Iraq & Afghanistan - Winning Hearts and Minds by Aerial bombing / strafing / rockets - more boring statistics

At least 44 people were killed in violence across Iraq today, including 16 in a bomb attack on a bus. 13 US soldiers have been killed in Iraq so far this month.

1. Monday - A roadside bomb killed three U.S. soldiers and an interpreter in Diyala province.(CNN)

2. Monday - 4 U.S. soldiers died in a suicide bomb balst and one more died later of wounds. An Iraqi interpreter also was wounded in the explosion.(CNN)

3. Wednesday - A U.S. military spokesman said 3 American soldiers were killed in a rocket attack on their Combat Outpost Adder near Nasiriyah, about 200 miles southeast of Baghdad. 2 other American soldiers were injured .(MSNBC)

The Hidden Air War

Norman Solomon searched the LexisNexis media database, for the phrase “air war” with reference to the current U.S. military effort in Iraq?

The New York Times - Zero
Washington Post - Zero
The the nation’s largest-circulation news magazine, Time - Zero

US - CENTAF - Airpower Summary for March 10

In total, 51 close air support missions were flown as part of the ISAF and Afghan security forces, reconstruction activities and route patrols.

e.g : Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs fired cannon rounds onto enemy locations in the vicinity of Kabul. French Air Force Mirage-2000s conducted shows of force in the vicinity of Gereshk. In Bagram, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle dropped Guided Bomb Unit-12s onto enemy combatant positions. A Royal Air Force GR.7 Harrier dropped an enhanced paveway II munition onto enemy combatants in the vicinity of Garmser. Shows of force were performed by RAF GR.7s in the areas of Kajaki Dam and Musa Qala.

In total, Coalition aircraft flew 52 close air support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

e.g : In Iraq, an Air Force B-1B Lancer dropped GBU-38s onto an enemy building and conducted a show of force in the vicinity of Baghdad. Furthermore, an Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon performed a show of force in the same area.

U.S. Air Force, French, and Royal Air Force aerial refueling crews flew 42 sorties and off-loaded approximately 2.8 million pounds of fuel to 248 receiving aircraft March 9.

..and Finally before we go over to the weather ...

4 Afghan civilians have been killed ( 2 women and 2 children) and one injured in an air strike called in by British forces in Helmand , the Ministry of Defence said today.

An MoD spokeswoman said British troops called in air support after being caught in a Taliban ambush at an undisclosed location in the south of the province.(Guradian)

Lieutenant General Graeme Lamb CMG, DSO, OBE Stockholm Security Conference Monday

"There will of course be circumstances where we can earn the trust of local people, where we can prevail amongst the national leadership, establish a constructive dialogue with religious authorities, but I doubt we will (be) or maybe ever have been in a position to win their hearts and minds,"

"To suggest that good intentions will cross fundamental cultural, social and religious differences and win over a damaged population is at best dangerous and wishful thinking. The image of winning a heart or a mind is almost ridiculous,"