Air force ups use of cargo planes in Iraq to reduce truck convoys

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The air force is intensifying the use of C-130 cargo planes in Iraq (news - web sites) to help get truck convoys off roads where insurgent bombs have taken a high toll in US casualties, the air force chief said.



General John Jumper said he "had a little fit" last month during a visit to Iraq when he discovered that commanders had not been discussing how to use airlift to avoid improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, which have made Iraq's roads a deadly gantlet for supply convoys.


"We were taking about a hundred casualties a month in the IED business. And when I went over there on my visit, I asked the simple question: what are we doing to get the vehicles off the roads to take the targets away?" Jumper told defense reporters.


"Quite frankly I wasn't satisfied with the answer," he said.


more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20041214/pl_afp/usiraqmilitaryair&cid=1521&ncid=1480


Another DU link here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x91770

[lebkuchen]

1. The Harlem Globetrotters will miss their base tour

thanks to this sudden need for cargo planes.

[democracyindanger]

2. Hello, Stingers

Bet there are plenty of insurgents with these just waiting for a big, slow cargo plane to drift into view.

[Strelnikov_]

3. Stalingrad and Dien Bien Phu Immediately Come To Mind

[bemildred]

4. An earlier conversation on this subject:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x91770

[maddezmom]

5. oops

guess it's not LBN

[bemildred]

6. Aw, dang it, that wasn't what I meant.

I wanted it in LBN, I just didn't want that other stuff lost.
Sorry I was not clear.

[maddezmom]

8. no problem...hope the mods keep it up

:)

[radar]

7. Reminded of a story...

...Col. HackWorth wrote about airlift Calling Gen. Abizaid 11-29-2004
http://www.sftt.org/cgi-bin/csNews/csNews.cgi?database=Hacks%20Target.db&command=viewone&op=t&id=102&rnd=993.4268284138762


According to the ditty, “They fly through the air with the greatest of ease, these are America’s brass-buttoned VIPs.” Actually, the U.S. Air Force calls these airborne admirals and generals “Distinguished Visitors,” but whatever the label, they’re jet-setting at taxpayer expense and screwing over the troops they lead....

And feedback...
http://www.sftt.org/cgi-bin/csNews/csNews.cgi?database=Hacks%20Target%20Feedback%202004.db&command=viewone&op=t&id=66&rnd=829.2312932232961

[maddezmom]

9. kick