[Lt_Apple]

I saw this article and I started to think on the futility or perhaps over eager mindlessness of the anti landmine protocol recently enacted (for the 3rd or 4th time, with the US being one of the only countries refusing to sign). When hundreds of tons of armaments are floating around ready to be turned into IEDs it may not matter what regulations to 'civilized world' places itself under. The problem clearly is worse not better. Worse not because the prohibition on landmines backfired, but because of the unexpected consequences of believing you can uninvent something and therefore there's no longer any need to protect yourself from it.

But if (even) Spain, which pulled out of Iraq ASAP believes this to be a crucial problem, then it clearly is.

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...r-spain-04144/

From news article:
Western militaries are quickly coming to the realization that the light Land Rover, G-Wagen, and HMMWV type flat bottom vehicles deployed as light troop transports are no longer adequate on a non-linear battlefield with no defined front lines, in a world where the technology for making improvised and professional land mines is proliferating globally. Spain has been late to this realization, and the Ministerio de Defensa has been the target of criticism for that lateness. Spanish soldiers have also been targets: 4 successful land mine attacks in the 16 months leading up to Spain’s MRAP decision had killed 10 soldiers and a translator (6 in Lebanon, 5 in Afghanistan).

In November 2007, with 4 months to go before elections, the situation in Spain shifted. DID reader Pedro Lucio’s research and translation assistance helps us discuss the Spanish Council of Ministers announcement, and other reports that amount to a major MRAP Class I and Class II program for Spain. The program will replace/supplement its VAMTAC and recently-acquired Anibal (Land Rover derivative) vehicles by 2009. Over the longer term, Spain will also replace its 6×6 BMR Armored Personnel Carriers. The 575+ vehicle acquisition program is sketched out, the finalists are lined up, and a program to buy wheeled APCs will follow.

While the winners for the first 2 phases are clear, purchase and delivery are taking a long time. The winning vehicles have yet to be deployed to the front lines, and the issue has become a political controversy in Spain. The Spanish Council of Ministers has responded – but not with a contract… yet.

[Fegasderty]

The RPGs and AKs force troops into vehicles which limit them and concentrate them for a "mine" or IED kill.

The open fire on the troops.
The troops return to the vehicle.
There is a limited number of escape routes, all of which have a mine or IED.
So the troops have a choice of being shot at or running the gauntlet.

What's the SOP to avoid being placed in this position?