Nations sign the ban on cluster bombs.

[Naked Gents Rut]

I wouldn't think our military will completely fall apart if we ban cluster bombs.

This is certainly the right way to approach questions about how to equip the military. Who cares about effectiveness so long as the military doesn't "completely fall apart"?

[Patroklos]

You can't have it both ways, damnit. Am I or am I not the Xbox 360 geek in this thread?

We are not talkin about an Xbox, we are talking about a Predator. This is not an Xbox title btw, that may have confused you.

My point escapes you, which is no surprise to me. Would you like me to lecture you on the concept of economies of scale? Xbox 360 controllers are sold at insane markups, even to wholesale buyers, because they are one of the avenues MS makes profit to make up for the losses on the actual Xbox 360 units.

Given that there are less than a few hundred UAVs all told in the military, feel free the speculate on the money it would take to reinvent the wheel vise using off the shelf immediately available parts.

Honestly, I feel like I am talking to a contractor, only you are far less convincing. "Those trash cans are great, but I can make them better!"

It is in the military's interest to purchase units that are lower cost that accomplish the same thing via an appropriations contract, and not buying game peripherals wholesale. It's a ripoff, and if you buy in bulk it adds up.

Do you honestly think we couldn't call up Microsoft and get 1,000,000 controlers for free given the value of our other contracts?

[Asher]

Originally posted by Patroklos


How can anyone here be charactarized as being in favor the (EVAL) military industrial complex? Its funny you say that when you are the one advocating using more of far more expensive weapons to achieve the same results.

Since when did a dozen predators cost "far more" than a B-52? Especially considering maintenance and pilot costs.

And don't pretend like you don't support the military industrial complex. We've all seen your posts on how we need more ships, more weapons, more moneeeyyyyyyyyyyyyy in more military.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Naked Gents Rut


This is certainly the right way to approach questions about how to equip the military. Who cares about effectiveness so long as the military doesn't "completely fall apart"?

Fine, let's stick with concern about effectiveness. Given the impressive array of arsenal and weapons the U.S. military has, I doubt a ban on cluster bombs will seriously diminish our forces' EFFECTIVENESS.

[Naked Gents Rut]

I doubt a ban on cluster bombs will seriously diminish our forces' EFFECTIVENESS.

Of course it will. More planes and more bombs will be needed to take out targets that could've been effectively eliminated with cluster bombs. That means there will be fewer planes and fewer bombs available to attack other targets.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Patroklos

We are not talkin about an Xbox, we are talking about a Predator. This is not an Xbox title btw, that may have confused you.

You seem to be confused. We're talking about the control mechanics of the Xbox 360 game pad. Not necessarily the Predator -- I never mentioned the two together, I mentioned some drones. I didn't know the Predator is controlled with the 360 gamepad -- that's extraordinarily pathetic if true.

FWIW, I've played Flight Simulator X with the Xbox 360 gamepad so I do believe I can speak quite well to how well it works for flight mechanics, which is to say it's doesn't.

Given that there are less than a few hundred UAVs all told in the military, feel free the speculate on the money it would take to reinvent the wheel vise using off the shelf immediately available parts.

Honestly, I feel like I am talking to a contractor, only you are far less convincing. "Those trash cans are great, but I can make them better!"

You have no idea how simple these gamepads are, do you? Why don't they get a third party one for cheaper, even? Why the official, marked up version? There's clearly no concept of cost control in the military.

Do you honestly think we couldn't call up Microsoft and get 1,000,000 controlers for free given the value of our other contracts?

I guarantee you you couldn't call up Microsoft and get 1,000,000 free controllers.

And I do say this in my field of expertise, as I deal with Microsoft on a large-scale business contract basis nearly daily. And my company is, for all intents and purposes, a MS shop...we don't only have big contracts with them, we're their go-to people for big projects they want to implement. It's a two-way relationship.

[Q Classic]

their, not they're, before the go-to.

And you're right, they should be using the wiimote.

[Asher]

Also, disclaimer: US DoD is one of our clients.

[Lefty Scaevola]

Irony?

Originally posted by Naked Gents Rut
I'm not a sexual deviant like you.

[SlowwHand]

Originally posted by Traianvs


So, why don't you agree?

guerrilla or guerilla n. A member of an irregular, usually indigenous military or paramilitary unit operating in small bands in occupied territory.

In the strictest sense, a city under siege could be said to house guerilla fighters, but that's not the norm.
Given the circumstances of a city siege, where combatants are nestled in among civilians, what do you propose be done? Ignore them?
Offer an alternative.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Patroklos
I bet bullets have a similar percentage.

I'm not all that sure that bullets continue killing people decades after the conflict in which they were fired.

[Lefty Scaevola]

Lead ones do, but in overall effect, allbeit less sudden and dramatic than explosions, one of the greatest hazards to civilian heatlh left over from combat is polution. Spiiled fuels, solvents, other machine fluids, various toxins left from explosions and fire, and other such.

[chequita guevara]

point well made

[SlowwHand]

Thousands, millions, of year old rocks.
No telling where this could end, if the main concern is errant weaponry years after the fact, rather than the here and now. Bend me, shape me, anyway you want me?

[chequita guevara]

That is the main concern, yes. While it is true that American munitions like both landmines and cluster ****s are designed to destroy themselves or become inert after a period of time (I've read six months), not all of them do. Since we are dealing with tens of thousands of such weapons, the number which still have the capacity to kill even years later is frighteningly high.