The entire problem can be solved with just a dayhike........
Stay Safe and yes that is what you think it is........
Posted on 09/29/2001 8:18:29 PM PDT by GVnana
Crack force set to prise bin Laden from his lair
By Macer Hall (Filed: 30/09/2001)
SPECIAL forces units are preparing to launch underground attacks on the network of tunnels and caves that conceal Osama bin Laden and his guerrilla fighters.
The SAS and American elite troops will attempt to penetrate the fortified subterranean hideouts to kill or capture terrorists under plans being drawn up by military strategists for a "warning shot" in the war against terror.
Commanders know, however, that such close-quarter combat under the mountains of southern Afghanistan could lead to heavy casualties.
Historically, Afghan fighters have used their detailed knowledge of the caves and hidden trails through the mountains to defeat invaders. Their ability to strike with surprise, then vanish, was the key to their success against the Soviet Army in the 1980s.
Bin Laden's forces have burrowed a complex web of tunnels and caves beneath the mountains. Each base is defended by gun emplacements and anti-aircraft missiles launchers. The networks have dozens of escape tunnels and are linked to observation posts on mountain sides.
An assault on one or more of the caves would need a substantial force of aircraft, artillery and airborne troops to support it. Air strikes with deep penetration weapons would begin the attack, to knock out defences and to blast holes into the caves.
The United States could launch Tomahawk Block III missiles, which are guided by the Global Positioning Satellite system and have 1,000lb warheads, from submarines or warships in the Gulf. For greater accuracy, GPS-guided GBU28 "bunker busting" bombs could be dropped by F15E Eagles, F16 Fighting Falcons or other attack aircraft.
Then a special forces team would be deployed by helicopter - CH-53 Sea Stallions are an option - to attack guerrillas flushed out by the bombing and infiltrate the tunnels. In addition to the SAS and US Delta Force, other elite units with mountain fighting capability may be involved in an attack, including the Americans' 75th Ranger Regiment and the Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade.
Charles Heyman, the editor of Jane's World Armies, said: "It would be a very difficult operation, there is no doubt about that. Commanders will want a lot of troops and aircraft as well as artillery in support because many defences may still be in place after air strikes.
"The classic terrorist tactic is to desert these places and move away and not get themselves caught by properly organised military forces of any sort. But if there are people trying to defend them, you could have a really bloody battle on your hands."
Contingency plans for airlifting casualties out of the battle zone will also be necessary. American strategists are drawing on the experiences of the "tunnel rats" of the Vietnam War, the US soldiers who, armed with grenades, pistols and torches, fought in the hundreds of miles of tunnels dug by Communist guerillas.
While military technology has moved on, with thermal imaging equipment used to track enemies, the battle would come down to the same techniques of hand-to-hand fighting in claustrophobic conditions.
The terrorists' tunnels are believed to be able to conceal thousands of fighters for months. They include dormitories and other living quarters, communication centres and armouries stacked with Kalashnikov rifles, mortars, ammunition and explosives.
Some of the caves have lighting and electricity supplied by generators and makeshift systems of hot water pipes for heating. Al-Qaeda fighters live a sparse existence with just the Koran for comfort.
Bin Laden was known to be based in a cave in a mountain range above Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan, the subterranean centre of his global terror network, until disappearing before the US hijack attacks.
His underground lair was reported to have a library of Islamic texts, an arms store and a communication room including computers, faxes and a satellite telephone.
It is. When weather gets colder and harsher there will be more of Bin Ladens troops seaking shelter in the warm caves. Me thinks it would be more productive to let the most of them gather in one place than trying to locate 5 here 10 there, etc. All though it would be very demoralizing to knock off a few groups in areas that the ragheads think are very secure. I have no doubt that there are Seal Teams with a sniper or two amongst them watching some key groups as we sit typing on our keyboards.
I would wager, if the truth were known, that there are small groups of dead Bin Ladenites scattered about the country side right now.
Most of the Japanese on Iwo Jima in the caves died from suffocation not burns.
The flamethrowers use up the oxygen and Bingo dead bad guys.
A go ahead and flame them Bump. FReegards.
I've been thinking the same thing, more or less.
Why bother to go into the tunnels at all? Set up a perimeter around the complex and make sure nothing goes in or out. Drop enough bombs on their defensive positions to get the rats scurrying back into their holes.
Seal the holes we can already see with the bomb of your choice. Then, we move in carefully and mop up whatever is left on the surface. Sanitize the area and shoot anything that moves for the next year.
As winter sets in, any vent shafts or escape tunnels should look like a flare on infrared scans. Use a drone to scan the terrain and illuminate the bright spots with a laser. Drop 1000-lb bombs on the openings and close them. Repeat as necessary.
It may not be as satisfying as cleaning out the caves/tunnels and perhaps capturing a few people, but turning the bunkers into tombs is just as effective.
I've wondered the same thing. Can the guards be "mapped" from their body heat? If there were hundreds of men in a cave, could their cumulative body heat be detected even though they're underground? Probably stupid questions, but I'd like to know.
Since those rats like Chemical weapons I say we seal the cave`s openings, then drill down into them and pump them FULL of nerve gas.Raid Bug Spray for terrorists, that would take care of the problem and no American military personnel will have to die.
"Let's Roll!"
I think he did, and also he said we won't repeat the Soviets' mistakes.
A former field commander told me the Soviets sent spetsnaz to these caves and took some serious losses. Sensors and new engineering techniques among other things are the way to go. If you know where someone is, just seal off the escape routes and make sure the surrounding areas are secure. Then methodically go to work.
I knew there were caves and tunnels, didn't know they were so large. In a way their size is good, because there can't be too many of these complexes.
He will basically be pinned down in one place, with the resources of the entire world deployed against him. As long as the attacker has infinite time and resources, he will prevail.
From space, not likely. But, there's no need to do it from there. Once the Air Force controls the air, drones can be used to do it from low altitude, with no threat to a pilot.
The earth is a big heat sink, so an underground heat source has to be very powerful or very close to the surface to become visible. But, ventilation shafts and escape tunnels will show up like flares on infrared, especially in the winter.
The entire problem can be solved with just a dayhike........
Stay Safe and yes that is what you think it is........
Yup. The original ones were made in thirteen days using howitzer cannon barrels. I expect they've gone to something else now.
Stay safe
In addition, with high res visible imagery we will map all imnportant tunnel entrances. Software will tell us where to place a bomb or two for max effect.
They wont be using their tunnels for long. That's a fact.
These attacks will be so tramatizing to them -- I think we can knock out a few tunnels and then wait for the Bin Ladin organization in Afganastan to fall apart. That will not win the war but it is a good start.
try this if it doesn't come on this time............ http://www.geocities.com/usaf463/smallnuke.jpg ........
I'm sure you're right. Spooky thing is, probably not too many since the SF guys must work undetected. Must be awfully tempting.
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