.Old Tactics Used to Stop Iraq Smuggling
ON THE IRAQ-IRAN BORDER (AP) - The soldiers of the Queen's Royal Hussars are traveling light, borrowing tactics from the British army's desert campaigns of World War II as they target arms smuggling across the rugged Iranian border.
Shedding their heavy tanks for swifter vehicles, they roam the desert under a blistering sun that sends temperatures soaring over 140 degrees. Always ready to move, they set up temporary camps beneath camouflage netting among the blackened fragments of artillery shells and anti-tank mines left over from the bloody 1980s war between Iran and Iraq.
The Hussars have been sent here to intercept deadly technology and weapons that U.S. and British officials say are having a devastating effect in the fight against the Iraqi insurgency. The U.S.-led coalition blames Iran for increasing the lethality of roadside bombs - so-called IEDs, or improvised explosive devices - that destroy even armored vehicles.
So far, the soldiers have found no proof of weapons smuggling here in Maysan, a lawless, tribal province in southeastern Iraq, even though they're sure it's happening.
Brig. James Everard, commander of Britain's 20th Armored Brigade, which includes the Hussars, said coalition leaders believe the flow of weapons is "underpinning the insurgent campaign, not only in Basra but more particularly in Baghdad."
U.S. officials charge that the smuggling is officially sanctioned by Tehran.
"The Iranians, through their covert special operations forces, are providing weapons, IED technology and training to Shiite extremist groups in Iraq," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Barry Johnson, a command spokesman in Baghdad.
Iran also provides training for insurgents that takes place in Iran and in Lebanon, through the Hezbollah guerrilla movement, Johnson said.
In addition, the Pentagon says the armor-piercing design of the new IEDs appears similar to bombs used by Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerrillas against Israeli tanks in Lebanon.
Tehran has rejected the accusations, though not ruling out that weapons might cross into Iran illegally somewhere along the rugged 900-mile border, which is notoriously difficult to patrol.
Everard said the issue of Iranian interference is an important part of the mission.
"It's just a question of intelligence versus evidence. I think traditionally one has wanted to see it with one's own eyes," he said. "Because these are serious allegations that people are deliberately, as part of formal policy, putting weapons across a border into another sovereign country."
To carry out their mission, the Hussars are borrowing tactics from the Long Range Desert Group, the special British army unit that played an instrumental role in the victory against Nazi troops in North Africa by getting behind enemy lines to gather intelligence.
The Hussars, who moved into the desert last month, have shed their heavy tanks for lighter, faster Scimitars - armored vehicles with 30 mm cannon - and open-topped Land Rovers fitted with machine guns. The change allows the soldiers to cover the difficult terrain and quickly intercept when arms smugglers are found.
But while accusations abound, the unit has yet to find concrete evidence of smuggling.
"We have no proof. There are lots of indications that there is Iranian influence. We'll either prove there is, or - it's hard to prove a negative," said the Queen's Royal Hussars commanding officer, Lt. Col. David Labouchere.
The incentive to keep looking is deeply felt by the troops.
"I fear every piece of technology, weapon, terrorist who comes into this country with the aim of doing us harm. And that gives me a pretty good reason to work hard, start early and finish late, to do this job right," Labouchere explained.
His soldiers set up desert campsites under camouflage nets. The heat they endure is so extreme that logistics officer Maj. David Sparks said heating food and water is simple - a few minutes on a sand dune or the hood of a Land Rover is all that's needed.
While they've adopted the tactics of another era, modern technology allows them to stay out in the desert for longer, and cover larger distances. Helicopters airlift essential supplies - particularly water - every few days.
Their mere presence could stem smuggling.
"What we are doing is disrupting and deterring," said Maj. Dominic Roberts, officer commanding of B Squadron, the Queen's Dragoon Guards, whose temporary camp in the desert was near that of Labouchere's. "But it is hard to measure success. ... We have found no as yet credible information, let alone evidence, to suggest there has been any" weapons smuggling.
Military officials hope securing the border will eventually lead to a reduction of attacks in the capital.
"We believe we can have ... effect of general or of real meaning to the campaign as a whole," Everard said. "One that affected probably the center of gravity, i.e. Baghdad."
Stopping all smuggling across the entire border is probably impossible, Labouchere conceded. "It's a pretty big area to look after with one battle group. So we're never quite going to seal it all up."
"There will still be the odd diamond smuggling, carpets coming through... . That will still happen," he said. "But what we can do is stop the weapons and the technology from coming through."
MyWay
Shedding their heavy tanks for swifter vehicles, they roam the desert under a blistering sun that sends temperatures soaring over 140 degrees. Always ready to move, they set up temporary camps beneath camouflage netting among the blackened fragments of artillery shells and anti-tank mines left over from the bloody 1980s war between Iran and Iraq.
The Hussars have been sent here to intercept deadly technology and weapons that U.S. and British officials say are having a devastating effect in the fight against the Iraqi insurgency. The U.S.-led coalition blames Iran for increasing the lethality of roadside bombs - so-called IEDs, or improvised explosive devices - that destroy even armored vehicles.
So far, the soldiers have found no proof of weapons smuggling here in Maysan, a lawless, tribal province in southeastern Iraq, even though they're sure it's happening.
Brig. James Everard, commander of Britain's 20th Armored Brigade, which includes the Hussars, said coalition leaders believe the flow of weapons is "underpinning the insurgent campaign, not only in Basra but more particularly in Baghdad."
U.S. officials charge that the smuggling is officially sanctioned by Tehran.
"The Iranians, through their covert special operations forces, are providing weapons, IED technology and training to Shiite extremist groups in Iraq," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Barry Johnson, a command spokesman in Baghdad.
Iran also provides training for insurgents that takes place in Iran and in Lebanon, through the Hezbollah guerrilla movement, Johnson said.
In addition, the Pentagon says the armor-piercing design of the new IEDs appears similar to bombs used by Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerrillas against Israeli tanks in Lebanon.
Tehran has rejected the accusations, though not ruling out that weapons might cross into Iran illegally somewhere along the rugged 900-mile border, which is notoriously difficult to patrol.
Everard said the issue of Iranian interference is an important part of the mission.
"It's just a question of intelligence versus evidence. I think traditionally one has wanted to see it with one's own eyes," he said. "Because these are serious allegations that people are deliberately, as part of formal policy, putting weapons across a border into another sovereign country."
To carry out their mission, the Hussars are borrowing tactics from the Long Range Desert Group, the special British army unit that played an instrumental role in the victory against Nazi troops in North Africa by getting behind enemy lines to gather intelligence.
The Hussars, who moved into the desert last month, have shed their heavy tanks for lighter, faster Scimitars - armored vehicles with 30 mm cannon - and open-topped Land Rovers fitted with machine guns. The change allows the soldiers to cover the difficult terrain and quickly intercept when arms smugglers are found.
But while accusations abound, the unit has yet to find concrete evidence of smuggling.
"We have no proof. There are lots of indications that there is Iranian influence. We'll either prove there is, or - it's hard to prove a negative," said the Queen's Royal Hussars commanding officer, Lt. Col. David Labouchere.
The incentive to keep looking is deeply felt by the troops.
"I fear every piece of technology, weapon, terrorist who comes into this country with the aim of doing us harm. And that gives me a pretty good reason to work hard, start early and finish late, to do this job right," Labouchere explained.
His soldiers set up desert campsites under camouflage nets. The heat they endure is so extreme that logistics officer Maj. David Sparks said heating food and water is simple - a few minutes on a sand dune or the hood of a Land Rover is all that's needed.
While they've adopted the tactics of another era, modern technology allows them to stay out in the desert for longer, and cover larger distances. Helicopters airlift essential supplies - particularly water - every few days.
Their mere presence could stem smuggling.
"What we are doing is disrupting and deterring," said Maj. Dominic Roberts, officer commanding of B Squadron, the Queen's Dragoon Guards, whose temporary camp in the desert was near that of Labouchere's. "But it is hard to measure success. ... We have found no as yet credible information, let alone evidence, to suggest there has been any" weapons smuggling.
Military officials hope securing the border will eventually lead to a reduction of attacks in the capital.
"We believe we can have ... effect of general or of real meaning to the campaign as a whole," Everard said. "One that affected probably the center of gravity, i.e. Baghdad."
Stopping all smuggling across the entire border is probably impossible, Labouchere conceded. "It's a pretty big area to look after with one battle group. So we're never quite going to seal it all up."
"There will still be the odd diamond smuggling, carpets coming through... . That will still happen," he said. "But what we can do is stop the weapons and the technology from coming through."
MyWay
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