US losing control of Major Iraqi roads (moved from ATSNN), page 1

Whilst it is normal for some military supplies to be brought in by air, it seems that Coalition commanders in Iraq are relying on it more heavily than normal. This is due to the ever increasing IED attacks and Guerilla style ambushes that Insurgents are using against convoys.

www.latimes.com
WASHINGTON � U.S. commanders in Iraq have begun transporting more supplies to the country by aircraft in an effort to evade the roadside bomb attacks that have been killing or wounding about 100 American troops each month, the Air Force's top officer said Tuesday.

Scrambling for other ways to avoid the attacks, the military is also looking into the possibility of bottling and purifying water in Iraq rather than transporting it by truck from Kuwait. Water accounts for 30% of U.S. cargo ferried over Iraq's perilous roadways, officials said.

U.S. forces have been sending about 3,000 vehicles in about 215 convoys in Iraq each day. The vulnerability of trucks, Humvees and other U.S. equipment to roadside bombs has become a major issue amid complaints by troops that the military has been slow to reinforce the vehicles with protective armor.

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It is difficult to see how the US/Coalition can supplement 3000 vehicles a day with air transport, the sheer amount of Aircraft required would be staggering and the cost would be greatly increased due to the fuel of the Aircraft.

However, it would save lives that would otherwise be lost in attacks upon the supply convoys, but at the same time, this would keep US units in little enclaves unless they made a concerted effort to retake the major highways in Iraq.

With supplies coming in by Air, that means they would need to camp close to the airfields themselves, or else rely on road transportation again, which would be vunerable to Insurgent attacks.