IED Central

IEDs are not slowing down over here. But, thankfully, we’re finding more of them than we’re not. Rocket attacks appear to have picked up as well.

According to USA Today, most of these munitions are being traced back to Pakistan.

From June through August, U.S. troops detected or were hit by 5,088 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the most for any three-month period since the war began in 2001.

Those bombs killed 63 troops and wounded 1,234, Defense Department records show.

More than 80% of the IEDs are homemade explosives using calcium ammonium nitrate fertilizer produced in Pakistan, said Navy Capt. Douglas Borrebach, deputy director for resources and requirements at the Pentagon’s Joint IED Defeat Organization.

I’m fed up with playing politics with the lives of troops. I’m glad that former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Admiral Mike Mullen, publicly accused Pakistan of helping the Haqqani network, but where is the rest of the leadership STILL IN OFFICE calling them to the carpet?

If we have reliable intelligence that Pakistan is killing our Soldiers – or at least supporting those that are – it is an act of war in my opinion. Now, I’m not looking for another fight. Our troops have already endured wars in two nations and going into Pakistan isn’t on anyone’s list of priorities or desires. But, I expect our nation’s leadership to stop playing politics with our troops’ lives and defend us over here! This video shows Soldiers in my unit destroying IEDs on just ONE road here in Afghanistan and how powerful and sustained they are.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc0KF28fOuI[/youtube]

Either do what it takes to keep our troops alive and attack the people – wherever they are – that are killing and injuring our troops, or send us home. Stop pussyfooting around with our lives!