Military secret weapons!

[tracer]

In Cecil's latest article, at http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010406.html, he states:

Another possible use of nonfatal doses of noise is "acoustic weapons," now under secret development by the military.

If acoustic weapons are under secret development by the military, how do we know about 'em?

[MEBuckner]

Loose lips sink ships.

[friedo]

Surely Cecil, Great Knower of Things, has contacts in top secret offices underneath the Pentagon, who communicate messages to Him via hidden morse-code in government-operated television broadcasts, like The O'Reilly Factor.

[SACLOS]

Do a search, they're "white" (or "grey") projects: publically known and acknowledged and pretty much known, in principle, how to work. The only "secret", I suppose, is the blue prints. In that case, the 2001 Camery is "secret".

[Kid_Gilligan]

I'm nervous about one thing, though.

If they're doing research on acoustic weapons, I hope they're being careful with the word Mu'adib.

(Did I spell that right?)

[friedo]

Not to mention the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything.

That's a well-kept secret.

[SACLOS]

the government's keeping that wrap up tightest of all. Wouldn't want ot cede (spelling?) "power to the people".

[Loren Pechtel]

Originally posted by SACLOS
Do a search, they're "white" (or "grey") projects: publically known and acknowledged and pretty much known, in principle, how to work. The only "secret", I suppose, is the blue prints. In that case, the 2001 Camery is "secret".

There also can be systems about which *SOMETHING* is known but nowhere near all the details.

For example, there's probably a new generation spy plane. Hypersonic (~Mach 6) and it probably has some sort of exotic engine. Codename is likely Aurora.

People used to go out and spy on the base in Area 51, but the rules have been changed, the hill in question is now restricted. (It's a long hike from anyplace a vehicle could go. They goofed, however, and allowed a hill to be public territory that overlooks the airport there.)

[SACLOS]

I should have made it more clear that "acoustic weapons" are very "white" to "grey". There seems to be little reason to keep them secret a' la Aurora. The same could be said of microwave "soft kill" weapons. I was trying to explain why he would know about them, or rather why he could know so much about them.

For your example specificly, I don't trust the "something"s that are known about "secret" projects. One piece of "evidence" can and has been spun into an entire program history. I also don't trust folksy speculation. I saw a "report" on Extra (don't ask, I didn't intend to catch this. It was just on.) about UFOs and secret government aircraft. The "report" (far from being what anyone would call journalism with a straight face) ended with a shot of a high flying plane and the "give ya' something to think about" line: "as we were about to leave this mysterious craft flew overhead." It was broad day light. It was also CLEARY, UN-AMBIGUOSLY a B-52. I bet a real plane nut could even tell you model.

This is not a criticism of you, just an explaination of what I meant and why I reacted the way I did. Should have said before, that's on my head.

[tracer]

But B-52s are mysterious aircraft. It's a total mystery to me how after 40 years of damn near continuous use, they still manage to keep 'em flying!

[SACLOS]

I hear that.

I know I have no reason to be nostalgic, but I'd like to see a small number continue in non-combat roles until the 100th anniversary of the first operational airframe.

But that's completely off topic.