01 February 2002
U.S., Jordanian Militaries Cooperate on Demining in Afghanistan
(Jordanian army engineers clear Bagram Airfield of mines) (640)
By Spc. Brent M. Williams
49th Public Affairs Detachment (Airborne)
Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan -- A bar, 3.5 meters wide, rotates 72
chain hammers, beating the earth for mines, the remnants of more than
20 years of war in Afghanistan. A pillar of dust churns from
underneath the chain-flail as the desert-colored minesweeper digs
tracks in the fields. Engineers from the Jordanian Army are using this
mechanical chain-flail minesweeper to clear Bagram airfield and the
surrounding area of anti-personnel and anti-tank mines. The Jordanian
military team is part of the coalition of military forces
participating in Operation Enduring Freedom.
American forces are supporting the Jordanian Army by providing
shelter, food and security for the engineers. Coalition forces are
also supplying the Jordanians with parts and maintenance support, and
Afghans are assisting the Jordanians by clearing the land by loader
and grader after the engineers sweep with the flail machine.
The Jordanian engineers arrived in Bagram in December to begin
mechanical demining operations. They use a minesweeper machine, known
as the "Aardvark," to clear mines from areas identified by the Afghan
and coalition forces deployed to the airbase, said Jordanian Army 1st
Lt. Mohammed Zboun, platoon leader, Royal 7th Armoured Engineer
Battalion, Directorate of the Royal Engineer Corps.
The Aardvark is detonating approximately 95 percent of the
anti-personnel mines and 100 percent of the anti-tank mines in the
areas being cleared daily, said Zboun. With each rotation, a chain
hammer, the equivalent of four tons of pressure per square inch, hits
the ground and detonates any mines in its path, he said. Under optimum
conditions, the machine is capable of clearing 115 meters per hour.
The success of the demining operations in Bagram is the result of a
joint effort involving all of the coalition forces in the area, said
Zboun. "There is good cooperation," Zboun said. "We will continue
demining operations until we finish all areas that are appointed for
us by coalition forces."
Drivers, guides, mechanics and maintenance specialists make up the
13-man Jordanian team operating the Aardvark. The Jordanian engineers
are using the skills and experience learned in Jordan, said Zboun.
Zboun explained: "In Jordan, we are suffering from the danger of
mines, so I think we have great experience in demining." Team mechanic
Cpl. Khalil Majaly added, "The work I've done in Jordan gives me good
experience for the work here." Majaly also said the work in
Afghanistan is more difficult than demining operations in Jordan
because the hardness of the ground destroys the chains of the flail.
"Because of the nature of the ground here, the team must change the
chains on the flail at least every week," said Majaly. In addition to
the harsh conditions, the remains of previous battles complicate the
demining effort. "We have found a large amount of metal in this area,"
Zboun added. "I think it may be parts of planes and military cars,
which are buried in the ground."
Zboun is proud of his engineers, who are working diligently to
overcome the challenges of the environment to make the area safe for
the Afghan people so they can resume their lives without fear of
injury or death. "I would like to see this area without the danger of
mines, and to see the people here return to their homes without being
afraid of land mines," said Zboun.
"I am very pleased, very proud to be here to contribute in assistance
of this operation with our allies, friends and coalition forces," said
Jordanian Sgt. 1st Class Marwan Hmaydeh, driver of the minesweeper.
"There is a good cooperation among the Afghan people themselves,"
Hmaydeh said, "And I think that peace is a dream for everybody who
lives in countries like Afghanistan."
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
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