Brits to explode IEDs rather than try to dismantle them

Independent:

In an attempt to take the pressure off bomb disposal officers in Afghanistan, combat engineers will now be tasked with blowing up many of the improvised devices rather than having to dismantle every one of them.

The revelation came as the most senior bomb disposal officer in the country, Colonel Bob Seddon, resigned after suggesting he needed more operatives on the ground and was concerned about the pressures being placed on his men in Afghanistan, as well as the "psychological price" they may pay, long term.

The move represents a shift in policy to try to alleviate the pressure on operatives from 11 EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment), four of whom have been killed in just over a year in Helmand.

Traditionally, 11 EOD's ammunition technicians (ATOs) have been tasked with making the "long walk" alone to dismantle unexploded improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in order to gather forensics and intelligence on the enemy. But the number of IEDs in Helmand, now responsible for most British deaths, has escalated dramatically, meaning that the operatives are worked to the point of exhaustion trying to deal with the sheer volume of bombs.

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The Brits have always been shorthanded in Afghanistan, and the shortage of bomb specialist should not be a surprise. I think a more nuanced approach would have been better. They need to make a decision on how many bombs the men can reasonably be asked to disarm and then blow up the rest. The bomber and his commander should work together on the decision of what bombs should be exploded.

The Daily Mail has more on the resignation in protest of the shortage of personnel.