Heavy artillery arrives to support Canadians patrolling near Pakistan border

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=ff0c2920-e372-467c-91bc-b25cb5d59370&k=25230

Canadian Press
Published: Monday, May 07, 2007

SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan (CP) - Some heavy artillery has arrived in this southern border town to lend support to Canadian soldiers on patrol.

The Canadian M777 Howitzer cannons made a dramatic arrival by helicopter at the forward operating base just six kilometres from the Pakistan border. Chinook helicopters thundered into view over the horizon, the guns dangling below, before dropping their cargo off in the desert.

Soldiers from the 2nd Royal Canadian Horse Artillery were on hand to secure the cannons and tow them into the base.

[Zywiec]

1. Effective range for the M777 is 30km

That means they can fire right into Pakistan

[Squatch]

2. That's MAX Range (with RAP/CHG8)

The M777 is a sweet, sweet howitzer. It's an artilleryman's dream field piece.

But, shooting the Rap/CHG8 combination (EFC), will just result in having to replace the howitzers after only a few hundred rounds.

Also, at 30km, your PEr and PEd are so great, that it's not really an "effective" range to shoot at.

[Zywiec]

3. The border is only six klicks away.

Much shorter than the max-range. Ideal for all those border incidents.

[Squatch]

4. Parking a battery or battalion of M777s 4 miles from the border

would definitely project an aggressive posture.

[Zywiec]

5. What if the Canadians capture Osama?

[NNN0LHI]

6. Depends if it is the fat Osama or the skinny Osama they catch

Or this one:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1982799.cms

Osama lookalike arrested twice


NEW YORK: An Afghan tribesman with an uncanny resemblance to Osama bin Laden has been arrested twice, both times following reported sightings and massive manhunts for the Al-Qaida leader, Pakistani intelligence officials said.

Over six feet tall and with the same angular nose as bin Laden, Sher Akbar comes from an Afghan village, Baghe Metal, in an area where US officials believe bin Laden has been hiding.

Bin Laden is believed to be six feet four inches to six feet six inches tall and weigh 160 pounds. He is 50 years old.

The most recent arrest of bin Laden's near-twin came after Afghani officials reported informants saw bin Laden moving across the border into Pakistan, near the town of Chitral.

"We arrested this man as a result of this investigation, but it's not who you might think it is," a senior Pakistani intelligence official told ABC News, providing a photograph to make his point.

[Zywiec]

7. How soon until a Predator drone takes this lookalike out.