Another Canadian Soldier Killed by an "IED" - There has to be a better way

[Kjesse]

So yet another Canadian soldier was killed on a routine patrol in a hostile area by an improvised explosive device, or IED as they call them.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/So...147/story.html

The article says what we already know, which is,

"Like McKay, most of the Canadian casualties have been caused by improvised explosive devices buried in the sand by insurgents. Relatively few of the Canadians who have died were killed in firefights with the enemy."

There has to be a better way. Can't someone pilot a device to walk in front of the patrol, heavy enough to trigger the mine before the soldier is close enough to receive serious harm? Or can't there be some kind of detector device that scoots ahead and detects abnormal amounts of metal and/or explosives?

The guerilla tactics employed in Afghanistan are not possible to overcome if they can just pick off our soldiers without putting themselves at risk. We need to be doing more to prevent these kinds of deaths.

RIP Private McKay.

[CaptainCrunch]

A lot of these devices are command detonated as well. A remote piloted device doesn't work because they're not heavy enough to set them off, or the Taliban observers hiding a long distance away dressed in civilian close merely have to put their hands in their pockets.

The only way to truly prevent it is with better aerial surveillance, or continue to work with the local population to get them to report suspicious activity.

The unfortunate thing is you can continue to upgrade armor and they'll continue to find bigger explosives in a country rife with abandoned weapons and warheads will always be ahead of weapons.

[Pinner]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

The only way to truly prevent it is with better aerial surveillance, or continue to work with the local population to get them to report suspicious activity.

Exactly, the locals know who is doing what and where but they are not warning our soldiers, Fawkers!

We should be making it "in the locals best interest" to stop our soldiers from being killed and maimed...

[dissentowner]

The better way is to not send our troops over to be part of this crap.

[SeeBass]

Of course this is too simple but I'm so sick of us dying helping Afghanees when it seems they don't want to help themselves.

I think I'm starting to adopt the John Stewart approach: Tell Karzi and the Afghan people we are leaving and if you let the Taliban/Al Queda back we will bomb the crap out of you.

Not the right solution but I'm getting so fed up. We can't even get them trained to defend themselves. I read the article last week in the National Post about the difficulties training them and I just can't see it happening. This is going to take at least two generations to fix this.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

The better way is to not send our troops over to be part of this crap.

They aren't "sent over" they volunteer. It's not like they are drafted anymore. I have family members in the military service, it's something that they believe in so I don't knock their beliefs or their choices.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

Of course this is too simple but I'm so sick of us dying helping Afghanees when it seems they don't want to help themselves.

I think I'm starting to adopt the John Stewart approach: Tell Karzi and the Afghan people we are leaving and if you let the Taliban/Al Queda back we will bomb the crap out of you.

Not the right solution but I'm getting so fed up. We can't even get them trained to defend themselves. I read the article last week in the National Post about the difficulties training them and I just can't see it happening. This is going to take at least two generations to fix this.

Weren't you the one talking about the superior ethical considerations of atheism?

We stay.

[worth]

Everyone in Afghanistan is there because the want to be there.

All reservists in Afghanistan get the choice to volunteer to go on tour.

If you sign up for the regular force you know you WILL be sent to Afghanistan. Everyone knows this.

Ask any soldier before they depart for Afghanistan if they want to go, I guarantee they will all say yes.

That being said, not all patrols are done with vehicles. Not all patrols can be done with vehicles. Vehicles make noise. They are loud and give off signatures. And they are expensive. They require maintenance, they require fuel and they require a lot of money. You can't have soldiers in vehicles 100% of the time. It's just not possible. Soldiers can not be protected 100% of the time. That is why they get danger pay while on tour. Their job is inherently dangerous. That is what makes it attractive and exciting for many.

Vehicles are useful, but not always appropriate.

You can never get away from foot patrols, and that's what infantrymen do. Actually I think 1PPCLI is a mechanized regiment, but in reality all infantry soldiers are light infantry at heart, and walking is what we do best.

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by peter12

Weren't you the one talking about the superior ethical considerations of atheism?

We stay.

that might explain why I do not think it would be right to do what I said. Feeling and actions are not the same.

Explains why you believe in the Bible it appears that reading and undrstanding what you read is not your strength.

I'm in support of staying but I will not hide my fustration.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by peter12

Weren't you the one talking about the superior ethical considerations of atheism?

We stay.

Who started the war and asked us to help over there?

Thats right, the bible thumpin George Bush!

[Redliner]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

Explains why you believe in the Bible it appears that reading and undrstanding what you read is not your strength.

Really? I know this wasn't directed at me, but responses like this drive me completely insane. Insinuating that someone's lack of intelligence is the only reason they believe in the Bible is asinine and insulting.

Originally Posted by peter12

Weren't you the one talking about the superior ethical considerations of atheism?

We stay.

Originally Posted by T@T

Who started the war and asked us to help over there?

Thats right, the bible thumpin George Bush!

Please. Lets not derail a thread discussing someone who has just died for their country by allowing it to degenerate into another CP religion-based hate thread.

[Pinner]

Originally Posted by T@T

Who started the war and asked us to help over there?

Thats right, the bible thumpin George Bush!

That's right, we were pretty much forced by world opinion to get involved somewhere, and at the time Afghanistan was the better of two evils...

The friggin locals need to warn our guys, they are playing both sides...