Department of Defense Gadget Show

blackp writes "DefenseLINK has an article about Force Protection Equipment Demonstration IV. This year they had over 2,600 gadget and equipment for defense and government agencies. The list includes kevlar suits, body heat camo, a RoBoCop Suit, even biometric identification. Some pictures are available, although somewhat limited. This show seems perfect for the geek with a big budget." Or the government with a big budget. Still, some neat things on display.

Comments

Only a jarhead could be so stupid

[Anonymous Coward]

If ridiculous platitudes were all it took to keep the peace, we wouldn't have anything to worry about, I guess.

Re:And only a peace creep could be so smug.

[nurightshu]

Not to be excessively picayune, but the Soviets were quite a bit ahead of us in "missile defense shield" technology -- their sites at Dushanbe, Tashkent, and Sary Shagan were well documented. Asking us if an ABM system would be destabilizing brings to mind something about a pot and a kettle. I'm aware it was simply a humorous sketch, but a little background does change the slant significantly.

I agree with you entirely that the "grunt in the trenches" is not, nor should he be, the formulator of national-level policy. But he is the implementor of that policy; he is "the last argument of kings," if you will. The level of trust and confidence he has in his equipment and support elements has a direct bearing on his ability to carry out the mission, so the onus is on his superiors to outfit him with the best possible equipment available.

Cry me a river for the nations who are "wary" of the United States' power. It's been this way since the beginning of time: if one tribe of shaved apes gets an upper hand, it's going to use it. No amount of carping or snits about "destabilization" will change the fact that each of the pissants would be doing the exact same thing if their positions were reversed.