The US-led campaign against the
Osama bin Laden's terrorist network and the Taliban regime in
Afghanistan entered a new phase this past week. After ten days of
sustained aerial bombardment with cruise missiles and cluster
bombs, the US military started using heavily armed and protected
AC-130 gunships. But the deployment of these flying fortresses with
their awesome firepower increases the risk of civilian
casualties.
Observers say deadly AC-130 aircraft were used in raids on the Afghan capital Kabul and on the Taliban's political centre Kandahar. These low-flying and slow-moving gunships are vulnerable to surface-to-air defence systems and the fact that they were deployed this week indicates that most Taliban positions have been destroyed and air supremacy has been achieved. The single remaining threat to the aircraft are man-portable and shoulder-fired Stinger missiles.
The AC-130 gunships are heavily armed versions of the Hercules transport plane. Fitted with a battery of gatling guns and cannons capable of firing up to 3,000 rounds per minute, these planes can saturate an area the size of eight football pitches. They're called Spectre or Spooky and were first used in the Vietnam War where they were given the ironic nickname "Puff, the Magic Dragon."
Air Support
In Afghanistan, the AC-130
aircraft are deployed to provide air support to Northern Alliance
forces in their offensive against Taliban troops and followers of
Osama bin Laden.
They pave the way for the deployment of US and British special forces on the ground. Equipped with infrared sensors, radar systems and other sophisticated detection and targeting devices, the AC-130 can track down and eliminate the enemy both during the day and at night.
Taliban troops and members of the Al-Qaeda network are thought to move in small groups. The AC-130 enables the US-led coalition to attack them with little risk of suffering casualties themselves.
Civilian Loss of Life
The Taliban claim that these
lethal gunships have not only attacked military targets. They
estimate that up to 900 civilians have been killed and thousands
wounded figures disputed by the Pentagon. But the Taliban's
claim may not be unrealistic. Dutch retired navy general Frank van
Kappen stresses that the AC-130's heat-seeking infrared sensors are
unable to distinguish between troops and civilians.
"Besides, virtually every civilian carries weapons in Afghanistan. It's impossible to make out whether people are armed to protect themselves against wolves or drug traffickers or because they're fighters. In a war, there's always the risk of civilian casualties."
International Concern
Still, the US is committed to
limit the loss of civilian life as much as possible, not for
military reasons, but for ethic and moral considerations.
Washington simply cannot afford to allow the counter-terrorism
alliance to collapse. Already, the governments of Saudi-Arabia and
Indonesia have voiced criticism of the US offensive.
Meanwhile, Osama bin Laden is trying to capitalise on of the growing international concern about civilian casualties. His fighters are based in densely populated areas, where they're said to have forced civilians to fight on their side. Reports suggest they have used civilians as human shields against AC-130 attacks.
The deployment of these lethal aircraft has increased the risk of further bloodshed. But General van Kappen believes this should be no reason to halt the military campaign against terror. That, he says, would only play into the hands of Osama bin Laden.
Tags: AC-130, Afghanistan, air strikes, Al-Qaeda, CNN, George W. Bush, ground troops, New York, Northern Alliance, Osama bin Laden, Pentagon, Spectre, Spooky, Taliban, terrorist attacks, tw, Washington, WTC