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U.S. Developing 100-Kilowatt Laser for Strike Fighters
redwolfoz writes "New Scientist reports that American defence contractors, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, are developing a 100-kilowatt infrared laser weapon for the F35 Joint Strike Fighter that may be powerful enough to blind people on the ground, even if they are relatively far from the target."
So instead of the enemy of the week (OBL/Saddam/the French) using human shields to protect their super secret missile bases, they just cover them in mirrors directed at the local orphanage. Fire the laser, blind the kids.
A few trillion dollars wasted because some clown thinks ray guns are a neat idea. What's next Boeing announce development of Photon Torpedoes ?
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. --Albert Einstein
I thought causing permanent blindness was considered a war crime, and would get you in very big trouble with some people. I believe it came out of the WWII stuff or something, right? Someone out there must know more about this than I do. =]
What?
Think about it. It's infra-red, so you can't see it. You could potentially filter the harmful rays IF you knew the wavelength of the laser AND you knew it was being used, though that's not likely to happen. So basically you could be Joe Afghan tending to his goats and minding your own business, when suddenly a truck 2 or 3 kilometers away explodes and takes your vision with it. No warning, no defense, just blindness.
Think about the potential for abuse if it falls into the wrong hands. Wanna bring down a couple jetliners, but don't have 19 hijackers to spare? That's easy! Just point one of these lasers at the wings of passing planes and watch the fuel tanks explode. Since the beam is invisible, nobody would know what hit them or be able to tell where the attack came from. You could probably drop 3 or 4 planes before you'd have to move on to another location.
While the rest of the civilized world is trying to ban land mines because of their devastating effects on civilian populations that lasts decades after the intended conflict, the U.S. is busy designing a weapon that has the (un?)intended effect of permanently blinding people. Great.
Given a choice, I'd rather lose a leg than go blind, wouldn't you?
I do realize that weapons that injure are far more effective against an enemy that cares for its wounded. However, there's a difference between a bullet wound, which can heal, and being blinded for life!
On top of this, the U.S. has a reputation for hitting civilians and friendly troops recently. Is this really going to be an effective weapon for U.S. troops to have on the battlefield? I hope we're also trying to perfect occular implants at the same time.
"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." - Mark Twain
Here's an easy one: there's a country where thousands of Muslims have been killed in revenge attacks just this year. Hundreds of thousands have been made homeless, their homes destroyed and their lives threatened if they return to rebuild. Can you name the country? If you guessed Israel, the current whipping boy of Liberals world-wide, you'd be wrong. I'm talking about India.
While Israel is accused of "crimes against humanity" on an hourly basis by Arab thugs and European inbreds, the Indian government is turning a blind eye on some horrible crimes. We're talking children being raped and then burned alive. Somehow, no one is calling for UN troops to intervene or condemning India in the UN or talking about bringing Indian officials before the ICC. Apparently, that honor is reserved for Jews only.
When the world is a fair place, with everyone judged by the same set of standards, America will let itself be judged by the world. Until then, it is rightfully telling everyone else to piss off.
-jon
Remember Amalek.
They didn't get bored, they were kicked out, or left before they were about to be. They avoided the French mistake of sticking around, and so didn't get whooped like the French in Algeria and Vietnam.
One possibility is that these countries establish governments and economies like ours. The other is that one or more Western powers simply conquers them and establishes an Empire.
./
You are what is politely referred to as an imperialist, and commonly referred to as a fuckhead.
I can't believe this is what passes for sophisticated political commentary on