Feral Jundi

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Military News: Million-Dollar Man

Filed under: Afghanistan,Military News — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 10:16 AM

   This is a quick run down as to the cost per soldier over in Afghanistan.  My thoughts on this, is why not just give every soldier a horse?  They can run around all over the country with a horse, and even lay a kevlar blanket under the saddle for a little extra protection.  The horse eats grass or hay or whatever, and drinks water where ever you can find it. A patrol could cover a lot of ground on horseback, and best of all, there is tons of experience to learn from when it comes to horses and warfare. Especially for Afghanistan.

   You could also eat the horse if it is killed, or use it as cover during a fire fight. The horse is pretty quite, compared to the running engine of a HMMV or MRAP.  The horse could be traded and given to the locals when the mission is done or as gifts, and the coalition could take advantage of an industry in Afghanistan that is already in place.  Something to think about, and we have fooled around with horses a little bit in this war in the beginning. Let’s put the cavalry back on the things and reduce our costs? –Matt

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Million-Dollar Man

By Jesse Ellison

Jan 2, 2010

The current cost to station 68,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan: just over $65 billion—or, to quote a figure politicians have extrapolated, about $1 million a soldier. (Obama’s budget director has cited this ratio in estimating surge costs.) Why so much? A breakdown, using 2010 Defense numbers:

OPERATIONS: The biggest expense—transporting soldiers and equipment to, and around, Afghanistan.49%*$473,371

WORN-OUT GEAR: When units leave, their damaged stuff gets a complete overhaul or is replaced altogether.12.5%$120,339

PROTECTIVE MATERIALS: Armor and equipment, including 1,080 Òmine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles.11.9%$114,956

TRAINING AFGHANS: Providing Afghan National Security Forces with infrastructure and arms.11.4%$109,747

INTELLIGENCE: Includes airborne sensors and surveillance of high-value targets.5.75%$55,275

CONSTRUCTION:

Flexible funds for small-scale civil and humanitarian projects and miscellaneous building costs.

3.98%

$38,212

COALITION SUPPORT: Reimbursement for operational and logistical support by cooperating nations.2.87%$27,574

RESEARCH: Development of technology to combat IEDs (improvised explosive devices).1.2%$11,287

TRAINING PAKISTANIS: Financial support for Pakistani Security Forces to secure borders and fight insurgents.1.1%$10,294

*numbers do not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Story here.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Israel: 4 Palestinians with Explosives-laden Horses Killed

Filed under: Israel — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 9:16 AM

   I would be curious if the explosives were primed on the horses or not?  Because then we could call this the Horse Born Improvised Explosive Device or HBIED. lol  On a grand strategy level, using horses for martyrdom missions will totally piss off the animal rights folk like PETA.(causing moral isolation-killing defenseless animals) So keep it up booger eaters. –Matt 

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4 Palestinians with explosives-laden horses killed

By IBRAHIM BARZAK, Associated Press Writer Ibrahim Barzak, Associated Press June 8, 2009

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Gaza militants equipped with explosives-laden horses approached the Israeli border early Monday, igniting a battle that left four gunmen dead, Israeli and Palestinian officials said.

The incident marked a serious flare-up along the border, which has remained tense but relatively quiet since a three-week military offensive in January.

Officials were trying to determine whether the animals were to be used as weapons, or to carry the fighters into Israel. At least one animal was killed in the shootout.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the army prevented a “severe attack” and said the militants might have planned to capture an Israeli soldier.

(more…)

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