\SHELLDRAKE!! said:In addition, artillerymen have been training the ANA since roto 0 on principles of artillery on the "gun" line and observation post.
Craig B said:Since the Taliban and local warlords don't have airpower to protect against , no .
Craig
Gunner said:Craig, what makes you think the local warlords don't have air or aviation assets?
Most aircraft still remaining by 2001 were destroyed by coalition forces in Operation Enduring Freedom. Currently, what is left of the Afghan air force is a few dozen pilots, most of whom had not flown since 1996, occupying a part of Bagram Air Base near Kabul. While the United States has said that it intended to rebuild the air force and various other states have made offers to donate equipment, no material aid had arrived by 2005. At that time essentially all air operations in Afghanistan were conducted by US and other allied aircraft.
The AAF was in a very poor state as of late 2004. They lack airworthy combat planes and possess only a few attack helicopters. Airlift capabilities are very modest, with maybe 10 utility and attack helicopters and a few light transport planes at their disposal. Maintenance technicians were being trained, but no pilots. The AAF relies on the vast pool of pilots who were trained during the communist period. More than 450 enlisted with the AAF, but the majority of this serviceman have logged very few flying hours since 1990.
Its possible , but improbable , that the warlords have A/C .
Its very improbable that they are actually flying combat A/C . Why ?
Lack of maintenace ( parts and technicians ) plus I'm sure that the US does not want them operating combat A/C .
When Coalition forces were collecting heavy weapons do you think they would leave a HIND but take a 82mm mortar ? That line of thinking just does not compute .
I haven't been to Afghanistan so I can say for sure but all indications lead me to believe that warlords don't pose a threat requiring posting AD assets there .
Well, as of six months ago one of the certainly did.
Warlords operate in alliances with President Karzai, not the US. Many warlords are very wealthy from the opium trade and money can buy many things in that part of the world. Moreover warlords often have support from various countries surrounding afghanistan (Iran, Russia, China, Pakistan) that are competing for influence in the country.
Most of the key warlords have more firepower than the Canadian Military in terms of guns and tanks.There was a large AMF run cantonment site a couple of kms from Camp Julien with numerous weapon systems. You seem to indicate that disarmament of AMF has occurred, it has barely begun.
Perhaps you will go there some day and see the situation on the ground vice relying on the internet. It provides a different perspective.