The battle here has forced American troops to be more innovative. This need for innovation in weapons and equipment has shaken up the army and marine procurement bureaucracy, and made them much more responsive than at any other time in history. Part of this was due to the growing use of the Internet in the past decade. The troops were communicating with each other, the media, and the military procurement agencies. If the bureaucrats could not get something developed and to the troops quickly enough, the troops often cobbled together their own expedients. Things like using radio controlled hobby aircraft for UAVs, or radio controlled toy trucks to check out potential roadside bombs, and to drop explosives (using toy radio controlled dump trucks) next to the bombs. Troops even developed some crude jammers. The military procurement people took the hint, and moved things along faster than anyone thought possible. All because Saddam's desperate minions were using their heads.
I'd be curious to know if those in the know believe this to be truie. |