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The Deadliest Weapon

November 15, 2009 4:53 PM

Byron Pitts and 60 Minutes cameras spend two days on the road with a bomb-hunting unit in Afghanistan as they encounter one deadly bomb after another.

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by acampanella November 21, 2009 12:34 PM EST
This Bryon Pitts' interview technique reminds me of a sportscaster interviewing a team that just lost a game... "... too bad you lost..."
Granted it gives us insight into this frustrating job, but it does not help, or even contribute to, the winning of this war. It is only what it is; a field trip into this misery. Better for Bryon. Not any use to us.
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by RxHi November 21, 2009 11:52 AM EST
The is an endurance...those who continually place IED's versus our people attempting to fine these destructive mechanisms. There is truly...no end in sight.

Unless the people on the ground in Afghanistan..the villagers, the locals and the shura leaders used their collective influence to stop this..then this type of situation will go on indefinitely.

Khost/Paktia Provinces/2003
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by narats November 19, 2009 11:28 AM EST
With all the electronic technology that is available to the military why are patrols being sent out to find IEDS using the eyesight of the patrolling troops? This question was never asked by your reporter.
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by mysteriousjz November 18, 2009 10:32 PM EST
A Question: Who is in whose country, who is occupying and bombing whose territory?
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by sockamin November 18, 2009 3:36 PM EST
I thought "WE OWN THE NIGHT." Since IEDs are probably buried at night, why aren't troops out on roads about to be travelled to catch IED planters? Why don't troops use WW 2 era mine flails to dig up IEDs?
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by geewhiz2 November 17, 2009 9:34 AM EST
I am always proud and a little saddened to see American troops in combat, proud because they are such amazingly brave souls and saddened because of where we have put them and what we ask them to do. So it is shameful that 60 Minutes wastes resources to send Byron to Afghanistan to ask such asinine questions and make such vapid statements along the lines of "There are people out there waiting to maim and kill you". Who do you think you're interviewing?! Do you think you have to remind these men that they are in a war zone? Where is Mike Wallace when you need him...please start acting like reporters, give the men and women in service the respect and dignity they deserve by giving them a real interview, and avoid the Katie Couric-esque attempts at melodrama. I recommend you watch Frontline on PBS to get an idea of what I'm talking about.
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by tbrown7477 November 16, 2009 9:57 PM EST
To the troops (Max Cabrera) and families, thank you for what you do!! It is unbelievable to see the negative comments posted!! At least someone(news media, whomever) still has an interest in the war going on. At least CBS (reporters) shows the real deal and those that were interviewed have families that are Proud of them. Whether the government doesn't support the perfect plan or the money goes to the wrong place, or an average "Joe" troop overseas doesn't say something politically correct, there is always some kind of crappy comment from someone!! Free speach, I get that part! How can someone care how much money is put into a vehicle to save a life? How can an American criticize the petty things that are not as important as a life whether it be foreign or domestic? I get that not all troops speak eloqently and not all know the perfect answer when interviewed. At least they get out there! And the troops do want to go home and SAFELY because their best friend already died in combat or they have been to that war a few times already! We are so proud of Max Cabrera! We are humbled to call him a close friend. The lives he and other EOD techs put before them to save another life is just like the rest of the military community but with a stronger sense of selflessness. He was stationed with my husband over there a few years ago and a damn good Soldier!! We are thankful in the EOD community and the military alike for all that we have because we paid for it!!! Appreciation is needed!! But not all even have the notion in their heart to give it!!
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by speleogeist@msn.com November 16, 2009 4:46 PM EST
The Broken McChrystal Challace-Leave it to 60 Minutes to provide revelations! War is simple, when diplomacy fails a war is declared, an enemy established, both the reason for fighting and what is required of a peace are determine, and through vilient conviction the enemy is destroyed until they can not form another powerbase which to attack from. Unfortunately, both policies and politics, get in the way.

Something about the McChrystal interview disturbed me, and it wasn't until the, "Deadliest Weapon," interview that I figured it out. While civilians find themselves in a bullets way, by their permissable or particially participatle practics, they make themselves part of the problem. The first goal should be to kill the emeny (terrorists, the second should always be to protect the troops. It is nothing sadder then to see the willingness to accept self losses. If a bomb is placed in the same location, then why isn't that area underwatch until the bombplacer is killed. Because chances are, that bomb placer is that farmer? Terrorism aside, I have seen this attitude in Baltimore City in regards to crime and criminals. A store is robbed, the perpitrator caught red handed and that owner is told he was sentenced to four years in jail. The sad truth is, all but three months were actually suspended. The same can be said for terrorism. The more that is tolerated and permitted, the more that is going to be coming our way.

One of the previous problems with Afgahnistan is that we pushed the terrorists into Pakestan and they did nothing. Now that they are fighting back, we decide to do nothing. Foreigners are said not to like this country and personally, I have found this to be wrong. Most become angry at us, because they dont have the ability to fight for right, we come in and usually at the worst time, we suddenly leave; as they hold the bag. With Pakestan fighting, we should have been right their on the other side of the border killing off those terrorists. There is no noman's land in war. Period.

My feelings towards terrorists formed when I realized that we publish the names of all people killed by terrorists in the paper. Very often, side by side, we publish the numbers of Muslims killed by terrorists for various terrorist attacks. With a rate of 10 to 100 times more then us. Terrorism is nothing more then a tyranny that can not be permitted any quarter by any county or group of peoples.
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by kced6 November 16, 2009 10:24 AM EST
Five bombs in two days. Several questions come up. Were is the air support should there not be gun ships supporting these men, Were are the drones watching the roads it would take some time to plant the bombs aren?t we watching. I can go to a web site and see my house and cars in the driveway, Cant the military do the same. Why would a high ranking officer drive over a dangerous road to a meeting. Wouldn?t it be safer for him to fly? I?m sure I must be missing something. I am having a hard time understanding why this is happening with all the technology we have. Night vision, drones, gunship?s, bombs with eye?s. The list goes on and a bunch of thugs with fertilizer are killing are young men.
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by thurston2001 November 16, 2009 9:18 AM EST
The story should not be about IED's, it should be about why an IED vehicle cost 1m dollars. How about doing a story about the people who love war and get rich on it, people like bankers and the industrial war complex. Or the politicians who are payed off by these same people and then hide behind words like freedom and liberty. What a joke this country is!
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by armymom2 November 16, 2009 7:23 AM EST
My son was the captain interviewed in this segment. I just want to say how proud his entire family is of him and his team for risking their lives to defend this country. I feel that allour men and women who are defending our freedoms deserve the best we can give them to protect them from the enemy. As my son said in this piece Thank you God for watching over them and bring them back safe. Thank you CBS for allowing this country to see the risks taken for our rights. God Bless our Military.
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by upmichigan November 16, 2009 6:42 AM EST
Wether poor reporting or not, I just want to say that These men and women are out there doing thier best in the worst. The worst situations, the worst conditions and the most terrifying circumstances. I am proud of my fellow soldiers doing thier duties and following thier orders. It does show how well trained and disciplined our men and women of the armed forces are being able to handle these situations with compusure. Just imagine yourself going to work everyday at your office and a bomb going off. Think how chaotic everyone would be. I am damn proud of our soldiers.

I think the soldier being interviewed at the end of the segment wrapped it up best and put the reporter in his place when asked, "Do you ever think this is a fight you cant win?" and he responded "I try not to think about it because it doesnt do anyone any good." I think the negative reporting doesnt do anyone anygood.
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by RAGGEE November 16, 2009 6:32 AM EST
IED is something no one can see or hear until it hits you.GOD PROTECT OUR TROOPS ON THIS MISSIONS IN AFGHANISTAN.
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by g_byst November 16, 2009 12:21 AM EST
Typical hachet job. Just find the soldier that will give you the sound-bite you want and portray that as their motivation. Please do not ask them if they have actually eliminated the enemy or changed the enemies resolve to fight. That would suggest that you want to win the war rather than lose it.

And Lord help the interviewer should a soldier save his life while he hacks away at their cause and emboldens the enemy.
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by marcus_shing November 15, 2009 11:48 PM EST
Byran Pitts the interviewer from 60 minutes for this report should be reprimanded. If you watch the video, you will note during one part where Bryan (60 min) is interviewing a superior officer and asks him, "Did your men find the IED's, or did the IEDs find you?" The office comments that, "Well a little bit of both". Then Bryan responds with a really off comment, "For the American people who see those scenes of the explosions and vehicles being damaged and say America just got its butt kicked that day, you say what?"..... It does not even matter how the officer responded to this ill-planned question, the fact is that it was just a really bad and disrespectful question. First of all, I am an American, and I think most Americans (regardless of their thoughts on the War) were NOT thinking that our troops just got their "butts' kicked" after watching that tremendous display and courage. What I think most of us were (or should) be thinking after watching those scenes is, Damn - these kids are young. Damn - these kids are brave. Damn - these kids are out there risking their lives for their country. Personally, I am actually not in strong favor of the war and the politics for getting into the war, however what I was thinking was, "Man, I am glad these brave young men didn't get hurt that day". What kind of person would watch that scene on 60 minutes and think "we are getting our butt's kicked". Really bad question Bryan. I expect better interviews and journalism/reporting from 60 minutes. Perhaps your tone and line of questioning could have taken a bit more of the context of the moment into account - These guys just spent the day looking for Bombs that are designed to kill them, and they survived. You had the demeanor and tone of a reporter interviewing a Football coach after a Sunday night game. I understand what point you were trying to make, that "success" is not always clear to define, so couldn't you have asked a more tactful question like, "So your troops were alive at the end of the day, which was the most critical outcome, however you did suffer a significant loss in equipment.... would your enemy consider this a victory? How would you rate the day?" I just feel like the entire interview was poorly executed.
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by sierra-citizen November 15, 2009 11:24 PM EST
OK,so one 1-million dollar vehicle destroyed. Another 1 mill Buffalo severely disabled. Three of our guys wounded. These hits administered using $10 devices, and none of the insurgents producing them was caught. The enemy's ability to strike was not in the slightest bit compromised. He actually received massive incentive to carry on as usual; but the Afghani fighters are actually wiley, resourceful opponents who are never known to present a static target. They are smart, tough, and improvise like crazy.

Hey, to buy the land, build a school, equip it completely and fund a teacher for three years in Afghanistan costs $50 thou. You do the math.

Societies which support massive stupidity for long and deny the wake up call are doomed to go down. How come we want to eat dumb with a ladle in each hand?
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by SFONYC November 15, 2009 10:27 PM EST
Can someone remind me what we are fighting for? This is a futile mission and waste of precious lives.

Having said that, how is it possible that as the superpower of the world, the US is not able to outsmart the "enemy" with technology? Seems astounding to me.

The troops there are fearless heroes. Thanks guys and gals!

Tracy
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by edgy44 November 15, 2009 10:26 PM EST
The final comment is why we are losing. The kids want to "go home." They want to do their tour and forget about it. Special Forces won the war, and the regular Army lost it. The way the SF won, was to pick a warlord and back him. No ones picking warlords, so we have to fight them all. Guess what? You can't win, and the kids just want to go home. Send the SF back in, and the Taliban will be in Pakistan in three days running for their lives, because warlords always win.
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by point02dollars November 15, 2009 9:50 PM EST
I didn't realize it was THAT high a percentage that died because of IEDs in Afghanistan. Can't we think of some new things to add to our guys' tool belt in looking for these devices and ambush parties?

I'm sure we're already doing something like, say, using infrared cameras in those hunter vehicles to scan the landscape being patrolled for unusual infrared anomalies alongside roads and in nearby structures that could house an IED or an attacker.

But there must be other similar feasible detection methods we could make use of by, say, calibrating cameras or other sensors to detect certain man-made materials like plastic and metal that a trip line or bomb components might be made of.

Perhaps we could spray these dirt roads and high-risk areas with some sort of substance that would be detectable under UV light, or something like that (there must be harmless and cheap substances that would fit that profile). Then it would be easier to see which roadsides had been disturbed in unusual ways that might be hard to see with the the naked eye or whatever other tools we're using now.

It just seems like it would save a lot of soldiers' lives over there if we would put together a fresh team of scientists or other relevant experts to brainstorm about new and innovative ways to cut down on IED casualties by drastically improving detection methods in ways like these. There have to be things like this we can do to help our guys out.

While we're at it, why not train a few more hi-res satellites on trouble spots so that when a bomb goes off, you can roll the video (or time-lapse images, or whatever) backwards to track the people who planted the thing, or to see where people who were suspiciously nearby at the time were before an explosion, or where they went after that. I'm sure there are plenty of satellites that would at least have the ability to do that in at least the highest-risk areas for bombs and attacks.

Like I said, 'm sure our guys already have excellent tools, but it seems like we owe it to our soldiers to think outside the box a little bit. Who knows, maybe a few simple things we haven't thought of yet will help turn the tide over there yet?
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by mrbmchugh November 15, 2009 8:58 PM EST
Mr Pitts,

That segment pretty much disgusted me, both as a soldier and a citizen. In this economy, we are all "surviving" for the most part. Whether it's just keeping a job, home or life, it should still be celebrated, not maligned. Please stop using your job to make political statements. Mr Murrow would be frowning at you.
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