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November 30, 2006
GIs calling BS on non-lethal "weaponry"
As usual, it's the GIs who have to deal with (read: survive) the idiocy of their desk-bound leaders.
American commanders are trying to get U.S. infantry to carry and use a non-lethal paint ball gun, but the troops are not enthusiastic about it ... The FN 303 is only accurate to about a hundred meters, and the bullet can contain pepper concentrate (that makes the victims skin feel like it's burning), or paint (to mark the guy as someone of note).
[...]
Commanders want the infantry to use the FN 303 because more operations are taking place in Shia Arab areas controlled by radical militias (who want the Americans to leave so Sunni Arabs can be driven out of the country, or a coup can be attempted).
The Shia civilians throw rocks at American troops and stage rowdy demonstrations to block the movement of U.S. soldiers. The Shia Arabs know that American ROE (Rules of Engagement) prohibit troops from firing into crowds, unless someone in the crowd is holding weapons. So it is believed that the FN 303 will allow troops to have some control over these Shia mobs.
The Shia quickly figured out what the FN 303 is (a souped up paint-ball gun), and are not very intimidated by it. Some troops would prefer to have shot guns, which can also fire a non (or much less) lethal round, as well as stuff that will kill or maim, and are more intimidating.
As I understand it, DARPA is testing the efficacy of hydro-elastic polymer-based hydration delivery crowd control systems, which the GIs have taken to calling "water balloons." Name calling and towel snapping are also under consideration.
Sigh.
A commenter at Strategy Page notes:
Cops like shotguns. Not the automatic kind (as you might think), but the old pump-action jobs. The ones which make that ominous "clickety-clack!" sound when you chamber a round.
The glorified paintball gun (the FN 303) is obviously nothing more than a completely non-lethal weapon, and can never be anything but a non-lethal weapon.A pump-action shotgun, on the other hand, can be loaded with anything. "Beanbag" rounds, gelatin balls filled with pork fat, "rubber bullets," rock salt, birdshot, double-ought buck, rifled slugs, even explosive rounds.
"Do you feel lucky, fellah?" Clickety-clack!
Thanks to the boneheads in charge, I'm guessing that, yeah, the terrorists do feel pretty lucky right about now.
What a bunch of maroons.
Posted by Mike Lief at November 30, 2006 06:52 AM
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Comments
This article is symbolic of a misguided role for American combat forces in the Iraq theatre of operations. U.S. Combat forces should not be acting as a police force. Our troops are incapable of police action. Iraqi security must quickly be upgraded to allow the nation to secure the peace while American forces are returned to the mission they are best prepared to carry out, war fighting.
Posted by: parrotfish9900 at December 1, 2006 11:24 PM
I like the idea of pump action shot gun. I especially like the idea of rounds with pork fat. Maybe we shouldn't be policemen there, but you can't have the men charged with crowd control and tie their hands behind their back.
Posted by: jim at December 4, 2006 09:08 AM
My uncle carried a shotgun during the Vietnam "police action." He says it was highly effective in the field.
Posted by: Mark at December 4, 2006 08:07 PM