Don't believe all the propoganda being "sold" here about how effective snipers are. If you listen to these people,most will be wanting you to believe all the Germans had to have done to stop our invasion of Europe was have a couple of hundred snipers in place. It doesn't work that way. A sniper IS a effective tool if he shoots once and dissapears,but if he shoots much more than that,he is worm food for any competent and determined enemy who starts to mortar or hit his position with air strikes as they manuever to flank him.
Snipers have a "romantic image" in America,as we see ourselves as a "nation of riflemen" who are prepared to face the enemy alone if neccessary. The truth is they are only good for targeted "hits" and for harrassment purposes. The snipers in VN got so many "kills" because they were free to shoot ANYBODY at ANY TIME who was walking around in desiginated "Free Fire Zones". This included women and children,as well as papa-sans taking a shortcut to another village,and these CIVILIANS kills became a part of their legimitate "score". Snipers mostly piss-off regular military forces,and "yes,I HAVE been shot at by snipers."
Your point seems so common sensical, but all the news reports tend to imply snipers were so good at concealment (and silencers?) that they could operate for a while.
Did you read and do you have an opinion on the reports from Op Anaconda (or maybe is was Mtn Lion) in Afganistan of the 4-5 Canadian snipers pinned down high in the mountains...but they shot their way out/or held out til extracted? (Its been maybe a month, and I've forgotten some of the details). I'll try to find the post if you don't recall.