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The War on Terror -now officially referred to as an "Overseas Contingency Operation"- is apparently becoming a kinder, friendlier war, as evidenced by the story below.
Air Force may buzz before bombing in Afghanistan
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. — 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.
Hostage told reporters at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina his forces can easily drop bombs with pinpoint accuracy.
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.
This tactic will end up getting guys killed - dry runs in war zone? WTFO?
This started at least for me when major combat was declared complete in OIF in 2003. I went back to OIF in 2004. It's called a "show of force," and typically it would be in an urban environment. Collateral damage was a big issue especially when our guys on the ground could not pinpoint the point(s) of fire. Of course I wanted to drop bombs and kill the rat bastards but sometimes all our guys on the ground wanted was for the bad guys to stop shooting at them. Went it low, popped flares and the gomers would cease fire. Why are they bringing this up now?
They brought it up because the new 3-star in charge of the air war in Afghanistan wants a kinder, friendlier, 'non-kinetic' type war. I can't think of too many things as dumb as making low passes over the enemy with switches safe...
This guy must be bucking for the J. McNamara award for wartime ineptness... With this type of "PC Leadership Style" no wonder he's a 3 star. Disgusting.
Rock
(The first person he gets killed with his kinder gentler war fighting style, should move him to the front of the firing squad line...)