In Iraq
and Afghanistan,
the threat of suicide bombers is always ever-present. For example, Vice
President Cheney was targeted this morning by an al Qai’da suicide bomber
while visiting US troops in Afghanistan.
Terrorists are using these types of bombs to kill politicians and police in
western countries and the use of such tactics will increase as the War on
Terrorism breaks off into full swing. The War on Terrorism is only now just
beginning.
The video below demonstrates how terrorists attack US
base security using truck bombs and other methods. I am posting this video
because it is important to study how to better improve base security as a force
protection posture. In the video the suicide bomber navigates several obstacles
on the way to the target. The truck-bomber eventually jumps a vehicle obstacle
on the way to the American base that was made out of soil emplaced by heavy
equipment. The obstacle is in no way enough to stop these truck bombers. The
obstacle must be at least three feet higher than the chassis of any potential threat
vehicle in the theatre of operations. The truck bomber uses the truck to jump
over the obstacle easily and then makes a quick dash into the perimeter of the
base.
No hostile vehicle should be able to approach any US
base in such a manner. The use of staggered concrete barriers is preferred, but
in the absence of such resources soil should be emplaced as an obstacle at such
a height and depth that the suicide bomber cannot navigate that obstacle, and
certainly not cross over it with a vehicle.
The avenue of approach itself should be designed so that
it forces the drivers of vehicles to reduce their speed to a crawl and vehicle
lanes should be covered with crew-served weapons. Concrete dividers should be
used on the left and right side of the avenue of approach, making it difficult
for a driver to turn the vehicle around while approaching the base. Remember,
base security is successful with the right plan and overwatch positions that
will have time to respond to crisis and engage hostile threats approaching the
base. In the video, the suicide truck bomber was able to take advantage of very
poor base security and these standards must be corrected by military
leadership.
Christopher
Farmer
MS,
National Security
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