From the article:
“But instead of blasting the area with high explosives, the commander wants to attempt scaring off the insurgents, to force them to break off the firefight and flee. That’s the point of the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, after all: not to try to kill all the Taliban, but to protect the people.
“And the crew of Hawk Nine One is only too glad to oblige. As Lord rechecks the grid coordinates of Hard Rock’s location (one four sierra one five one four nine three eight seven five one), Capt. David “Smoke’’ Grasso, the pilot, throttles up and pushes the stick forward, diving sharply and accelerating toward the ground.
“If the insurgents happen to look up, they’ll get a nano-second glimpse of a 95-ton dart silently slicing down at them at 600 mph. The thunder and shock, as the B-1 levels off and rockets over them, are immense. But this time, not effective.”
After this encounter where the B-1 tried to scare the bad-guys off, the troops on the ground took casualties. The article then explains that the ground troops may not get air support at all even when they request it—the air guys decide because, of course the strategy in Afghanistan is not to kill enemies but to protect people. That is, to protect everyone except American troops under fire.
If there is any truth to this article, it is outrageous.
“the air guys decide because, of course the strategy in Afghanistan is not to kill enemies but to protect people. That is, to protect everyone except American troops under fire”
Ah ! But of course! For they who fight yet get away, live to fight and kill another day . The policy is not to win... but to look good...What a sickening concept
“the air guys decide because, of course the strategy in Afghanistan is not to kill enemies but to protect people. That is, to protect everyone except American troops under fire”
Ah ! But of course! For they who fight yet get away, live to fight and kill another day . The policy is not to win... but to look good...What a sickening concept