Caves pose unusual challenge for Army

Washington Times ^ | Thursday, October 11, 2001 | Rowan Scarborough

[JohnHuang2]

U.S. commandos set to begin search-and-destroy missions against terrorists in Afghanistan must be prepared for a new kind of combat

[packrat01]

It doesn't take SF to clear a cave. Let the SF do their job, don't saddle 'em with the plebian tasks.

No offense to the guy that has to do it.

[mc5cents]

THis might sound silly, but can't they train dogs to go in the caves with cameras on their heads?

Hold on! Have you cleared this with PETA?

[AGAviator]

I think it's going to be very methodical, and start with concentrating on people resupplying the caves or going to and from them. It will be a siege where time is on the side of the attacker.

US forces will go from one valley to the next, whenever they find a cave they will seal it, occupied or unoccupied.

Standoff weapons will be used, like the GBU-28, and FAE's. The larger caves will not be affected by these, but OTOH there is not an endless number of larger caves.

Any new cave-building will have telltale signs of earth disturbed and rocks being dumped and will be promptly dealt with.

There are satellites which can see day and night. Teams will be watching, especially at night, with far better night vision than the other side.

I predict a slow thorough process rather than a rush to show some results.

[blam]

"I predict a slow thorough process rather than a rush to show some results."

We're being prepped for that, I agree.

[AGAviator]

There's no need to come charging in. This is not trackless jungle, there are ways to spot most movements. While there are some civilians it's not densely populated either. It will be a gradually tightening noose, and most of the time the other side will never know what hit them, which will get rather demoralizing for any survivors.

[gueroloco]

PETA has authorized Richard Gere to clear caves armed only with a flashlight, his gerbil, and some PVC pipe.

[TigerDSL]

Why can't we just pour thousands of poisonous snakes, scorpions, spiders, etc. into the tunnel entrances and just let them do all the work?

[Boondocks of Bama]

Reminds me of a comment circulating after Desert Storm. Apparently, some DAC at the Pentagon said, "we do deserts but we don't do mountains." Meaning that operations in rugged mountains are just too difficult to even think about.

Now that the pucker factor has gone up, it looks like it's time for "new think." In fact, I heard JCS Meyers use that term in a briefing yesterday.

BTW, like your source. Outstanding publication. I subscribe to the weekly edition.

[Squantos]

Waaaaaay too many ticket punchers in the chimney for this to ever happen bro........as you state, all of em has to have his slice of the pie for OPR fodder..........IMHO ,just pour the diesel down the vents and click the BIC on "all" of em as encountered.....

Stay Safe

[sneakypete]

Why not put cameras on wild boars,and let them loose in the tunnels? If you think a dog can be scarey,you ain't never seen a wild hog that's pissed! Add the psycholigical aspect to this that hogs add,and it's a winner.

[bobzeetwin]

THis might sound silly, but can't they train dogs to go in the caves with cameras on their heads?

Are you nuts? We can sacrifice men and women, but no dogs. Haven't you heard of PETA?

[Moridin]

I don't see why we have to get them out of the caves--just bury the entrances and let them rot.

[fourdeuce82d]

"Why not put cameras on wild boars,and let them loose in the tunnels? If you think a dog can be scarey,you ain't never seen a wild hog that's pissed! Add the psycholigical aspect to this that hogs add,and it's a winner. "

Add a twenty pound, remote triggered satchel charge, and you've got a winner.

The Dog/boar thing isn't far fetched- during WWII the Russkies trained dogs to run under tanks- then they would strap explosives to them and send them out after german armor.

I think we should saw Phuq the rules of war and use nerve gas. We aren't at war, we are performing vermin control.