Darryl:
Well, if there was bombing in the cities, there probably must have been
special forces forward observers to guide the bombs in.  If you can
paint the target with a laser the bombs are many times more accurate.

Me:
Not necessarily.  Laser-guided weapons are more accurate, but according to
the published reports, the B-2s at least were using JDAMs (Joint Direct
Attack Munitions).  JDAMs are GPS guided, so you don't need forward
observers to guide the weapons in at all - you can program in the
coordinates even before the plane takes off.  Given that the difference in
accuracy may not be all that large - say, 5 meter CEP (Circular Error
Probable) for laser guided and 10 meter for the JDAMs, it probably doesn't
make a difference for these purposes which one you use, and it's a little
difficult for us to slip special forces guys into the cities, unfortunately.
In large part because the total number of Pashtu speakers in the American
military reportedly is 0.

Gautam

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