These Aren't the Droids They're Looking For

Like in Iraq, the primary weapon that our enemy in Afghanistan uses is the IED (and the variation of the mobile IED like car bombs or suicide bombs, etc.). These are essentially stationary robots--whether command detonated or target-detonated.

We have countered with our own robots--most notably the stationary and aerial drones that watch and now attack the enemy.

We are also turning to ground robots:

There are now more than 2,000 ground robots operating in Afghanistan, and troops are demanding more. ...

Ground forces are finding new applications for small robots that can be carried by dismounted troops. “They are using them in ways we never expected,” he said. One-third of the approximately 1,400 robots sent to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010 did not go to EOD teams, he said. Troops use the cameras for reconnaissance and surveillance. Military police are also finding utility for the robots, he added. ...

There are five primary robots being employed: a 35-pound mini-EOD robot that can be carried in a backpack; medium-sized Talon and Packbots that weigh about 65 pounds; a 120-pound Talon that is popular with EOD units because of its strong arm and manipulator; and a vehicle-sized M160, which can remotely clear minefields.

That has to be the most frustrating thing for the enemy. If our robots are taking on more roles, the enemy risks dying without even the consolation of taking out an Infidel in the process. That was not the way it was supposed to work. Their robots (IEDs) were supposed to fight our troops, thus killing our guys and preserving their people who would otherwise get smashed in direct firefights.

These robots aren't a magic bullet to win the war, but they are a useful tool to preserve our lives while killing the enemy.