Ghost of a flea: These are not the droids you're looking for

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June 14, 2007

These are not the droids you're looking for

Now they have been given the nod, Military.com reports on an anti-IED role for the EA-6B Prowler in the current troubles; the electronic warfare plane purportedly jams the mobile phone and garage door opener technology that triggers the devices. Neat. Better yet, satisfying if this can also result in a jihadi work accident scenario. One imagines a Prowler tooling along over The Stan and the distant sound of popcorn... More remarkable than this, however, is how long Military.com - and their sister site, DefenseTech.org - have known about the story and sat on it.*

It was the spring of 2004, when I was in Bagram, Afghanistan, that I first saw the Prowlers in action. I remember asking the Army PAO there whether I could do a story about the fact that EA-6Bs were deployed there – the first time I’d seen such aircraft in “The Stan.”

The PAO looked me straight in the eye and said, “what Prowlers?”

I countered: “Those four sitting right there next to the 160th birds” (referring to the imposing, black-painted spec ops MH-47s lined up along the tarmac).

“There are no Prowlers here,” he said, making me think of the famous Obi Wan line “these are not the droids you’re looking for…”

You have to hand it to the Americans. It is impressive to have so important an asset in theatre and have so few people know about it. (cough)Camp Mirage(cough) (cough)

* All the more reason to send some senior people at the Grey Lady to the gallows pour encourager les autres.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at June 14, 2007 07:14 AM

Comments

You know, 36 year years in service but Prowlers are just awesome looking and fitted out as they are nowadays they look cooler than ever.. The sound of popcorn throught "the Stan'.. heh heh.

Posted by: Gorthos at June 14, 2007 09:10 AM

Was the officer using his hands at the time in a sort of odd motion?

Posted by: Andrew Ian Dodge at June 15, 2007 04:26 AM

Prowler, what prowler?

Posted by: Montieth at June 15, 2007 09:36 AM