Roadside bombs the newest weapon US forces face in Iraq - AP

[Nambe]

By STEVEN R. HURST, Associated Press

Insurgents are increasingly using roadside bombs detonated by remote control to attack American forces in Iraq - the latest killing a U.S. soldier and his Iraqi translator in northern Baghdad on Monday. ---

Monday's attack wounded three other members of the 1st Armored Division squad and destroyed two Humvees. A military spokesman credited an Iraqi vendor with saving one of the injured soldiers. ---

In the past week, three roadside bombs have exploded, each killing an American soldier, and troops discovered and defused at least one other. Four soldiers have died in attacks from rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire, the weapons used in nearly all attacks before last week.

The bomb that was defused was hidden in a mold used to make blocks of ice and designed to be detonated by a radio-controlled doorbell button - meaning it did not require a wire connection. Witnesses have reported other roadside bombs were set off by men sitting in cars some distance from the convoys, ensuring a quick getaway. ---

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Guess those rigged Pentagon urban warfare games were a bad idea

to think letting the troops win a war game was more important than sending them prepared for urban warfare and how to outthink the enemy.

[Cocoa]

2. I predict two reactions from Rummy, et al:

1.We couldn't have predicted this tactic.
2.This proves how cowardly these thugs/remnants/bitter-enders are.

[Resistance]

3. Yes but in the end it will be worth it

When the oil from Iraq once again flows freely to the Israelis. I am sure my fellow Democrats will agree?

[pw]

4. Does this mean garage door openers

and remote car-door controls will become prima facie evidence of plans to make a bomb?

[LauraK]

7. An arms shipment to the Palastinians had hundreds of...

remote control devices. It was intercepted. I assume the remote control removes the need for suicide bombers.

[Ozirus]

12. Garage door openers...? Thats so last year...

The 'In' terrorists these days are using cheap cell phones to remotely detonate artillary shells buried under the road surface.

- Ozirus -

[Sushi_lover]

5. It's sad.

Our troops know they are sitting ducks on that road. Meat for the grinder. Bush refuses to get them out of there. It will take a regime change at home for our troops to be removed from this daily waste of life.

I just hope things don't get worse. Sadly, they probably will.

[damnraddem]

6. See, the Iraqis ARE learning democracy from us:

drive-by terrorism!

[Ozirus]

8. This is a technique developed by Chechans

'Witnesses have reported other roadside bombs were set off by men sitting in cars some distance from the convoys, ensuring a quick getaway.'

I am willing to bet these men also had digital camcorders and recorded the ambush. I have several videos of Chechan seperatists using this exact technique extensively that I found on the web pre-9/11.

I smell a chechan rat in these ambushes, they are either there fighting with the Iraqis or they are training them. This occupation of Iraq is looking more and more like Chechnya.

- Ozirus -

[pw]

9. If you found those videos on the web

Then likely so did anyone else with a need to know. Doesn't seem like a technique that requires extensive training.

[Ozirus]

11. Samples

http://home.satx.rr.com/spanaman/podriv2.wmv - 180 kb

http://home.satx.rr.com/spanaman/podriv3.wmv - 509 kb

http://home.satx.rr.com/spanaman/podriv4.wmv - 604 kb

- Ozirus -

[StandWatie]

10. Afghan vets anyway..

many of whom floated into Chechnya and other Muslim conflict zones after the Soviets left.

[bemildred]

13. Not exactly new.

Sort of a "smart" mine, is what they are.