I think one of the best reporters on the war has been Michael Yon who moved from Iraq to Afghanistan about a year ago because that’s where the critical fight is now.
From his latest:
Where Eagles Dare
9 September 2008
Helmand Province, AfghanistanWhen I was briefed on the top-secret mission before it was launched, I thought : “Good grief. I might have to report on the failure of one of the largest and most important missions of the entire war.”
After seven years, the war in Afghanistan has morphed from a breathtaking expedition of a handful of special operators-often on horseback-to a sort of lethal day-to-day business. Morale is high among American, Aussie, British and Canadian soldiers. Dozens of other nations are contributing to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, including the French, Italians and Estonians, but I have not seen enough of them to be able to judge their morale. The French recently lost ten soldiers in a Taliban ambush, and many in that country are talking about pulling out, although President Nicolas Sarkozy is standing firm. Other countries, like Germany, have strict rules of engagement that essentially preclude them from joining in combat. The Poles and Danes are strong allies and good soldiers, as they were in Iraq. Yet the bulk of the fighting against the Taliban is done by the Anglosphere (U.S., Britain, Canada, Australia), and, of course, the Afghans.
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that some on the left might get confused and think that Afghanistan is like Iraq. I’ve already talked to people who say, “When are we going to leave Afghanistan?” It’s a valid question, but they seem to think there’s nothing worth fighting for there.
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If that’s what those are, they’ve got so much standoff
(stuff to actuate shaped charges at a distance from the vehicle surface)
that it looks like it would interfere with the operation of the main armaments.
Could those possibly be M-113 APC’s from FMC and the VietNam Era ?
And is that one of those new MRAP’s ?
The photo appears to have been taken by someone on the ground.
This armchair sergeant thinks that a convoy (or movement to contact ?) of this size warrants air cover.
In any event,
that’s a real uncomfortable-looking tactical operation.
I must be getting yellow in my old age.
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British combat vehicles built on the Centurion II chassis.
But apparently the only air cover available was from Predator UAV’s.
Methinks the CJTF Air Boss shortchanged that mission.
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They went with what they had available and figured they had a decent chance. And it worked!
Looks like M-113’s to me. The convoy was Canadian and British, with the Canadians leading the way. Neither the Brits or the Canucks use the Bradley, but the Canadians have around 1,200 M113’s in service. Also compare the size of the AFV’s with the Land Rover at the bottom of the photo, way too small for an M2/M3.
Also in the article they mentioned air cover, specifically a Predator, though I’m sure they had more than that up in the air.
Michael Yon is probably the best reporter out there on the web with along with Michael Totten. Their reports are much better than anything you’ll find anywhere else.