It's Raining Rocks

By MARK THOMPSON

When the targeteers at U.S. Central Command grew frustrated in their hunt for al-Qaeda fighters hiding in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan, they utilized a new tactic that turned the rugged terrain to their advantage: causing avalanches. With the help of U.S. Geological Survey maps and a Navy reservist who is a geologist in the civilian world, U.S. bombs triggered dozens of rock slides into forested areas where al-Qaeda troops were hiding. Warplanes dropped smart bombs on precise points where the geologist predicted they would act like jackhammers on rocky cliffs. The tactic had the advantage of surprise: enemy forces, relieved to see bombs explode at a distance, faced a rocky tidal wave seconds later. While there are no estimates of the number killed in the avalanches, Centcom considers the strategy a success, and could use it again when facing an enemy in rocky terrain. In addition to the casualties, says Air Force Lieut. Colonel Bradley Jones, "it had a tremendous psychological effect."

--By Mark Thompson