Afghan Marksmen - Forget the Fables

[Syt]

Who were you firing at? 

Immobile target displays.   

[Mr.Penguin]

I think that one of the reasons for the lack of marksmanship, among the Taliban is the fact that they employ mostly young local punks to do much of the fighting. $1000 for the family and a well used AK-47 clone, and a new Taliban fighter is born. Seasoned fighters is after 10 years of fighting in short supply...

Also as they have lost most of their safe heavens, doesnt they have the training facilities they used to have... 

[jimmy olsen]

I found this article/blog post to be a pretty engaging read about the inadequacies of the Afghan riflemen on both sides.  During the Victorian period and up until WW I, these guys were renowned as amongst the best by the British running up against them.  Now?  Not so much.

Tainted.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1265320/Deadly-Taliban-sniper-stalks-British-troops-echoes-Hollywood-blockbuster.html#ixzz0kuF2zHgb

Hunt for Taliban sniper who has shot dead seven British troops in 5-month killing spree

By Matt Fortune
Last updated at 12:00 PM on 12th April 2010

It echoes the plot of a Hollywood blockbuster, but the deaths of seven British troops at the hands of a highly-trained and highly-skilled Afghan sniper in Sangin is a very real problem.

During a five-month killing spree, the sniper has stalked the 3rd Battalion, the Rifles, picking off individuals including a British sniper who was on the lookout for the shooter himself.

Three of those killed were considered among the best in their field.

Now the SAS is hunting the sniper who is stalking them across the streets of the city considered the most dangerous in Afghanistan.

The scene is chillingly reminiscent to the storyline of the 2001 film Enemy at the Gates, in which Jude Law and Ed Harris play rival Soviet and German snipers stalking each other across Stalingrad during World War II.

Sharp shooters: Snipers are a vital tool in Britain's fight and the loss of several has been a blow (pictured, Irish Defence forces 99th Infantry battalion)

It is thought the Taliban killer may have been trained in neighbouring Iran or by Al-Qaeda operatives in Pakistan. His youngest victim was just 19.

'Their sniper is giving us real problems and we've not yet worked out how to take him down,' said a senior British Army officer who recently visited the town in Helmand province.

'Our snipers are some of the best-trained and capable soldiers we have. When you lose one it is telling you something.'

Another soldier added: 'The Taliban sniper must watch our guys for days to wait for the best situation to open fire and still make his escape.

'So far he has not been taken down, even though the SAS have carried out several forays into the area.'

In total some 53 British servicemen have been killed in the vacinity of Sangin in the last 12 months, with 12 times the average casualty rate for Nato forces in the country

The senior officer added: 'There seem to be enough spy drones and troops for the size of area. The conclusion is the Taliban have outside help — from either Iran or Al-Qaeda in Pakistan — to train up their guys.'

Major-General Gordon Messenger, UK spokesman for operations in Afghanistan, said: 'The casualty toll in Sangin is tragically high but our forces remain very much on the front foot and are determined to maintain the progress that they and their predecessors have achieved.

[CountDeMoney]

This is more on the spot, though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zL9AKXxDW0&annotation_id=annotation_919890&feature=iv

Failiban: "We don't care about our lives!" ... "And it's cold, too!"

That's a hilarious video.  Reminds me of Spinal Tap, when the band gets lost under the stage in Cleveland.

[CountDeMoney]

The scene is chillingly reminiscent to the storyline of the 2001 film Enemy at the Gates, in which Jude Law and Ed Harris play rival Soviet and German snipers stalking each other across Stalingrad during World War II.

Christ, modern journalism sucks so bad.

[jimmy olsen]

The scene is chillingly reminiscent to the storyline of the 2001 film Enemy at the Gates, in which Jude Law and Ed Harris play rival Soviet and German snipers stalking each other across Stalingrad during World War II.

Christ, modern journalism sucks so bad.

At least it's so bad it's funny.

[Warspite]

The scene is chillingly reminiscent to the storyline of the 2001 film Enemy at the Gates, in which Jude Law and Ed Harris play rival Soviet and German snipers stalking each other across Stalingrad during World War II.

Christ, modern journalism sucks so bad.

Even the editing sucks.

[Ed Anger]

Wait a minute. Tim, the KING OF TAINT calling something tainted? I call bullshit.

[Siege]

Why do I get the feeling that Monkeybutt pwns Timothy?

[Lucidor]

I found this article/blog post to be a pretty engaging read about the inadequacies of the Afghan riflemen on both sides.  During the Victorian period and up until WW I, these guys were renowned as amongst the best by the British running up against them.  Now?  Not so much.

Tainted.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1265320/Deadly-Taliban-sniper-stalks-British-troops-echoes-Hollywood-blockbuster.html#ixzz0kuF2zHgb

Hunt for Taliban sniper who has shot dead seven British troops in 5-month killing spree

He has a few more before he gets promoted to the higher league.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simo_H%C3%A4yh%C3%A4

[grumbler]

Hunt for Taliban sniper who has shot dead seven British troops in 5-month killing spree

He has a few more before he gets promoted to the higher league.

I thought you were going to mock the idea of a 5-month "killing spree" in which a mere 7 people were killed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simo_H%C3%A4yh%C3%A4

That record always has had a strong odor of bullshit to me.  He killed a lot of people, for sure, but those kills were not "confirmed" by any reasonable standard, and the tacking on of hundreds more "probable kills" doesn't freshen the air.

[Lucidor]

I thought you were going to mock the idea of a 5-month "killing spree" in which a mere 7 people were killed.

The expression is stretched rather thin, yes. I'm guessing the Coalition has a few snipers of his calibre already.

That record always has had a strong odor of bullshit to me.  He killed a lot of people, for sure, but those kills were not "confirmed" by any reasonable standard, and the tacking on of hundreds more "probable kills" doesn't freshen the air.

True, but he was the first name I came up with.

[Siege]

British snipers:

[Razgovory]

What is wrong with you?

[DisturbedPervert]

The scene is chillingly reminiscent to the storyline of the 2001 film Enemy at the Gates, in which Jude Law and Ed Harris play rival Soviet and German snipers stalking each other across Stalingrad during World War II.

Christ, modern journalism sucks so bad.

At least he's making a reference to something most reporters actually know something about, movies