Archive for December, 2006
Apparently an oldie but I hadn’t seen it before. From MyConfinedSpace via Reddit.
Tech Level C in Traveller:
The GP-219 Gauss Pistol is a self-contained, two-stage coil gun:
- Two coils are precisely pulsed in sequence (350 Amp peak) to fire a steel projectile
- Two infrared sensors detect the projectile position within the firing tube
- Controlled by a PIC microcontroller
- Powered by 8 AA NiCd battery pack
- Built-in battery charger
- Bar display tracks capacitor bank charge progress
- Battery and Fault LED indicators
- Laser targeting sight
- Makes no sound when fired
Much more info, many more pictures, and even movies at the developer’s site. He says he will be offering plans, parts, and kits by next April.
FWIW, I’m a believer in the future of this technology. And have been since I played Traveller as a kid. Very cool, though it will be a long, long time before something like this supplants gunpowder firearms.
Here’s a shot that’s long been one of Murdoc’s favorites, since long before I moved to live in Ford’s old Congressional district:
Crewmen of the USS Monterey play basketball in the carrier’s forward elevator. On the left, jumping for the ball, is Ens. Gerald R. Ford, future president of the United States. June 1944. Photo by Victor Jorgenson.
This shot is from the excellent book Steichen at War, which Murdoc bought for himself when it was published in 1987 and remains one of his favorites.
Another pic and more below.
Read the rest of this entry »
An inert 2,000-pound laser-guided bomb strikes its target after being launched from an F-4C Phantom II aircraft flying at an altitude of 4,000 feet. A tripod-mounted laser on the ground “illuminated” the target, providing a reflected energy source for the weapon’s guidance system. The test is being conducted by the Arament Development and Test Center. Location: EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA (FL) UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA) Date Shot: 16 Jun 1977
I will be posting more random pictures in the future, some with a bit of commentary and some without. Why? Better to ask “why not?”.
I believe this weapon is a GBU-10 Paveway II unit, based on the ever-popular Mk 84 general purpose 2000-pound bomb.
Did an American fire on Iraqis unprovoked?
Two employees of the private military contractor Triple Canopy claim their supervisor “was out of control”.
The DoD reports that about 100,000 private security contractors are in Iraq. My guess is that it’s a lot more than that. And the number will continue to rise.
Officials Say Selective Service Apparatus Is Being Checked, Not Implemented
Did you catch that? “Officials say” it is being checked. And we all know how much we can trust officials, don’t we? Interesting editorial choice.
Anyway:
The agency is planning a comprehensive test — not run since 1998 — of its military draft systems, a Selective Service official said. The test itself would not likely occur until 2009…The “readiness exercise” would test the system that randomly chooses draftees by birth date and its network of appeal boards that decide how to deal with conscientious objectors and others who want to delay reporting for duty.
I guess it seems reasonable. If it made sense to do it in 1998, it makes a lot more sense to do it in 2009. Any guesses as to why they can’t rush the test and run it in mid-2008?
We’re going to be hearing about how this test is a cover for the return of the actual draft for the next two years. Goodie.
See also: How the draft has changed since Vietnam at the Selective Service System.
Then there’s A U.S. military ‘at its breaking point’ considers foreign recruits:
Foreign citizens’ serving in the U.S. military is a highly charged issue, which could expose the Pentagon to criticism that it is essentially using mercenaries to defend the country. Other analysts voice concern that a large contingent of noncitizens under arms could jeopardize national security or reflect badly on Americans’ willingness to serve in uniform.
The idea of signing up residents who are seeking U.S. citizenship is gaining traction as a way to address a critical need for the Pentagon, while fully absorbing some of the roughly one million immigrants that enter the United States legally each year.
The proposal to induct more noncitizens, which is still largely on the drawing board, has to clear a number of hurdles. So far, the Pentagon has been quiet about specifics, like who would be eligible to join, where the recruiting stations would be, and what the minimum standards might involve, like English proficiency. In the meantime, the Pentagon and the immigration authorities have expanded a program that accelerates citizenship for legal residents who volunteer for the military.
Since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the number of immigrants in uniform who have become U.S. citizens has increased from 750 in 2001 to almost 4,600 last year, according to military statistics.
Currently only immigrant residing in the US can join, but some suspect that we may begin recruiting overseas to help meet recruiting requirements.
I’d suggest ramping up pay and other benefits to meet current demand and to also grow the size of the Army and Marine Corps slightly, allowing longer periods between deployments. The last thing we should be trying to do is to save a few nickels by hiring substandard labor.
It’s the old “they’re doing jobs regular Americans won’t do” argument, which isn’t quite right. The argument is really “they’re doing jobs regular Americans won’t do at this wage“.
Is America Abandoning Israel?!
Euphoric Reality notes this story in Middle East Newsline:
U.S. BLOCKS ARMS, TECHNOLOGY TO ISRAEL
TEL AVIV [MENL] — The Bush administration has blocked arms and technology transfers to Israel.
Israeli and U.S. sources said the State Department has blocked the transfer of weapons and technology to the Jewish state over the last three months. The sources said the halt reflected deteriorating relations between the two countries since the end of the war in Lebanon in August 2006.
“Nobody will say openly that there is a problem,” a government source said. “But there is a serious problem that reflects the marginalization of Israel in U.S. strategy.”
The unofficial suspension of U.S. arms deliveries began in late September, the sources said. They said the suspension halted the airlift of air-to-ground and other munitions conducted during and immediately after the Israeli war with Hizbullah.
Israpundit notes that one of the unnamed sources for this story says we’re trying to appease Saudi Arabia. This seems like a bit of stretch, but a lot of our Saudi policy seems a bit odd, so it cannot be discounted.
Another obvious theory is that the US is unhappy with Israel’s prosecution of the war against Hezbollah this past summer. But the US played a leading role in the cease-fire that ended (well, as ‘ended’ as it will ever be) that conflict, so to claim that we’re now punishing Israel for not finishing off Hezbollah’s fighting force seems like a bit of a stretch. But a lot of our Hezbollah/Hamas/Syria/Palestinian policy seems a bit odd, so it cannot be discounted.
Both of these uncertainties stem from the uncertain public face of our respective policies, and that is our own fault.
Let’s not forget, though, that there are often technology transfer issues with our other close allies, as well. For instance, the spat with the British and Australians over F-35 Joint Strike Fighter technology is still not totally resolved, and a potential stumbling block to Japan’s wish to buy F-22 Raptors is the issue of that fighter’s sensitive technology. So hold-ups due to reviews of technology transfers aren’t uncommon.
This wouldn’t really apply to the JDAMs mentioned in the article, as these units aren’t nearly as secret and sensitive as the technology in the F-22 or F-35. But the “cutting-edge” rule would apply to the Skyguard missile-defense laser, also mentioned.
Also, don’t miss Israel breaks promise to U.S. with settlement: West Bank housing for settlers ousted from Gaza approved despite pledge. For a short time last summer I thought that US and Israeli strategies were aligned, but it didn’t last.
Finally, the ladies at Euphoric Reality had a special episode of their The Front Line show on this story last night. Cale Hahn, an independent columnist and former journalist and Steve Schippert of ThreatsWatch made appearances. I’m listening right now.
Just over a month ago, he became the oldest living ex-President in American history.
Not that it should really matter today, but I still don’t think naming the next class of aircraft carriers after him is the right move. My guess, though, is that his death will only strengthen the case of those trying to make it happen.
UPDATE: More, including pics, here.
Bill Roggio, freelancer extraordinaire, is back from his latest embed in Iraq.
An issue I’ve been trying to make sure didn’t go unnoticed, the deteriorating situation in Somalia, gets big coverage on the Fourth Rail:
- Somalia Panel Discussion
- The Battle of Baidoa
- The Battle of Somalia
- The TFG and Ethiopia Punch back in Somalia
- Islamic Courts in Retreat in Somalia
Those following the Long Global War on TerrorTM using more than just headlines and political talking points will realize that Somalia is a major battleground in what is truly a World War.
It’s difficult to say, of course, but I suspect that much of the misery we’ve seen in the last sixteen years is a result of our lack of will on that battleground.
Like I said yesterday, most of us are spending time with friends and family over the holidays. Most of us have a few days off from work. Most of us will kick back, relax, and enjoy a bit of down time.
We can do this because other people are not getting any days off. Because they are half a world away from their friends and family. Down time for them means a few hours to fill out reports, grab a bite to eat, and clean their weapons.
QUARGHULI VILLAGE, Iraq (December 18, 2006) – Sgt. 1st Class Ralph Roe, a Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, scout platoon sergeant, and native of Bloomingburg, N.Y., pulled security from a boat as he traveled down the Euphrates River in Iraq on Dec. 8. The soldiers participated in a complex air, land and water operation into the Quarghuli Village. Photo by Staff Sgt. Angela McKinzie, U.S. Army.
To all the military personnel in the combat zones, and to all those who get them the food, fuel, information, and ammunition they need, Merry Christmas. And thank-you.
