Terrorist attack backfires

Multi-National Force, Iraq ^ | December 04, 2005 | Edward Loomis

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

December 04, 2005

Release A051204d

Terrorist attack backfires

TIKRIT, Iraq – Army and Air Force units teamed up to crush an ill-conceived terrorist attack against an Army patrol near Balad the morning of Dec. 3.

The attack began with a hail of small-arms fire directed against the patrol. The Soldiers quickly located and engaged the gunmen, forcing them to take cover. The patrol called for close-air support and two Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons responded by dropping laser-guided bombs. Two terrorists were killed in the short engagement.

One Soldier was treated at the scene for minor injuries and returned to duty.

-30-

For more information, please contact the 101st AIRBORNE DIVISION Public Affairs Office at EDWARD.LOOMIS@US.ARMY.MIL

[reagan_fanatic]

[splint]

With all do respect, I disagree. War costs money. I'd give my entire paycheck, savings and LIFE for limitless artillary that ultimately secures our blessings of liberty. So it really doesnt matter how much is costs, does it?

[righttackle44]

"Hate to nitpick here, but couldn't a grenade launcher have done it for about 1/10,000th the cost?"

Let's see. . .1/10,000th the cost vs no lives lost and one man wounded and returned to duty. . .expose one RPG man and one loader in the open to two guys likely firing automatic weapons. . .all the good guys, so far, going home to their moms and dads, wives and sweethearts, brothers and sisters and grandparents. . . Free Republic second guessers NOT in Iraq but sitting on the bums in front of their computers and not making command decisions about the lives of their guys under their command.

Nope! You two guys lose! The 10,000-times costs are darn well worth it.

(I have not served. My tagline honors my son and my cousin.)

[Jack Deth]

I've no problem with using laser-guided bombs to take out bad guys. The initial strike could have been backed up by a larger group once the 101st got sucked in. If that were the case, a definitive message has been sent. If not, the initial bad guys are still dead.

In Vietnam, we used 500 pound Snake Eye bombs and napalm to do basically the same job. Proving yet again, that most dangerous thing on the field of battle is a squad leader with a radio. With the ability to rain Hell down on the opposition.

Jack.

[SolutionsOnly]

... a definitive message has been sentp> that's a good point - the psychological warfare aspect of it. If there were anyone else involved with the attack, they might be doing some heavy duty introspection right now. So what initially stuck me as overkill could very well have greater impact than eliminating two terrorists - and that is inspiring others to take an early retirement.

[RightOnline]

Well I'm all for the concept of "massive, overwhelming force", no doubt about it.

But ........2 500-pound bombs for two bad guys??? Now maybe they thought that there were possibly more in that position; could very well be. If so, fine. If the intent was to drop 1000 combined pounds of high explosive on the heads of two bad guys, I call that a huge waste of valuable combat resources. But that's just me.

[splint]

My Friend, We all win thanks to people like your son and cousin. God Bless you and yours.

[righttackle44]

"My Friend, We all win thanks to people like your son and
cousin."

Thank you for your words. We're a little sad at our house today. Our son sneaked home for the weekend. He deploys Wednesday and wanted to spent his last weekend with his family. We took him to the airport tonight for his flight back.

Your words helped ease some of the hurt.

[ASOC]

Look at this way -

It sends a MESSAGE

And since my son is in-theater now, all 'outrageous' force is totally cool with me.

[Barney59]

You mean the Michael Moore Freedom Fighters?