US Congress Funds Laser Weapons 423
An anonymous reader writes "The Washington Post reports that the US Congress is funding laser weapons for use in the near future. Low-power lasers called 'dazzlers' are already being used in Iraq to temporarily reduce a person's vision. High-power laser weapons would allow precision attacks that minimize civilian casualties. From the Post: 'The science board said tactical laser systems could be developed for broader use because they "enable precision ground attack to minimize collateral damage in urban conflicts." The report suggested, for example, that "future gunships could provide extended precision lethality and sensing." The board also proposed using lasers to protect against rockets, artillery, mortars and unmanned airborne vehicles by blasting them out of the sky. Last month, the Army awarded Boeing $36 million to continue development of a high-energy laser mounted on a truck that could hit overhead targets. But deployment is not expected until 2016, even if all goes well.'"
Cue Shark Jokes in 3 2 1 (Score:5, Funny)
All shark jokes go here!
Cartoon battlefield (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Cartoon battlefield (Score:4, Funny)
Re:since when... (Score:3, Funny)
compact=gitmo (Score:4, Funny)
Great, now mirrors will be renamed to "Improvised Reflective Devices"
Chris Night to the rescue? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Cartoon battlefield (Score:4, Funny)
If both sides of every conflict missed every single target like on the TV show, I would, indeed, find it hilarious.
Re:Cartoon battlefield (Score:2, Funny)
Come on, you know the battlefields of the future are going to look like a 1980's G.I. Joe cartoon. Hilarious. Wait... Not really hilarious...
The important thing is that now we know...and knowing is half the battle!
Re:Cue Shark Jokes in 3 2 1 (Score:3, Funny)
A queue is a line
Well, given the sheer number of slashdot nerds eagerly awaiting any opportunity to post a meme ...
Re:Cue Shark Jokes in 3 2 1 (Score:4, Funny)
Queue not cue.
Q, not queue. Although not known primarily for his sense of humor, who would be better qualified to mount a friggin laser on a shark and joke about it afterward than Q?
Re:Umm, fund how? (Score:3, Funny)
A printing press and/or an entry into a spreadsheet.
It's a bird ... it's a plane ... (Score:2, Funny)
Berserk Home Militia Idiots (Score:3, Funny)
You'll get idiots like these [defensetech.org] running around with laser weapons.
And what about this kind of idiots [nickscipio.com] ? Do you really want them [nickscipio.com] to be able to buy lasers over the counter ?!?
Gun crazy private militia has always frightened me. As if these idiots didn't have a big enough aresenal you want to add lasers to their tool belt ?
Re:Cartoon battlefield (Score:4, Funny)
No, the battles of the future will be fought in space, or possibly at the top of very tall mountains, by robots.
Our duty is clear....to build and maintian those robots.
Re:Cue Shark Jokes in 3 2 1 (Score:1, Funny)
Ai no. Ai wush evri wun culd spel lyke mi!
Re:Cue Shark Jokes in 3 2 1 (Score:3, Funny)
Set Phasers to.... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Cartoon battlefield (Score:3, Funny)
Laser weapons would be more humane, preventing death via infection or bleedout.
My name is Tony Stark, and I approve this message.
Re:Cartoon battlefield (Score:3, Funny)
What do three rows of church seating have to do with the funding of lasers?
Re:A sick world (Score:1, Funny)
For a North Korean, your English is pretty good. Good luck with your reforms.
Re:Cartoon battlefield (Score:2, Funny)
With a laser weapon, you don't worry about wind or many other factors. Ricochet is also not a real concern.
Until the enemy starts wearing disco balls instead of helmets.
Re:Cue Shark Jokes in 3 2 1 (Score:2, Funny)
You capitalized grammar but not Nazi?!
*head asplode*