Comments on: General Needs Laser Cutter Now

By: Mcotract

Mcotract — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:16:46 +0000

Smart car idea good ( no people)- But cant these IED’s just be be bombed in some way in advance of the troops to clear the way?

just a civvie

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:20:43 +0000

Yes this can be done ;but need some Plasma torches
and some rigging on the front of the Humvees or Tanks. should cut 6 Inches into ground and severs anything even heavy cables so done. Bores holes inot dirt or better way is to warn every citizen in Iraq or orther areas that anytime a Vehicle is blown up that B-52 Carpet bombing wil ensue 1 mile in all directions of the attack. instantly too not 5 or ten minutes but instantly —So any vehicle getting attacked with lead to mass destruction of that area no questions period!

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 23:45:17 +0000

Can someone tell me why we don’t have guards/monitors/remote cameras with IR scopes to monitor convoy routes (seriously, not trying to be sarcastic)? If you have a decent line of sight, you wouldn’t need a lot of them to watch for the guys burying the IEDs. Then you can send in the engineers to detonate &/or send a nearby patrol in to make the guy dig it back up and sit on it.

By: Larry

Larry — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 02:25:37 +0000

I like these idea’s: How about a remote controlled smart car (two seater) with two Al Quiada prisoners “strapped in” to lead a convoy. This car would also be wired with explosives that can be detonated by members of the convoy if attacked.
More martyrs equals fewer operatives.
Of course, probably counter to a few international treaties, but so is beheading on video.
bottom line: general looking for a clean solution to a dirty problem — there ain’t one.
Posted by: retireddude at September 27, 2007 10:50 AM.
Also this idea: How about, Play by the enemies rules?
Kidnap several of the Mullahs, or leaders. And make it known that they will be riding along in the convoys.
These freaks have no problem sending kids and others to die, but never seem to want to show their willingness to die for their cause.
And if you do find an ied, let them go dig it up.
Posted by: spastic jack at September 27, 2007 04:55 PM.Someone else said: why use americans on the roads anyway, Let the Iraqi’s deliver anything that we cant air lift. We can watch over the convoy with helo’s.
PLAY BY THERE RULE OR WE LOOSE PERIOD.
Larry

By: Chuck

Chuck — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:55:50 +0000

I’ve seen it time and again; The Brass trying to beat a low tech enemy with high tech (and high dollar) gizmos. There are no easy answers here, just like there is no easy answer to Terrorism. (Try finding an Internationally accepted definition on that one…) Proven tactics and willingness to do whatever it takes to win will take the day. Other than the tools employed this conflict is no different than other guerrilla war; namely that it is a nasty business where bad things happen. Our troops are hamstrung by ROE (Rules Of Engagement) and a media that is willing to string up Military members for their actions while in the Combat Zone (see Abu Ghraib, Hadditha, etc) making it nearly impossible to win. A laser to cut tripwires or command wires would work a couple of times till the enemy changes tactics and thereby bleeding OUR economy of millions of dollars in development. Wouldn’t it be cheaper to fight the enemy on their terms and spend the money that would have been used for development of the laser for defense in the media? I’ve seen a couple of good ideas on this board already; (rolling up Mullahs and making them ride in the convoys), how about mining the culverts? Oh yeah, what about the kids playing in them? Easy, advertise that you did it. Again, guerrilla war is a nasty business. In all the innovation and willingness of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines involved in defeating IED’s, namely EOD (Hoo-Yah Navy EOD!), will prevail if given latitude to develop and apply their own tactics. Just my $.02 worth.

By: spastic jack

spastic jack — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 21:55:05 +0000

How about, Play by the enemies rules?
Kidnap several of the Mullahs, or leaders. And make it known that they will be riding along in the convoys.
These freaks have no problem sending kids and others to die, but never seem to want to show their willingness to die for their cause.
And if you do find an ied, let them go dig it up.

By: spastic jack

spastic jack — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 21:45:48 +0000

First, if an ied is located, I would think that a well placed he round should a least disable it.
Second, why use americans on the roads anyway, Let the Iraqi’s deliver anything that we cant air lift.
I tend to feel that after enough locals get blown up by ieds, then maybe their brothers would tend to either prevent them from being installed, or warn the convoy as it comes up to one.
We are wasting to much of our own resources on doing what we could be requiring the Iraqi’s to do themselves. We have the capability to monitor any convoy by air, remotely to make sure they are going where they are supposed to.
But their is absolutely no need for any coalition members to be on the ground during convoys.

By: specialprojects

specialprojects — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:12:18 +0000

Surveillance. The General needs to request sufficient surveillance by an armada of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). These explosive devices are not being

By: retireddude

retireddude — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:50:37 +0000

Hmmmm,
How about a remote controlled smart car (two seater) with two Al Quiada prisoners “strapped in” to lead a convoy. This car would also be wired with explosives that can be detonated by members of the convoy if attacked.
More martyrs equals fewer operatives.
Of course, probably counter to a few international treaties, but so is beheading on video.
bottom line: general looking for a clean solution to a dirty problem — there ain’t one.

By: balnotbias

balnotbias — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 05:19:55 +0000

While I understand the General’s sentiment, a cutting laser of the type he envisions is a bad idea because they have almost unlimited range. To my knowledge, such lasers can’t be focused to work at up to say, 100 yards, max range, then fade out or go ineffective beyond that. Even a penlight laser can be seen at several thousand feet. All we need is for one so equiped Humvee to fall into enemy hands and they’ll have a really good way to shoot down our aircraft from great distances, and they won’t need cutting ability to do it. Just blind the pilot as occassionally happens outside the warzone.…