Afghanistan: Another Round in the IED Game

The challenge of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) has been mounting for years in Afghanistan, but with the recent surge of Western troops into the country, and with the scope and tempo of operations on the rise, the balancing act between bombmaking improvisation and IED countermeasures will likely accelerate. Afghan IEDs have been somewhat different than those perfected in Iraq, and as the situation intensifies in Afghanistan, it remains to be seen which side will retain the edge. So far, IEDs have not significantly impeded U.S./NATO operations.