The Next Wave

The ground war in Afghanistan, when it begins in earnest, won't look like the one in Iraq or Kuwait. Rather than massed troops along front lines, U.S. forces will need to spot small agile targets, stage lightning-quick strikes and then get out quickly

GATHERING INTELLIGENCE

1 Unmanned Gnat and Predator drones equipped with a variety of sensors hover over enemy territory collecting real-time photo and video intelligence

2 Those images are funneled via satellite to ground stations where analysts, briefed on the latest intelligence, look for signs of enemy fighters and equipment

3 If the analysts find something suspicious, they call...

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