Iraq Swears By Dowsing Rod Bomb Detector

jggimi writes "According to the New York Times, more than fifteen hundred remote sensing devices have been sold to Iraq's Ministry of the Interior, at prices ranging from $16,500 to $60,000 each. The devices are used for bomb and weapon detection at checkpoints, and have no battery or other power source. Sounds great, but according to a retired United States Air Force officer, Lt. Col. Hal Bidlack, they work on the same principle as a Ouija board — the power of suggestion. He described the wand as nothing more than an explosives divining rod. Even though the device has been debunked by the US Military, the US Department of Justice, and even Sandia National Laboratories, the Iraqis are thrilled with the devices. 'Whether it's magic or scientific, what I care about is it detects bombs,' said Maj. Gen. Jehad al-Jabiri, head of the Ministry of the Interior's General Directorate for Combating Explosives."

Comments

Re:Insightful

[Runaway1956]

My father in law was good with those witching sticks. He dug many a well, and always struck water. Even today, the city of DeQueen, Arkansas employs an old Native American in the water department. He has the willow sticks like father in law used, but he also has a pair of copper rods that he likes better. He'll follow a pipe forever, and he'll tell you if, and where, it leaks. He is every bit as accurate as the guys with the ~ $18,000 metal detectors which can't tell you that there is a leak in the line.

The funny thing is, he can follow gas mains, buried electrical lines, anything that has metal in it, OR he can locate water alone. I always thought it just worked with water - goes to show how much I know, huh? Maybe it's anything conductive.

Don't ask me how it works - those witching sticks are just dead wooden sticks in my hands. But, I've seen it work, so I have to believe in it.

How that all relates to these explosives witching sticks, I have NO IDEA. Maybe they work in the hands of tribals, maybe not. Don't ask me to test them.