Comments on: McChrystal To Restrict Airstrikes http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/06/22/mcchrystal-to-restrict-airstrikes/ Just another Firedoglake weblog Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:52:40 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: mikeyhemlok http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/06/22/mcchrystal-to-restrict-airstrikes/comment-page-1/#comment-11143 mikeyhemlok Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:38:53 +0000 http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/06/22/mcchrystal-to-restrict-airstrikes/#comment-11143 <p>I’m having a lot of trouble buying this. How’s it supposed to work?</p> <p>A platoon is in contact, taking fire from several points in a village. They have a solid perimeter and some fire support from a couple mortars or maybe a fifty, so they’re not going to get overrun, but they’re taking heavy fire and have a couple casualties they need to dust off. The relief company gets ambushed and hit with an IED and is delayed. The LT calls for CAS. What’s the controller going to say? Nope, sorry young man, we can’t hit that town, the General says no air anymore. Maybe you should send a squad in to drive them out, huh?</p> <p>Don’t get me wrong. McChrystal’s not just right, he’s OBVIOUSLY right. But anytime somebody on the ground calls for air support, he’s still going to get it because, really, who’s going to say no?</p> <p>mikey</p> I’m having a lot of trouble buying this. How’s it supposed to work?

A platoon is in contact, taking fire from several points in a village. They have a solid perimeter and some fire support from a couple mortars or maybe a fifty, so they’re not going to get overrun, but they’re taking heavy fire and have a couple casualties they need to dust off. The relief company gets ambushed and hit with an IED and is delayed. The LT calls for CAS. What’s the controller going to say? Nope, sorry young man, we can’t hit that town, the General says no air anymore. Maybe you should send a squad in to drive them out, huh?

Don’t get me wrong. McChrystal’s not just right, he’s OBVIOUSLY right. But anytime somebody on the ground calls for air support, he’s still going to get it because, really, who’s going to say no?

mikey

]]>