Why are enemy snipers so good at getting away?

Question

American are being shot by Iraqi snipers, and Americans only act retroactively.
Why arent our snipers undercover seeking their snipers?
All it takes is thermal imaging/night vision goggles, and setting up a perimeter farther out. Snipers are obvious even to the untrained eye.

And dont try to tell me Americans are too obvious. Delta Force and Navy SEALS are highly trained to operate as foreign subjects, including fluency. See: Richard Marcinko, 'Rogue Warrior' in which a small group of SEALS were able to pass themselves as locals in Beirut, even obtaining information sought after by US intelligence for months.

And to those who think sniping is cowardice, I suggest a refresher course on American military tactics 1776-1783 particularly, 'Battle of Lexington and Concord'.

So why are we unable to adapt, and place our snipers in position to snipe them? Is our military really so top heavy with approvals and permissions and decision making channels?

Answer 1

First off, you have no idea what you're talking about. I've been a Scout/Sniper in the USMC for the last 14 years...In the Corps for the last 19. As far as being hit by enemy snipers...we aren't, in fact the insurgency lacks the sufficent weapons and proficeint personnel to perform sniping attacks. We are being hit with IED's a totally different animal all together. More like guerilla warfare, where an innocent person/vehicle sometimes women and young children/teens get close to our personnel and blow themselves up. If we shoot before confirmation then we're baby killers, if we wait one millisecond too long we're toast. If you knew anything about snipers you'd know that there has to be cover to snipe from sometimes in the form of buildings sometimes in the form of biological cover. In Iraq we have neither when out on patrol.

Snipers take out a hard or confirmed target and we sometimes take weeks to get where we're going...the types of attacks happening to our troops in Iraq are fly bys, spontaneous and random. These are impossible to defend by snipers.

Answer 2

While your comment may be factual, and technical, the question can be answered very simply.

Have you ever sit in a dear blind waiting for a dear to come by. Now the dear knows there is great danger out there but they must look for food. Even though that dear may have escaped before the one thing they can't do is stop looking. So it is a perfect setup for you....the sniper. Our military may be the strongest best trained in the world but the unknown is still the unknown.

And you need to understand one other thing. If their is one segment of our military that does not brag about it's success it is the snipers. You may know of someone who was a sniper or who wants to be one but I bet you never have met one that is currently one. Their very lives depend upon the ability to not be found.

And I can tell you this the only ones that are obvious to the untrained eye are the dead ones. And what makes you think our snipers have not been successful? You will never see their success in the news. Ever.

Answer 3

I read Rogue Warrior, and remember the part that you mentioned. In this case the SEALS, were doing recon, and not sniping. The Iraqi snipers are in their own area, and blend in as part of the native population. The same thing happened in Viet Nam, where "charlie" during the day blended in and at night would come out and kill Americans. If you read some of the accounts, especially by the Marines, they were successful in killing snipers with counter sniper tactics. This still works, but not much is being said about our successes in the liberal media.

Answer 4

Our snipers ARE good. Part of the problem is getting them blended in with their surroundings. That is one place the enemy has the advantage, it's his back yard. When we can get our snipers in place looking like a native, we'll stand a better chance. And not all snipers are obvious to the untrained eye. The ones you actually see are NOT snipers in the true sense of the word.

Our special forces are trained to become part of their surroundings and function out in the open in that environment. Snipers are supposed to remain hidden and out of sight. Stealth in, Stealth out. A hard job to accomplish when the lines of battle are constantly moving.

Answer 5

You sir are uneducated in this matter. Who said the enemy snipers get away? Who said that Marine Scout Snipers are NOT seeking the enemy? The fact is they ARE seeking the enemy, but there is not always a Marines Scout around when you need one.

How are "snipers" obvious? A "sniper" is master at concealment above all. The enemy "snipers" are non combatant criminals shooting an SVD or Mosin Nagant at our troops and then running. Educate yourself and stop listing to the media.

Answer 6

All we need is thermal imaging and night vision goggles huh? Wow, why are we still fighting this battle, perhaps you should be in charge. Like the other guy said, IED's are the major issue. I am partially deaf now because of one, ive had buddies not come home because of them. Small arms fire is the least of our concerns when it comes to our welfare. And to Eternal soul, who answered this question, you should at least try to answer the question. Religiously wrong? Isn't that an oxymoron?

Answer 7

We are fighting a different kind of enemy that is why it's difficult. Try to find a sniper that is dressed like everyone else and that is hiding behind women and children. Also, our troops are getting hit while moving through urban areas....again with people all over the place.

Answer 8

Who is the bigger coward a person up in a sky 100 miles up pushing a mere button to drop a bomb that will destroy a sovereign nation and its innocent children or a person who snipers a soldier 300meters away? Who sounds like a coward and a terrorist in this situation?
Firstly the Americans fight for wealth and economic stability for their nation. The average "civilian" Iraqi sniper, fights for freedom, to defend his land his people his family, which gives him strength and courage. The media in America has blinded you so far that you can no longer fathom the truth about the main reasons what Americas military action is doing in Iraq. How would you feel if Iraqis came to your country in the name of peace and destroyed your people with depleted uranium and raped your men,women children and your natural resources? What would you do? The war on Iraq is morally, religiously and legally wrong. Would you pick up a sniper rifle because you are outnumbered by the most sophisticated and most powerful army in the world today to defend your family and loved ones? or would you just stand by and watch them being raped, tortured and murdered. Do you believe that 1 Amercan soldier is worth the death of 100 innocent iraqi civilians? Then how do you call yourself the land of justice, equality and freedom?

Answer 9

iraqi cowards I I I MEAN SniPERS have been know to carfully plan there et away much like a child terrorizing the local corner store

many have been known to use matresses to muffle the sound of there shot even though it dossent work cuz you can still hear it and the flash is still bright

Answer 10

you will be in remarkable actual situation. look up the PT attempt criteria and be certain you could max the optimal conventional in each experience. Then connect as infantry and get suited scores on all your stages. From what i understand you could be a Sargent or larger to bypass to sniper college. in basic terms be certain you're on the remarkable of your sport from day one. understand each thing you could till now you connect and attempt to be a "squared away" as achievable.