20070117 What is an IED and what does it look like?

What is an IED and what does it look like?

January 17th, 2007

Above photo from Badgers Forward: “So what does an IED look like?”

I’ve been asked that question before – “What is an IED?"

From the safety and security of living in Maryland – far way from the combat of Iraq - of course my only knowledge comes from the milbloggers.

Notice I said the milbloggers and NOT the main stream media. Like many I have come to distrust much of what I see on TV such as CBS or CNN, or the major U.S. newspapers, especially the New York Times.

Too much information from the main stream media is quite inconsistent from the stuff I read in my e-mails, first hand verbal accounts and in the Milblogs.

Anyway, the simple answer is that IED stands for “Improvised Explosive Device.”

And oh, if any of the milbloggers could “proof” this post, your input will be greatly appreciated. Please e-mail me at “kevindayhoff (at) gmail.com.”

Since, as one can imagine, there is lots of ordnance in Iraq, the bad guys have plenty of access to shells and explosive materiel. I’m told that many of the devices can be made, by folks who know what they are doing, in perhaps 20 minutes.

They wire the explosive materiel to a something as simple as a cell phone or a garage door opener.

While roaming the web on several occasions recently I have come across, at random, two posts about the insidious devices.

One from “Badgers Forward:” “So what does an IED look like?”

It is a short read, yet very informative. Click here for the post.

The other post comes from “Boots in Baghdad:” “IED,” who writes,

“In this video, D Troop (D Troop was NY National Guard attached to our Battalion) is hit with in IED (Improvised Explosive Device). Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. VIDEO”

Click here for the video. Or click on the video below…

Again, any of the milbloggers wanna weigh-in, have at it…

Kevin