Justin Joseph
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More minesweepers ordered for Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, April 19 (UPI) -- The Pentagon says it's rushing 3,500 mine detectors to Afghanistan and working to halt fertilizer shipments from Pakistan that are used to make bombs.
The detectors were an urgent request from commanders overseeing the last of 30,000 new U.S. troops expected in Afghanistan by June, USA Today reported Monday.
Many of the troops are to be part of an offensive to secure the city of Kandahar from the Taliban.
The detectors include the Sherlock, which identifies explosives made from fertilizer, the key ingredient in improvised explosive devices, said Ashton Carter, the Pentagon's chief acquisition official.
The U.S. military is working to disrupt fertilizer shipments from Pakistan intended for bomb-making, Carter said.
The Pentagon also is sending more balloon-mounted cameras to use as "eyes in the sky" over towns, he said.
"The soldier that looks up there knows that that's protecting him, the townsman knows that that's protecting him, the Taliban knows that that might be looking at him," Carter said.
More minesweepers ordered for Afghanistan - UPI.com
WASHINGTON, April 19 (UPI) -- The Pentagon says it's rushing 3,500 mine detectors to Afghanistan and working to halt fertilizer shipments from Pakistan that are used to make bombs.
The detectors were an urgent request from commanders overseeing the last of 30,000 new U.S. troops expected in Afghanistan by June, USA Today reported Monday.
Many of the troops are to be part of an offensive to secure the city of Kandahar from the Taliban.
The detectors include the Sherlock, which identifies explosives made from fertilizer, the key ingredient in improvised explosive devices, said Ashton Carter, the Pentagon's chief acquisition official.
The U.S. military is working to disrupt fertilizer shipments from Pakistan intended for bomb-making, Carter said.
The Pentagon also is sending more balloon-mounted cameras to use as "eyes in the sky" over towns, he said.
"The soldier that looks up there knows that that's protecting him, the townsman knows that that's protecting him, the Taliban knows that that might be looking at him," Carter said.
More minesweepers ordered for Afghanistan - UPI.com
