The effort to defeat IED’s is a perfect example of full spectrum warfare. Intelligence was gleaned from expanding social networks. Actionable leads had spec op’s doing the old knock and grab. Suspected bomb making sites were rolled up and anyone around them. Surveillance from UAV’s followed suspects around their daily routine and followed materials until the emplacement team was on position. Squads walking along miles of roads sweeping bridges and the undergrowth where they are easiest placed. AC-130’s orbited about filming them as they dug a hole, sent their kid to go get some pliers. Whole mapping systems ensued with their own IED symbology. IED went off here. One was defused here. Watch out for these culverts.

In effect, the war in Iraq became the war against the IED and the engagements and intelligence were more or less centered on the cessation of that threat. If you were to try to build a nation you first secure communications across it expanses. Next you secure road networks for transportation and deployment of your security personnel. And if this is where your enemy comes out to meet you, so be it. Afghanistan started to drift in this direction and until they can drain the swamps and establish safe roads the job there will not be done.