Pentagon: bomb detection improves

[Barrett808]

Pentagon: bomb detection improves
By PAULINE JELINEK, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is making progress against the No. 1 killer of U.S. troops in Iraq — roadside bombs — but a sharp drop in intelligence tips from Iraqis could hurt, the effort's head said Thursday.

As sectarian violence spiraled in Iraq, tips from Iraqis on bombs and all other issues dropped from 5,900 in April to 3,700 in July, said retired Army Gen. Montgomery Meigs.

Meigs was appointed by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to direct a program to find solutions to what the military calls "improvised explosive devices" through new technology, better training and improved battlefield tactics. It is called the Joint IED Defeat Organization.

Also key to countering the bombs and defeating insurgents is intelligence, like the tip from "the guy who leans over at a fruit stand and says, 'Don't go around the corner,'" Meigs told a group of defense writers.

Though he declined to give statistics, Meigs said the number of U.S. casualties from the bombs has remained almost constant over the last couple of years even though insurgents planted three or four times as many of the devices over that period. He said U.S. forces have been finding more of the bombs, which are remotely detonated and often hidden in rocks, debris and the like.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060907/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/iraq_us_bombs

[Monkeyman]

1. I hope so IEDs are causing more damage then people here know

One out of three kids facing the blast have Brain Injury. But on the other side Congress is cutting Brain injury research