Sun, May 21, 2006
Just A Reminder Who's Boss...
Over the past several weeks, the US military has reported
increased Taliban activity in the mountains of Afghanistan. On
Wednesday, a US Air Force B-1B Lancer reminded some of those
insurgents that their presence is not welcome in that country... by
striking a Taliban-associated compound near Kandahar in support of
coalition ground forces conducting operations to detain individuals
suspected of terrorist activities.
According to the Air Force, the B1-B responded to an immediate
air support request with a GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition,
destroying the compound from which the Taliban members were
attacking.
Coalition ground forces
reported approximately 15 to 20 Taliban were killed from the air
strike, all active members of the Taliban network who had conducted
attacks against coalition and Afghan forces.
Additionally, the insurgents are believed to have conducted
attacks against Afghan government officials, and were suspected of
constructing improvised explosive devices and training other enemy
fighters.
This was the first use of a JDAM by a B-1B in a combat
environment. The Air Force recently added a new software package to
the bomber that allows it to carry and deliver this guided
weapon.
"With the new software package and this precision weapon, we can
target and eliminate the terrorist threat in close quarters,”
said Maj. Gen. Allen Peck, deputy Combined Forces Air Component
commander for US Central Command.
"We’re able to better support our coalition ground
forces," Peck added, "and significantly reduce the possibility
of civilian casualties."
The JDAM, a 500-pound bomb, is a precision weapon that allows
warfighters to focus their strikes and minimize civilian
casualties.
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