Army Times reports that the US Army Rapid Equipping Force (REF) at Fort Belvoir, VA is expediting the first shipment of 2,000 new laser devices to Soldiers in Baghdad, Iraq. No, not devices like the ones in this $1.37 billion order. Just simple green laser pointers. Having one pointed at you seems to be very effective at stopping aggressive oncoming traffic and personnel as they approach checkpoints et. al. As civilian laser pointers like Megalaser show, hand-held green laser pointers can be quite bright; their beams are visible in low light conditions and carry effectively.
In the past, bright spotlights have been bulky and often ineffective in these situations. Troops obviously began experimenting, and discovered that even harmless laser beams pack a precision and intimidation value that works. According to field reports, aggressive driving in these situations has been reduced 60 to 80% when the devices are used. As has the potential for tragedy.
(X-posted from Defense Industry Daily)
Special Forces operators can sneak into movie theaters in enemy-dominated territory and annoy the crap out of the audience...
I like it! Somebody is doing some very good thinking. Not only a low cost solution, but a low impact solution. Focuses directly on the problem, which is getting a fool's attention and causing him to hit the brake. No one killed, no nasty incidents. Not to mention, if it gets lost, it's not harmful to anyone.
Makes sense. I had a friend to got an agressive tailgaiter to back off using a laser pointer. Of course, this was a Califoria interstate, so the guy may have assumed it was a gun with a laser sight.
Just don't flash any aircraft or the threat receiver may go off...heh.
" I'd like to say that this is how we're fighting a softer, gentler war. "
(Democrat peacenic genus specie who can't take credit now. )
"What took George Bush so long to implement? People have died because of his delays. I imagine we could have averted the national tragedy Italy suffered losing one of their greatest reporters."
( Democrat ex-post-factiod postwar hawk on the campaign trail. )
" How come our troops can use laser pointers when Homeland Security has banned them from the general public airport runways !? This is more of the do as I say regime of total control. "
( New Democrat leadership digging the party control claws in further.)
Hey, green is great. Glad to see lasers going there as well. I bet a lot of them have never seen one.
In a few years they can have some neat laserlight shows like we get to experience here.
It's a good idea, and I hope we paid a reasonable rate for the lasers...