Terrible Security?

Question

I was in the Viet Nam War , And as i watch all the troops being killed by Roadside bombs I have to wonder , What Idiot Sets up convoys without first securing the convoy route , You Know All The way back in WWII they were smart enough to do a sweep for land Mines ahead of troop advance . Do not you people Know how
to secure the roadway you are going to be travleing on ? Or Maybe your Leaders need some "leader" Training ,It doesnt seem like they Know Much about Leading .
And by the way, Who taught the soldiers to hold a weapon Like they do ? Looks like a bunch of Girl Scouts on a cookie drive.
Man You all Really Need Some Training . And i thought Pateraus
was an expert , Hmmmmmmmmm

Answer 1

Roads are subject to security sweeps prior to being used for convoys, but setting up a IED can occur within minutes. Since we don't have the resources to maintain 24 hour surveillence on every stretch of roadway, there are windows of opportunity for the enemy to set up traps. And with many different ways to remote detonate a device, and hundreds of places to hide and watch, no roadway is ever considered 100% safe. This was true in Viet Nam, and it's true today.

What unit were you with back in the day, Shakespeare?

Answer 2

Sir, no offense, but what you see on TV isn't always the best example of how the rest of the soldiers are...(ie, not all the soldiers are walking around like they don't know what the hell they're doing)...

As for clearing routes... we do have route clearance teams... and thats where a lot of our people get injured. Additionally, once a road has been "cleared" whats to stop insurgents from running out there and planting an IED? And "Engineers should be out front with dogs"??? Are you serious? We need to limit the number of dismounted troops as much as possible and keep them in the armoured vehicles that are designed to protect them! We have vehicles specifically designed to clear roads... and we use them... but we can't get everything.

Answer 3

First of all to answer your weapons carrying question.

It's been found that carrying at the "Rhodesian Ready"(Muzzle down) is quicker unto target than carrying at High Port. Easier on the Muscles , quicker onto target. I can & Have been able to engage quicker using that way of carrying my M4. Muzzle down in an Urban setting also ensures that should you have a Negligent Discharge Your bullet is far more likely not to accidently Kill anyone around you(ie Buddies, Civilians). Worst case scenario, your hit in the leg, rather than the Head, which bleeds more?

Secondly, Route Clearence does happen, I did it for 7 months along Route Irish in Baghdad. Every Night I Patrolled until daybreak looking for IED's, Insurgents, etc. Other Units did it during daylight hours. That wont stop whats called a "Pop & Drop" where the enemy stops quickly and drops out their Device then continues on. OPSEC precludes me discussing our operational techniques, but I was VERY effective at finding & Neutralizing them.

Thirdly, as for being a Leader, ALL My men came home alive, did yours? so until you've got operational experience in route clearence, Blow it out your azz oldetymer......

Answer 4

I hear what all of you are saying, but, answer me this. Remember the video on TV of the roadside bomb that was so powerful it turned a heavy tank on it's side? How did the enemy know that that tank would be there at that point in time to video the results? There HAS to be a spy amongst the people setting up the days schedule.
During world war two, there were signs all over the place that said," Loose lips, sink ships". Todays TV broadcasts the "coming events", like it's a big show.

It's gotta stop!

Answer 5

I agree with Shakespear....The roads don't seem to be swept prior to a convoy. Engineers should be out front with dogs
As for holding the weapons the way they do, I also questioned. My son ( USMC 1991-1992) explains that in close quarters, it is faster to get off a shot..I tried it, it is much quicker. It makes the overall length shorter on the up swing. Try that with an M14

Answer 6

im telling all of you from experience, as an infantryman who did two tours there south of tikrit. that was one of our daily missions, to drive up and down the roads in oru bradleys, and humvees. but you have to realise that a lot of the sectors are the size of large cities. and we do not have the manpower to constantly baby sit. the last time i was there, all we had was an infantry company, and a tank platoon to baby sit 20,000+ people, while cataching bad guys.
Now about the faries who hold thier weapons funny, my joes did that **** once, when i caught them it never happend again.

Answer 7

US invaded another country, that was first Security Error. First mistake ever made was allowing the elected peoples to send the first soldier into foreign territory to fight a weapon of mass destruction.
Kinda flawed logic in that. US handled Mohamar Khadaffi with precision air strike that worked. US bought off North Korea, or paid the ransom that Lil' Kim demanded.
But we are there, so may as well either support them or ask president to bring them home.

Answer 8

Security screening of the roads must be conducted first prior to any troop movements to avoid casualties due to landmines and booby traps. The safety of the soldiers must be given paramount priority because how can they fight when they are trapped.

Answer 9

You would think that ONE of the HUNDREDS of Generals hanging aroung Washington DC would address this. Of course they are all too busy lining up jobs with Defense Contractors.
I recall being stuck in traffic on ambush alley (Hwy 13 north of Saigon)
several times

Answer 10

I know i know...
Back in my day we walked 10 miles to school in 20 feet of snow, and we liked it!