Commentary: Evolving ISR

摘要

The setting is Iraq. Picture the following: A vehicleborne improvised explosive device network has been responsible for several high-casualty attacks on coalition forces and local civilians. But now a cordon is in place and unmanned aircraft are overhead. The squad is ready to move in -- waiting on the last bit of close target reconnaissance information. The primary target is present and the squad is cleared to execute. They enter, clear the house and capture six individuals. While clearing the house, the squad finds two vehicles rigged as car bombs. They quickly question the detainees and exploit the house. Jackpot. They get their guy (a Tier 2 target) and develop leads on a new target -- someone higher up the chain in the insurgent cell. With minimal coordination and shift of close target reconnaissance assets, they follow up and hit the next target, taking down a car-bomb cell leader, financier and logistician. The squad also finds three more vehicles ready to execute additional bloody attacks. The result is that the back of a major car-bomb cell has been broken so it can no longer terrorize the community, and leads on other extremists have been developed.