Woodward and SECRET techniques used in Iraq.

[ScottXray]

There has been a lot of talk recently about Woodwards new book and his mention that the surge isn't what has caused the change in Iraq as much as recently developed secret technology that has allowed the Al Quaeda and insurgent leaders to be targeted.

I am curious if anyone else might have ideas of what that tech might be.

Personally, I think its either pure BS, or we have developed some form of nano-tech that allows us to disperse something like "fly" bots, or other extremely small surveillance cameras and locomotive spy devices that could give us an edge. The thought of such devices being able to be used is a game changer.

[broncofan7]

I'd tell ya but I'd have to kill ya':)

[watermock]

Suspected U.S. missile strikes kill 20 in Pakistan
Updated 9h 36m ago | Comments99 | Recommend17 E-mail | Save | Print |


http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-10-03-pakistan-missile-strike_N.htm

Yahoo! Buzz Digg Newsvine Reddit FacebookWhat's this?DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (AP) — Suspected U.S. missiles hit buildings in two Pakistani villages close to the Afghan border, killing about 20 people, most of them alleged militants, officials said Saturday.
The United States has launched a flurry of strikes in recent weeks against suspected al-Qaeda and Taliban targets in northwestern Pakistan, straining ties between the two anti-terror allies.

Pakistan has been unwilling or unable to eliminate militant sanctuaries blamed for rising violence on both sides of the frontier. The region is a possible hiding place for al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.

Two Pakistani intelligence officers said two missiles believed to have been fired from American unmanned drones launched from neighboring Afghanistan hit two villages in the same district of the North Waziristan tribal region just before dusk on Friday.

One attack in Mohammadkhel village, some 28 miles (45 kilometers) west of Miran Shah, the region's main town, killed about 19 people, most of them alleged militants and including about a half-dozen foreigners, the officials said, citing agents in the field.

FIND MORE STORIES IN: United States | Afghanistan | al-Qaeda | Pakistan | Taliban | Osama bin Laden | Islamabad | North Waziristan | U.S.-led | Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas | Miran Shah | Marriott Hotel
The intelligence officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media on the record.

Pakistan army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas also said initial reports indicated that 20 or more people were killed. He said there was "speculation" that many were foreign militants, but cautioned that the army was still awaiting a detailed report.

There were no reported casualties in the other strike in the village of Khata Kaly.

Lt. Nathan Perry, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan, said he had "no information to give" about the reported attacks. He did not deny U.S. involvement.

Friday's attack appeared to be the deadliest of 11 reported cross-border operations by U.S.-led forces since Aug. 20.

U.S. officials have acknowledged some of the strikes. However, they have provided few details, and casualty reports from the dangerous and remote border region are nearly impossible to verify.

Pakistan's military and civilian leaders have complained that the attacks violate the country's sovereignty, kill civilians and anger the local population, making it harder to crack down on the militants.

Militants on the Pakistan side of the border are blamed for a surge in attacks on U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, where violence is running at its highest level since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion toppled the Taliban.

Extremists based in the border region are also blamed for rising attacks within Pakistan, including the Sept. 20 truck bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad that killed more than 50 people.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[watermock]

Top Qaeda planner of Baghdad bombings slain: US
6 hours ago

BAGHDAD (AFP) — US forces have killed an Al-Qaeda militant who planned some of the biggest bombings in Baghdad and who killed a group of Russian diplomats in 2006, the military said on Saturday.

Mahir Ahmad Mahmud al-Zubaydi, also known as Abu Assad or Abu Rami, was killed along with an unidentified woman in Baghdad's Sunni district of Adhamiyah on Friday, a statement said.

Intelligence reports led US forces to a building in Adhamiyah where Abu Rami was holed up.

The troops came under attack from inside the building and fired back, killing Abu Rami and the woman.

The troops later found explosives inside the building and detonated them, according to the statement.

The killing of Abu Rami has dealt a severe blow to Al-Qaeda in Baghdad, US spokesman Admiral Patrick Driscoll said.

"His removal from the AQI (Al-Qaeda in Iraq) network will send shockwaves through Baghdad's terrorist bombing networks," he said in the statement.

"Its ability to conduct grisly attacks against Iraqi civilians and coalition and Iraqi forces has been severely crippled by this precision operation."

The military statement said Abu Rami's group was responsible for suicide bomb attacks in Baghdad on Thursday.

In one incident, a man blew himself up at the gate of Al-Rasool mosque in the Jadida neighbourhood and killed 12 people.

A suicide car bomb on the same day in the Zafaraniyah neighbourhood killed eight people, including three Iraqi soldiers.

Abu Rami was reportedly also responsible for multiple car bombings and mortar attacks in Sadr City in 2006 and 2007, including the car bombings on November 23, 2006 that killed more than 200 people.

The latter attack, in the sprawling Shiite district of some two million people, was one of the deadliest assaults in Baghdad during the peak of sectarian violence across the capital.

Abu Rami was also alleged to have planned and participated in several kidnappings and executions.

"In a video recording from June 2006, Abu Rami is seen shooting one of four Russian diplomats," the statement said.

On June 3, 2006, a group of Russian diplomats were attacked by gunmen in the the upmarket Baghdad district of Mansur.

One diplomat Vitaly Titov was killed in the attack and four others were kidnapped and later killed.

An insurgent alliance led by Al-Qaeda later claimed it had carried out the murders of the Russians after Moscow failed to heed an ultimatum to pull out of Chechnya and free Muslim prisoners from Russian jails.

Abu Rami had ties to senior leaders of Al-Qaeda in Baghdad and was also responsible for attacks in Baghdad, Salaheddin and Diyala provinces, the statement said.

Originally a member of Ansar al-Islam, Abu Rami joined Al-Qaeda in 2004 and became the group's head of Baghdad's Rusafa district in 2007.

The military said Abu Rami specialised in car bombings and suicide bombings and personally selected the targets.

"He allegedly ordered and directed a car-bombing attack May 1 that killed one American soldier and wounded three soldiers and three Iraqi civilians. Detainee reporting puts him at the scene of the crime," the military said.

In a separate statement the military said its troops have detained 10 other suspected Al-Qaeda militants in raids across northern and central Iraq since Friday.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ixBQ5AiLdbTW0DkgwwAH2rA5kdJA

[kappys]

This policy of going into Northern Pakistan is a disaster. I want to see Al Queda leaders dead as much as anyone else - but the risks of destabilizing a nuclear power like Pakistan into a militatant Islamic state is dangerous in the extreme. Its only a matter of time before villagers tire of seeing their loved ones killed by American bombs and start to revolt.

[sisterhellfyre]

I am curious if anyone else might have ideas of what that tech might be.


My guess would be that it's not so much a "new" technology as it is a combination and upgrade of existing technology to create a hunter/killer drone that can find its own targets and attack them "on sight." I can see a couple possibilities readily:

* Add radio intercept and triangulation hardware to the drone, programmed to find specific cell phone numbers and frequencies. When it "hears" a signal for that number, find it and shoot.

* Add high-resolution video cameras and facial recognition software to the drone's existing TV camera system for guidance and remote surveillance.

Either one of these would add whole new degrees of lethality to the drone program and turn them into flying assassins.

Regards,
m.

[ScottXray]

My guess would be that it's not so much a "new" technology as it is a combination and upgrade of existing technology to create a hunter/killer drone that can find its own targets and attack them "on sight." I can see a couple possibilities readily:

* Add radio intercept and triangulation hardware to the drone, programmed to find specific cell phone numbers and frequencies. When it "hears" a signal for that number, find it and shoot.

* Add high-resolution video cameras and facial recognition software to the drone's existing TV camera system for guidance and remote surveillance.

Either one of these would add whole new degrees of lethality to the drone program and turn them into flying assassins.

Regards,
m.

Good possibilities too. The cell number thing is probably less probable since the opposition is well aware that using phones repeatedly is one thing we have targeted our capabilities on. Still, they can't change phones Every day, except the top of the heap, as its an expense that can only be borne by them to some limited amount.

Still your ideas are probably closer to the truth than mine.

[Bronco Bob]

There has been a lot of talk recently about Woodwards new book and his mention that the surge isn't what has caused the change in Iraq as much as recently developed secret technology that has allowed the Al Quaeda and insurgent leaders to be targeted.

I am curious if anyone else might have ideas of what that tech might be.

Personally, I think its either pure BS, or we have developed some form of nano-tech that allows us to disperse something like "fly" bots, or other extremely small surveillance cameras and locomotive spy devices that could give us an edge. The thought of such devices being able to be used is a game changer.

It's called giving mucho dollars to the warlords who had previously sided with al-Queda.

[alkemical]

There has been a lot of talk recently about Woodwards new book and his mention that the surge isn't what has caused the change in Iraq as much as recently developed secret technology that has allowed the Al Quaeda and insurgent leaders to be targeted.

I am curious if anyone else might have ideas of what that tech might be.

Personally, I think its either pure BS, or we have developed some form of nano-tech that allows us to disperse something like "fly" bots, or other extremely small surveillance cameras and locomotive spy devices that could give us an edge. The thought of such devices being able to be used is a game changer.


Hmmm, maybe not. Lots of new gadgets were rolled out during this war. Like the crowd stun gun, and some other "nifty" things. Maybe they are using that "ill-intent" scanner. ;op

seriously though - i wouldn't be surprised. There's been some very interesting technology patented, and take a look at some of DARPA's projects.