[MilCom] Radio Control -- Improvised Explosive Devices

[Ken]

CNN had a segment this afternoon regarding a Marine unit that flushes out 
IED's.....  Looked pretty low tech in the Humvee with some cameras & typical 
armament.   Interestingly there was an abandon auto on one of the convey 
routes & when the humvee went to push it out of the way (as other personnel 
from the unit looked around to see if they could determine if there was a 
person nearby that was going to detonate the IED) it exploded & the humvee 
caught fire (and they didn't find the person who detonated it!!!).

CNN also inteview a specialist on IED & he stated that the enemy was using 
remote control radio devices such as cellphones, garage door openers, 
portable telephones, etc.  He also stated that the military did have jamming 
devices on known frequency ranges BUT that the enemy kept on adapting (the 
remote radio control) to twart the jamming. Additionally explosives being 
used were possible from "nation states" since they were specifically 
manufactured "shaped" to cause the explosive energy to be directed one 
way...  What he also noted was that in Afghanistan when units had vehicle in 
the convoy pathway they basically shot grappling hooks & drag the vehicle 
off the roadway without getting to close.. Apparently this method had not be 
conveyed to units in Iraq.

Some good background information on IED's can be found at:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/intro/ied-iraq.htm

Ken