fixing the economy, well he has fixed it now he can concentrate on the WAR.. And playing war fairly. . . . . .

[sharkhawk]

I'm sure this is humour from the onion or scrappleface. Better check the source and keywords for satire.

AP, God help us all.

[sharkhawk]

I'm sure this is humour from the onion or scrappleface. Better check the source and keywords for satire.

AP, God help us all.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Good thing Mr. Obama isn’t a Muslim, like some claim he is, ‘cause this sure looks like how a Muslim would run a war “against” his co-religionists, so as not to win. But since we know he’s not a follower of Islam, we can go back to who’s taking What’s-her-name’s spot as a judge on American Idol...

[driftdiver]

I wish Patton could talk to this guy.

[MrDem]

How idiotic! Why don’t they drop pamphlets.

“Hello! If you are a high value target, you may want to leave this building, since the 2000 lb pound that is about to hit it may cause discomfort.”

[Levante]

What a f*king, GD joke.