Theodore's World

STOCKHOLM, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) — Danish police have arrested nine people suspected of planning a terror attack, reports reaching here from Denmark said Tuesday.
The nine, who had got materials to make explosives in connection with the preparation for a terror attack, were arrested during a police raid overnight in heavily immigrant-populated neighborhood of Vollsmose, a suburb west of Odense in central Denmark, the reports said, citing the country’s intelligence service.
The suspects, whose identities were not disclosed, were all aged under 30 and would face a custody hearing later Tuesday, said Lars Findsen, head of the Danish Security Intelligence Service.
Findsen gave no details on the target of the attack, saying that the arrests would not prompt Denmark to raise its terror alert.
Denmark has raised its terror preparedness after the London terror attacks last year and disputes earlier this year over cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad which was first published in a Danish newspaper.

First there was this from Harry Reid…………

REID: THE SENATE IS ALMOST OUT OF TIME TO HELP THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
Modern “Do Nothing Congress” has only eight weeks remaining
Washington, DC—Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid today delivered the following speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate, urging Bush Republicans to put aside their politically motivated agenda to address the real challenges the American people face every day. With the Senate rapidly running out of legislative days to tackle serious issues like gas prices, health care costs, and the minimum wage, there is no time left to spare.
You can read the entire bunch of bull HERE

And now we have this….Three Cheers for Josh Bolten, Chief of Staff!

Response from the Chief of Staff Josh Bolten to a Democratic Letter
September 5, 2006
White House
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid
528 Hart SOB
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Reid:
Thank you for your September 4 letter to the President. I am responding on his behalf.
A useful discussion of what we need to do in Iraq requires an accurate and fair-minded description of our current policy: As the President has explained, our goal is an Iraq that can govern itself, defend itself, and sustain itself. In order to achieve this goal, we are pursuing a strategy along three main tracks — political, economic, and security. Along each of these tracks, we are constantly adjusting our tactics to meet conditions on the ground. We have witnessed both successes and setbacks along the way, which is the story of every war that has been waged and won.
Your letter recites four elements of a proposed “new direction” in Iraq. Three of those elements reflect well-established Administration policy; the fourth is dangerously misguided.
First, you propose “transitioning the U.S. mission in Iraq to counter-terrorism, training, logistics and force protection.” That is what we are now doing, and have been doing for several years. Our efforts to train the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) have evolved and accelerated over the past three years. Our military has had substantial success in building the Iraqi Army — and increasingly we have seen the Iraqi Army take the lead in fighting the enemies of a free Iraq. The Iraqi Security Forces still must rely on U.S. support, both in direct combat and especially in key combat support functions. But any fair-minded reading of the current situation must recognize that the ISF are unquestionably more capable and shouldering a greater portion of the burden than a year ago — and because of the extraordinary efforts of the United States military, we expect they will become increasingly capable with each passing month. Your recommendation that we focus on counter-terrorism training and operations — which is the most demanding task facing our troops — tracks not only with our policy but also our understanding, as well as the understanding of al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations, that Iraq is a central front in the war against terror.
Second, your letter proposes “working with Iraqi leaders to disarm the militias and to develop a broad-based and sustainable political settlement, including amending the Constitution to achieve a fair sharing of power and resources.” You are once again urging that the Bush Administration adopt an approach that has not only been embraced, but is now being executed. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is pursuing a national reconciliation project. It is an undertaking that (a) was devised by the Iraqis; (b) has the support of the United States, our coalition partners and the United Nations; and (c) is now being implemented. Further, in Iraq’s political evolution, the Sunnis, who boycotted the first Iraq election, are now much more involved in the political process. Prime Minister Maliki is head of a free government that represents all communities in Iraq for the first time in that nation’s history. It is in the context of this broad-based, unity government, and the lasting national compact that government is pursuing, that the Iraqis will consider what amendments might be required to the constitution that the Iraqi people adopted last year. On the matter of disarming militias: that is precisely what Prime Minister al-Maliki is working to do. Indeed, Coalition leaders are working with him and his ministers to devise and implement a program to disarm, demobilize, and reintegrate members of militias and other illegal armed groups.
Third, your letter calls for “convening an international conference and contact group to support a political settlement in Iraq, to preserve Iraq’s sovereignty, and to revitalize the stalled economic reconstruction and rebuilding effort.” The International Compact for Iraq, launched recently by the sovereign Iraqi government and the United Nations, is the best way to work with regional and international partners to make substantial economic progress in Iraq, help revitalize the economic reconstruction and rebuilding of that nation, and support a fair and just political settlement in Iraq — all while preserving Iraqi sovereignty. This effort is well under way, it has momentum, and I urge you to support it.
Three of the key proposals found in your letter, then, are already reflected in current U.S. and Iraqi policy in the region.
On the fourth element of your proposed “new direction,” however, we do disagree strongly. Our strategy calls for redeploying troops from Iraq as conditions on the ground allow, when the Iraqi Security Forces are capable of defending their nation, and when our military commanders believe the time is right. Your proposal is driven by none of these factors; instead, it would have U.S. forces begin withdrawing from Iraq by the end of the year, without regard to the conditions on the ground. Because your letter lacks specifics, it is difficult to determine exactly what is contemplated by the “phased redeployment” you propose. (One such proposal, advanced by Representative Murtha, a signatory to your letter, suggested that U.S. forces should be redeployed as a “quick reaction force” to Okinawa, which is nearly 5,000 miles from Baghdad).
Regardless of the specifics you envision by “phased redeployment,” any premature withdrawal of U.S forces would have disastrous consequences for America’s security. Such a policy would embolden our terrorist enemies; betray the hopes of the Iraqi people; lead to a terrorist state in control of huge oil reserves; shatter the confidence our regional allies have in America; undermine the spread of democracy in the Middle East; and mean the sacrifices of American troops would have been in vain. This “new direction” would lead to a crippling defeat for America and a staggering victory for Islamic extremists. That is not a direction this President will follow. The President is being guided by a commitment to victory — and that plan, in turn, is being driven by the counsel and recommendations of our military commanders in the region.
Finally, your letter calls for replacing Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld. We strongly disagree. Secretary Rumsfeld is an honorable and able public servant. Under his leadership, the United States Armed Forces and our allies have overthrown two brutal tyrannies and liberated more than 50 million people. Al Qaeda has suffered tremendous blows. Secretary Rumsfeld has pursued vigorously the President’s vision for a transformed U.S. military. And he has played a lead role in forging and implementing many of the policies you now recommend in Iraq. Secretary Rumsfeld retains the full confidence of the President.
We appreciate your stated interest in working with the Administration on policies that honor the sacrifice of our troops and promote our national security, which we believe can be accomplished only through victory in this central front in the War on Terror.
Sincerely,
Joshua B. Bolten
Chief of Staff
Identical Letters Sent To:
The Honorable Harry Reid, Senate Democratic Leader
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leader
The Honorable Dick Durbin, Senate Assistant Democratic Leader
The Honorable Steny Hoyer, House Minority Whip
The Honorable Carl Levin, Ranking Member, Senate Armed Services Committee
The Honorable Ike Skelton, Ranking Member, House Armed Services Committee
The Honorable Joe Biden, Ranking Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
The Honorable Tom Lantos, Ranking Member, House International Relations Committee
The Honorable Jay Rockefeller, Vice Chairman, Senate Intelligence Committee
The Honorable Jane Harman, Ranking Member, House Intelligence Committee
The Honorable Daniel Inouye, Ranking Member, Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee
The Honorable John Murtha, Ranking Member, House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee

Music : Louis Armstrong – “What A Wonderful World”

* Save the Soldiers ( supporting our troops in all their locations all over the world)

US intelligence photo of the Iranian Mark 4 Air Defence Flying Carpet

Iran tests new air defense system
Jerusalem Post
Iran said on Monday it had tested a new air defense system to counter missiles and aircraft during large-scale military exercises throughout the country, state-run television reported.

“The upgraded missiles successfully destroyed the presumed enemies’ missiles in low altitude simultaneously in several points,” said Gen. Amir Amini, deputy commander of Iran’s Air Force.

An Iranian fighter jet drops bombs during the army’s air force maneuvers at an undisclosed location in Iran, Monday, September 4, 2006.
The television footage showed at least four surface-to-air missiles being fired from mobile launching pads. The report did not say if the missile was equipped with a guidance system.
During maneuvers dubbed “The Blow of Zolfaghar,” which began in August 19, Iran test fired short-range surface-to-surface and sub-to-surface missiles.
Iran’s military test-fired a series of missiles during large-scale war games in the Persian Gulf in March and April, including a missile it claimed was not detectable by radar that can use multiple warheads to hit several targets simultaneously,
After decades of relying on foreign weapons purchases, Iran now says it is increasingly self-sufficient in its military equipment claiming it annually exports more than US$100 million (€81 million) worth of military equipment to more than 50 countries.
Since 1992, Iran has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles and a fighter plane, the government has said. It announced in early 2005 that it had begun production of torpedoes.

Bomb Iran
video

Muslim anger erupts at Costello call to renounce terrorism
The Age
Muslim leaders have lashed out at Peter Costello, after the federal Treasurer called on them to condemn terrorism “unequivocally”, and speak out plainly and clearly against radicals in their community.

Mr Costello said they should “make it clear to would-be converts that when you join this religion you do not join a radical political ideology”.

But Muslim representatives said last night Mr Costello had not taken notice of what had already been said, and did not communicate with them.
Yasser Soliman, president of the Islamic Family and Childcare Agency in Victoria, said the Government’s Muslim Community Reference Group had “pledged loyalty to this country and condemned extremism and terrorism”. The Muslim leadership had done this repeatedly.

“Obviously Mr Costello is not in touch with the people he’s talking about — he’s never bothered to talk with them,” he said.

Waleed Aly, board member of the Islamic Council of Victoria, said Muslim community leaders had been “speaking out unequivocally against terrorism pretty loudly and continuously for five years. If the Treasurer hasn’t heard that yet, I’m not sure what it will take.”

The chairman of the Muslim Community Reference Group, Ameer Ali, said Mr Costello’s remarks were “provocative, divisive and mischievous”.

Malcolm Thomas, president of the Islamic Council of Victoria, said Muslim leaders did condemn terrorism all the time. The Muslim leadership would like Mr Costello to meet with them. “He’s been quite critical of the Muslim community but noticeable by his absence in any engagement,” Mr Thomas said.

This is not the first time Muslim leaders have clashed with Mr Costello. They were angered by remarks he made earlier this year about Sharia law and other matters.
The latest Government pressure on Muslim leaders to step up their efforts against radicals comes after Prime Minister John Howard last week drew a sharp reaction from some Muslim leaders when he said a small section of the Islamic population in Australia “is very resistant to integration”.
Fully integrating included learning English and treating women as equals.
Mr Costello said he agreed with Mr Howard.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, when asked about Mr Costello’s comments, said that “if people choose not to denounce terrorism … that draws attention to them and people wonder why would somebody not renounce terrorism”.

Mr Costello told Channel Nine a minority of Muslims had been radicalised, and sought to prey on young people “with a very radical and dangerous ideology”.

“It is very, very important that the leadership in Australia are very clear and very precise that this is not really Islam … and that terrorists are always to be condemned.”

Some radicals tried to “disassimilate” even those born in Australia, Mr Costello said. “We have seen in this country that would-be terrorists can be born in this country … and can fall under the influence of radicals, be disassimilated and turned to terrorist purposes. This is where we really need the Islamic leadership to stand up and … make it clear that terrorism is never justified under the cover of religion.”

Andrew Robb, parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs said some Muslim leaders were their community’s “worst enemies” because they fostered a “victim” mentality.

Mr Robb told The Age that the reaction of some Muslim leaders against the PM’s comments was “reinforcing” that mentality.

What Peter Costello said about Sharia Law in 2005:
PETER COSTELLO: What I’ve said is that this is a country, which is founded on a democracy. According to our Constitution, we have a secular state. Our laws are made by the Australian Parliament. If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you. This is not the kind of country where you would feel comfortable if you were opposed to democracy, parliamentary law, independent courts and so I would say to people who don’t feel comfortable with those values there might be other countries where they’d feel more comfortable with their own values or beliefs.
TONY JONES: It sounds like you’re inviting Muslims who don’t want to integrate to go to another country. Is it as simple as that?
PETER COSTELLO: No. I’m saying if you are thinking of coming to Australia, you ought to know what Australian values are.
TONY JONES: But what about if you’re already here and you don’t want to integrate?
PETER COSTELLO: Well, I’ll come to that in a moment. But there are some clerics who have been quoted as saying they recognise two laws. They recognise Australian law and Sharia law. There’s only one law in Australia, it’s the Australian law. For those coming to Australia, I think we ought to be very clear about that. We expect them to recognise only one law and to observe it.
Now, for those who are born in Australia, I’d make the same point. This is a country which has a Constitution. Under its Constitution, the state is secular. Under its constitution, the law is made by the parliament. Under its Constitution, it’s enforced by the judiciary. These are Australian values and they’re not going to change and we would expect people, when they come to Australia or if they are born in Australia, to respect those values.
TONY JONES: I take it that if you’re a dual citizen and you have the opportunity to leave and you don’t like Australian values, you’re encouraging them to go away; is that right?
PETER COSTELLO: Well, if you can’t agree with parliamentary law, independent courts, democracy and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to another country which practises it, perhaps then that’s a better option.

Wild Thing’s comments…….
The “Religion of Perpetual Outrage” better known as the Death Cult. I am fed up with this BS. If we don’t get serious about taking the fight to these cowards, we will lose this war. Islam is completely INTOLERANT, and thus completely INCOMPATIBLE with Western culture and governance.
They’ll probably show ’em they aren’t terrorists by bombing some buildings and setting fire to many cars and maybe killing a person or two.
In this next election I am praying we get an American President that has the stones to say this. Or any American legislator, for that matter.

* USS Neverdock
* Riehl World View

Apaches Blast Terrorists’ Vehicles in Western Baghdad
By Sgt. 1st Class Reginald Rogers, USA – Special to American Forces Press Service
(Army Sgt. 1st Class Rogers is assigned to the 4th Infantry Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs Office.)
DOD
BAGHDAD, Sep. 4, 2006 – Two Longbow Apache helicopters provided air-to-ground support to American soldiers by blasting enemy vehicles during action in western Baghdad yesterday, U.S. officials reported.
The flight of choppers from Multinational Division Baghdad’s Combat Aviation Brigade teamed up to assist U.S. ground forces from the division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division.
The combined effort resulted in one terrorist killed, four captured and two terrorist’s vehicles destroyed, officials said.
The Apache crews were conducting a combat air patrol mission when they received the call to assist. At about 4:45 p.m., the pilots noticed two abandoned vehicles near where the attack was reported.

“The vehicles were staged for the (terrorists), who tried to engage the infantry guys,” explained Army Maj. Byron Needum, one of the Apache pilots assigned to the CAB’s 1st Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment. “When we got there, the infantry had already got the best of them and detained three.

“They were still looking for more (terrorists),” Needum continued. “That’s when we found the vehicles, and vehicles didn’t fit the situation.”

Apache teams rarely have to engage the enemy once they arrive on the scene, Needum said.

“Normally when we get there, people don’t want to ‘play’ anymore,” he explained. “Even if we don’t engage the enemy, our presence alone helps the ground guys out.”

Helicopter crews have a picture-window view of enemy activity on the ground, Needum said. That advantage, he said, is often used to support U.S. ground forces.

“We have a different vantage point, and we can see farther than you can on the ground,” said Needum, who is also the company commander for his battalion’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company. “I don’t think they would have seen those (enemy) vehicles without us.”

According to Chief Warrant Officer Scott Quaife, who piloted the second of the two Apaches, his team spotted the two vehicles upon arrival to the location, but could not engage without receiving confirmation that they belonged to the terrorists.

“We spotted the two Bradleys, and they had already opened fire on the canal with their 25 mm guns,” Quaife explained. “They said there were two possible (terrorists) running in the canal, but we didn’t find anybody.”

Then, Needum’s helicopter crew noticed the two vehicles, Quaife recalled, “so we investigated the vehicles. We called the (ground unit) and told them we thought the vehicles were the enemy’s.”
Quaife said the ground unit sent personnel to investigate, and once confirmation was given, the helicopters attacked the enemy vehicles.

“The ground unit’s leadership approved the Apaches to destroy the vehicles to keep its soldiers safe,” Quaife said. The ground unit reported that the two vehicles contained loaded AK-47s, he said, and possible improvised explosive device-making materials.

The Apache team fired on the vehicles with at least 150 rounds from its 30 mm machine guns and shot four rockets, Quaife said. The barrage, he said, destroyed both vehicles.

“The lead vehicle blew up and caught on fire after being engaged by Needum’s helicopter,” Quaife said, noting his chopper crew “shot two rockets to help destroy the other vehicle.”

Officials said a post-engagement assessment showed that the ground unit had killed a terrorist, wounded another and detained three. The soldiers also found a weapons cache containing four rocket-propelled-grenades, two RPG launchers, an AK-47 rifle, three machine guns with 100 rounds, a pair of flares and numerous rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.

Wild Thing’s comment……..
Our troops are really awesome! I am so proud of them.

Australian soldiers from Queensland and New South Wales at Camp Smitty, Iraq, play a State of Origin match in team jerseys donated by the National Rugby League.
(Photo Courtesy of ADF)

2nd Lt. Zack Zilai, Co. B, 4th Bn., 23rd In. Reg., Stryker Bde., exits a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter.

U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer selectees heave on a line to set the jib aboard the USS Constitution during the second week of CPO leadership training aboard the ship in Boston, Mass., on Aug. 30, 2006. Each year Old Ironsides hosts approximately 300 CPO selectees for training including sail handling, gun drill and community outreach designed to instill leadership and teamwork skills. photo by Airman Nick Lyman, U.S. Navy.

U.N. chief, in Iran, is snubbed on nuclear program and ignored over questioning of Holocaust
TEHRAN, Iran, (AP) — The U.N. chief got little satisfaction Sunday at the close of his trip to Tehran, snubbed by Iran’s leader over international demands to stop enriching uranium and ignored in warnings not to incite hatred by questioning the Holocaust.
In a provocative move on the final day of Kofi Annan’s two-day visit, Iran announced it would host a conference to examine what it called exaggerations about the Holocaust, during which more than 6 million Jews were killed by the Nazis.
The move was sure to draw new international condemnation of Iran’s stance on Jews. Hours after the announcement, Annan repeated his displeasure over an exhibition in Tehran of cartoons mocking the Holocaust that was opened as a response to Western caricatures of Prophet Muhammad.
“I think the tragedy of the Holocaust is an undeniable historical fact and we should really accept that fact and teach people what happened in World War II and ensure it is never repeated,” Annan told reporters.
He commented after a meeting with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but the hard-line Iranian leader didn’t accompany the U.N. chief to the news conference.
Rest of article HERE

Defense Minister General Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar said Iran is currently exporting military equipment to 57 countries in the world.

Iran demands withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq
Tehran, Iran, Sep. 04 – Iran demanded on Monday that United States-led forces leave Iraq.
“The occupiers must leave Iraq”, government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham told reporters during his weekly press conference.
“At present, there is no excuse for the occupation of Iraq to continue”, Elham said, adding, “Saddam no longer exists in this country. A government has been formed in this country and the constitution has been completed. There is no excuse for occupying Iraq”.

Amir Taheri, Asharq Alawsat reported that Ali-Akbar Meshkini, the second most powerful Ayatollah in Iran, Meshkini said

………”Among all the governments in the world, the only legitimate government endorsed by the Almighty is the Islamic Republic of Iran.” There cannot be give-and-take between “an extension of God” and an “illegitimate and oppressive regimes.”

Ardeshir Dolat reported that Seyed Yahya Safavi, the head of the Revolutionary Guards Corps said

….“The Islamic world will soon become a major world superpower.”

Wild Thing’s comment………
I think it is funny how President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad snubbed Annan. haha The UN is worthless, but we already knew that.
These Ragheads can not even design, manufacture and produce a decent automobile of their own, so Minister General Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar’s claim that Iran “is currently exporting military equipment to 57 countries in the world” is (IMHO) pure BS
And that Gholam-Hossein Elham sounds like one of the USA’s Democrats. haha

Bagram A-10s surge for summer offensives
BAGRAM AIRFIELD,
Afghanistan —
Six U.S. and Coalition troops peer out from a remote position on a ridge top in Afghanistan. At sunset on the third day of their vigil, a large force of Taliban extremists carrying heavy machine guns and rocket- propelled grenades surround and pin the team down.
By design, an Air Force joint tactical air controller is with the team. His job is to direct strike aircraft to targets on the ground. The situation on the ridge line is desperate until an Air Force pilot flying an A-10 Thunderbolt II in the vicinity contacts him. Helping the A-10 pilot find and target his attackers on the ground, the JTAC stays in radio contact, except when forced to pick up his weapon and fire at the enemy closing in.

“Fifty minutes later the remaining enemy retreated and (the JTAC) and his team walked off that ridge to resupply and fight again the next day,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Keith McBride, commander of the 81st Expeditionary FighterSquadron. McBride, an A-10 pilot, uses this real-life story to illustrate his point that the A-10 is saving lives in Afghanistan.

“There have been numerous occasions where our troops have been taking heavy fire and we show up and either our presence ends the engagement or we employ against enemy positions and end the engagement,” said Air Force Col. Tony Johnson, the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group commander and an A- 10 pilot himself.

Flying hours and the amount of bombs and bullets expended by A-10 pilots here have increased all summer due to two offensives by ground forces against the enemy. Operations Mountain Lion and Mountain Thrust flushed Taliban extremists out of where they normally hole-up, exposing them to U.S. and Coalition forces on the ground, who called on A-10 pilots to provide close air support.

“The increase in weapons deliveries is primarily because U.S. and Coalition operations have carried the fight to the extremists,” said Air Force Brig. Gen. Christopher Miller, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander. One of his jobs is to advise Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin Freakley, Combined Joint Task Force-76 commander, on the use of combat aircraft in Afghanistan.

“Where extremists have attacked the Afghan people and their infrastructure, we have helped defend them, and we have carried the fight to the enemy, to push them back and reduce their ability to carry out further attacks,” Miller said. “The whole A-10 team, from the Airmen who launch them, to the pilots who fly them, should be proud. They are saving the lives of Americans and many others they don’t even know—and in the big picture, they’re enabling the security Afghanistan needs to rebuild into a society where terrorists can’t flourish.”

The A-10’s ability to precisely hit targets also lends itself well to U.S. forces engaged in re-building Afghanistan, Johnson said. Preservation of infrastructure and limiting damage on the ground are crucial, since the country of Afghanistan is not the enemy.

“We’re also re-building a country,” he said. “I don’t know what other airplane would be better at this than the A-10.”

The A-10 was originally designed around its 30-mm gun, designated the GAU-8. The gun is more of a small artillery piece – firing huge bullets into target areas at a rate of 65 per second. The A-10 is the only Air Force aircraft
designed specifically for close air support — providing firepower for ground troops in fights with enemy forces.
If the gun isn’t enough, 11 stations underneath the plane hold up to 16,000 pounds of bombs, missiles and rockets.

“Our weapons effects make a decisive impact on the battle,” McBride said. “Ground forces rely on our rapid response and our pin-point accuracy.”

The GAU-8, with its 8-foot, rifled barrels, delivers bullets at a blistering 3,000-feet-persecond.
When pilots pull the trigger, they aim using the plane’s computer, which takes into account factors like speed, altitude, the distance from the target and angle of the plane’s nose. This combination of physics and software
make the 30-mm gun on the A-10 extremely accurate.

“Just the large amount and type of weapons the A-10 can carry, combined with a long loiter time over our troops on the ground, makes up for the lack of organic, heavy weapons (carried by U.S. and Coalition forces),” McBride said.

But it’s not just the A-10’s firepower that makes it an excellent choice for supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The plane is designed rugged – much like the mountainous terrain of Afghanistan.
To enable twists and turns through low valleys and high peaks, the wings stick straight out, allowing small, sharp
turns. It’s heavily armored for the benefit of its pilots and is built to land and take off from the well-worn surface of
Bagram’s runway.
The A-10 combines some of the best of today’s hightechnology Air Force with asolid, low-tech foundation. The addition of a targeting and laser-designation pod was a huge boost to the plane’s capabilities but still no substitute for the pilot’s eyeballs.

“Most other aircraft rely heavily on (electronic) sensors to find and target the enemy,” said Air Force Capt. Rick
Mitchell, an active-duty pilot deployed here from Reserve’s 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base,Mo.

“In the A-10, it’s not unusual for a pilot to use binoculars.” When Mitchell flies, his preparation for the mission is
extensive and can take more time than the actual combat sortie.

Once in the air, pilots can fly to pre-planned targets or fly in holding patterns above potential battlefields waiting to
swoop down when ground forces encounter the enemy.
The Combined Air Operations Center, in Southwest Asia, generates missions for Bagram’s A-10s. This high-tech command center runs air operations for both Afghanistan and Iraq.

“We work those guys pretty hard,” said Royal Air Force Flight Lt. Matthew Adamson- Drage, a fighter controller who helps assign missions to the A-10s at the CAOC.

“The A-10s are pretty much the backbone of (air operations in Afghanistan) because they’re flying all the time every day.”

“The A-10 is employing lethal firepower when it’s needed most by troops on the ground, ” Mitchell said. “There’s nothing more rewarding to a close air support pilot than knowing the firepower you employed just saved the lives of guys on the ground.”

Wild Thing’s comment……
I especially love that last quote above. Don’t you just LOVE our troops!

* Basil’s blog

“The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is.
Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and
keep moving on.”
-Ulysses S. Grant

Army Spec. Alfredo Abrenica, a mortarman with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, Task Force Spartan, and Army Pvt. Leslie Garcia, also a mortarman with HHC, 1-32 Inf., prepare for a fire mission at XXXXXXX Firebase, located in Nuristan Province. Photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Pintagro, Task Force Spartan public affairs.

Wild Thing’s comment…….
I X’d out the name of the firebase. I always wonder why even they DOD, Stars and Strips and my other sources will so often give what I think is too much information. It still is possible to share photos and some information, but I feel a person or publication or press releases needs to be very careful at all times.