Video: Apache gunship engages in “robust debate” with Taliban
posted at 8:14 pm on June 24, 2009 by Allahpundit
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An instant classic of warporn courtesy of Fox News. Between this and yesterday’s brilliantly ruthless two-step drone attack on Baitullah Mehsud’s gang, The One’s racking up quite a Taliban body count. Here’s to catching some very big fish:
Yesterday’s follow-on Predator attack at a funeral for a Taliban commander targeted senior Pakistani and Afghan leaders of the group. The death toll in the attack has jumped to 83, and two Taliban commanders were rumored to have been killed, although one commander targeted confirmed he was alive and an aide to another said the leader was not killed.
Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud; Qari Hussain Mehsud, a senior commander in Baitullah’s network; and Mullah Sangeen Zadran, a field commander in the Haqqani Network in Afghanistan, were targeted in the Predator attack in Pakistan’s lawless tribal agency of South Waziristan.
The attack took place in the Ladha region as scores of Taliban leaders and fighters were attending the funeral of Khwaz Ali Mehsud, a mid-level commander in Baitullah’s network. The initial attack on the funeral procession was followed up with strikes on Taliban vehicles as they attempted to flee the attack site.
Meanwhile, in Iraq, things are taking a turn. An uptick in attacks was expected as the U.S. started pulling out of the cities — Maliki even warned the public recently to anticipate new terror aimed at undermining confidence in the Iraqi army — but it’s disturbing to think more Shiites might have died in Baghdad today from violence than in Tehran, the massacre in Baharestan Square notwithstanding. Presumably some Wahhabi outfit is the culprit, but after the past two weeks, I wouldn’t put anything past Iran. Not that I ever did before, but they need a distraction for the media right now and “Baghdad burning again” fits the bill nicely. Stay tuned.
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I sure hope that pin he threw didn’t hurt one. It could have poked someone’s eye out or something.
Geochelone on June 24, 2009 at 10:10 PM
This time they didn’t wait for a funeral, they created one.
Geochelone on June 24, 2009 at 10:12 PM
Taliban 1: Look boss helicopter.
Taliban 2: Don’t worry, wuss in charge now.
Taliban 1: holy shit they killed everyone.
Taliban 2: Did I say wuss, I meant Bush. Hit the dirt.
bigtexmex on June 24, 2009 at 10:21 PM
Apparently the jihadist that blew himself up was rewarded with 72 virgin dudes with raging hormones.
Zorg on June 24, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Professionals, always a joy to watch.
Speakup on June 24, 2009 at 10:26 PM
The only thing better would be………….
…………. the command “Clear to Fire” be changed to “Read them their Rights!”
Seven Percent Solution on June 24, 2009 at 10:34 PM
can you imagine asking permission to fire in WWII??
without total war we will have no total victory…
right4life on June 24, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Oh my, that was just the best “sweet talk” evah.
I need a cigarette.
This beats women’s porn hand down…QVC.
luvstotango on June 24, 2009 at 10:38 PM
you smell that? you smell that?
i love the smell of miniguns in the morning…
smells like…. victory.
someday this war is going to end….
falderal on June 24, 2009 at 10:39 PM
Ahh. that’s the way I like it..huh huh. I like it.
They’ll be dancing in the dust in Pakistan.
hawkman on June 24, 2009 at 10:41 PM
Boom! Headshot!
liquidflorian on June 24, 2009 at 10:48 PM
:O)
Seven Percent Solution on June 24, 2009 at 10:59 PM
A robust debate…. No wonder I always lost the argument with my X. I didn’t know the rules!
proudteadrinker on June 24, 2009 at 11:01 PM
Is that what those are? They make a very big mess when they hit something. Fun!
Jaibones on June 24, 2009 at 11:04 PM
THEY’RE FARMERS!!!
..right?
Reaps on June 24, 2009 at 11:07 PM
Dead ones too!
thomasaur on June 24, 2009 at 11:10 PM
Day has successfully been made.
Grafted on June 24, 2009 at 11:12 PM
Kalatoral damage.
keep the change on June 24, 2009 at 11:26 PM
Looked like a pretty fair fight to me.
Bravo-Zulu, boys!
av8tr on June 24, 2009 at 11:29 PM
Very inefficient stopping power.
A sonic weapon, with terrorist-jellifying shock waves, would cover a lot more of the shuffling line of “holy” killers.
Or, if the war-planners don’t want to move to exotic technologies, then at least spring for a drone per patrol member for operations against the most dangerous packs of maniacs, and synchronize fire upon the entire force… for effect.
We have the means, but not the wits.
profitsbeard on June 24, 2009 at 11:30 PM
The soundtrack for warporn is much better.
I’ll sleep well tonight.
Thanks,
US Military
HellCat on June 24, 2009 at 11:39 PM
Tally ho! Too bad the pilots are worried about bho’s lawyers.
Mojave Mark on June 24, 2009 at 11:49 PM
They shoot! They score! Go Army!
coyoterex on June 24, 2009 at 11:51 PM
SIX request for permission to fire! I can see where this is heading. Remember slick Willie and Ben ladin? Had him in the sights of a sniper rifle but could not get permission to fire. De-ja vu all over again.
inspectorudy on June 24, 2009 at 11:56 PM
Awesome!
What really sucks about this is that had to ask SIX TIMES for clearance to fire.
We need to care less about what others think of us. They need to care more about what we think about them.
macummings on June 24, 2009 at 11:59 PM
Wow.
I can’t imagine what these guys were flying in that they weren’t heard.
I’m sure someone will demand we should have stopped and read Miranda rights before shooting though.
cntrlfrk on June 25, 2009 at 12:03 AM
I was curious about that too, but I think he was checking with the spotter.
I could be wrong.
cntrlfrk on June 25, 2009 at 12:04 AM
Very reminiscent of the scene where Bruce Willis’ character kills himself in Sin City. Strange and weird to think that a real human being would do that in real life and is now in hell. It gives one pause.
Mojave Mark on June 25, 2009 at 12:14 AM
Yummy.
juanito on June 25, 2009 at 12:18 AM
wow, watching that was even cooler than playing Call of Duty.
bombos on June 25, 2009 at 12:21 AM
What…they weren’t given a fair criminal trial first? Obama will be upset.
jediwebdude on June 25, 2009 at 12:27 AM
And thats why we have the most BADA S military in the would. Hell Bender!
LSUMama on June 25, 2009 at 12:28 AM
And thats why we have the most BADA S Military in the World. Hell Bender!
LSUMama on June 25, 2009 at 12:28 AM
Sorry to much baseball.
LSUMama on June 25, 2009 at 12:29 AM
I guess if the Americans had just taken all the Muslim capitals, oil fields, and financial accounts, as I recommended, we wouldn’t still have such fresh and fascinating images to watch of our old mujahideen enemies. Will someone please make a video compilation in time for the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks? It’s just a bit more than two years away.
Kralizec on June 25, 2009 at 12:48 AM
Apache + 30mm chain gun = crazy delicious.
Travis Bickle on June 25, 2009 at 12:59 AM
They handled that very well. In that instance taking time to observe a more stringent ROE didn’t seem to hurt anything (well, except the Taliban).
Interesting that the Taliban is only aware of ROE in that they can use it to hind behind old men, women and children when they are in danger…it’s not that they have any ROE whatsoever of their own.
Funny thing is, even if our military neither kills nor injures any civilians from here on out, the Communists over here will still say that they are and indiscriminately, too.
Dr. ZhivBlago on June 25, 2009 at 1:00 AM
That’s gotta hurt I don’t care what country you’re from!
WhatsRight on June 25, 2009 at 1:11 AM
14-0 is a nice first quarter score. Pile in on!
T J Green on June 25, 2009 at 2:26 AM
Wow, I just submitted my final research paper of the semester and then this! This is the greatest day of my life.
DrZin on June 25, 2009 at 4:30 AM
I’m starting to wonder. Is this some sort of PR campaign?
Ugly on June 25, 2009 at 4:31 AM
Y’know… show everyone (the world) how careful we are
Ugly on June 25, 2009 at 4:32 AM
We don’t want to kill citizens, right
Maybe they requested permission to fire, like five times too many, with the assholes in their crosshairs.
Just a thought. I don’t know Jack.
Ugly on June 25, 2009 at 4:35 AM
I don’t like the time lag before asking to be able to fire, and the act of firing.
It also looks a lot like COD4…
RedbonePro on June 25, 2009 at 4:55 AM
Man, that chain-gun’s an ugly way to check out…
Ah well, it’s the fate they chose.
SuperCool on June 25, 2009 at 5:14 AM
As others have noted, the punch line is probably that it took so long for our guys to get “approval” to kill these murderous vermin.
Jaibones on June 25, 2009 at 6:43 AM
I find it remarkable how a comparatively slow-firing chain gun can do so much damage. I presume they must be using high-calibre explosive shells, like mini grenades. I know the Apache’s cannon is designed to take out soft-skinned vehicles, but I was surprised how effective it was on personnel. It’s been a while since I read up on my military aviation, so I’m a little behind the curve on this.
The other thing to notice is how dumb the Taliban are. They all bunch up with no apparent lookout. And as for the guy who blew himself up – was that deliberate? Or did he overcook a grenade?
If these are the great Muslim Holy Warriors, I have to say Musilms are about as good at running military operations as they are at running a decent, tolerant governmental democracy.
dcpolwarth on June 25, 2009 at 7:21 AM
Very satisfying viewing.
curved space on June 25, 2009 at 8:04 AM
Each 30 mm HEPD round has a bursting radius of approx 15 meters. The gunner doesn’t have to be that close with point of impact to personnel targets to have effects on them. By the looks of the video, I would presume the Taliban could hear the Apache but could not see it due to its lights out condition, darkness and surrounding steep terrain. That is why they did not scatter until rounds impacted.
Also, the sound of it’s rotors echoes off the surrounding terrain making it damn near impossible to pinpoint where its coming from. Add in its stand off range and it’s like shooting fish in a barrel.
As for the self exploding Taliban- he either took the easy way out deliberately or he snagged his explosive belt/vest on the ground where he lay. Either way, he’s a pink misted memory on tape.
Fletch54 on June 25, 2009 at 8:20 AM
I just have to say that was one snappy headline. :)
scalleywag on June 25, 2009 at 8:51 AM
I love our military! Our Commander in Chief…not so much…
sabbott on June 25, 2009 at 8:55 AM
I keep thinking that this could have been over years ago if we didn’t have to fight a politically correct war. But then we live in strange times. We have such an awesome military.
BetseyRoss on June 25, 2009 at 9:26 AM
Next Time
Dr Evil on June 25, 2009 at 9:44 AM
I wonder if the gunner had the 30mm on helmet lock or if this was TADS? The idea of looking at someone and squeezing off a few without worrying about aiming…well, that’s just about friggin awesome.
Hey..look over there…a cow….
ooops.
:)
Thunderstorm129 on June 25, 2009 at 10:06 AM
It was a heads down shot, not IHAADS.
Fletch54 on June 25, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Somewhat better than Vietnam where to get permission to fire you had to wait for Congress to vote on it and the President to sign it into law as an executive order.
MSGTAS on June 25, 2009 at 10:27 AM
This is the reason why we can win the ground war in Afghan. as opposed to the USSR and their behemoth going down, the enemy don’t have an answer for our helicopters as they did to the Hinds of the Soviets ( per our Stingers and night time evasion). And they don’t own the night, as we have seen here.
imperator on June 25, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Enjoy the virgins.. we’ll be here all year.
spmat on June 25, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Heh…good one! As far as I’m concerned these fascist jihadists only have two rights, the right to surrender or the right to DIE!
Liberty or Death on June 25, 2009 at 11:59 AM
I’ll be at my bunk!.
:)
El Coqui on June 25, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Sweet.
tx2654 on June 25, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Has Rep. Murtha (D-PA) requested prosecution of our troops for opening fire before reading the “suspects” their Miranda rights?
olesparkie on June 25, 2009 at 12:49 PM
That video is arousing. Good job soldiers.
Geronimo on June 25, 2009 at 1:37 PM
War Porn — Love It
Kuffar on June 25, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Perhaps U.S. weapons should fire projectiles with the “Miranda Rights” micro-tagged on the outer case. Hey, big brother thinks it’s a good idea to bar code civillian ammo. You know, just to help solve crimes or something.
angus mcbeemer on June 25, 2009 at 1:56 PM
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