# What is this "secret weapon"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 9, 2008, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839 "2008-09-09T20:18:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839/21 "2008-09-10T01:42:22Z")
My guess is a very high powered laser on a Predator or Global Hawk, something that you can kill with just as quickly as you can ID them. Throw in some enhanced optics and facial recognition software, and pretty soon you’ll see little puffs of smoke everywhere. It’ll be like a teeny version of – remember all the pics of the burning Kuwaiti oil wells? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839/22 "2008-09-10T02:52:50Z")
Kinda like a high-tech scale-up of killing ants with a magnifying glass? ---
**Author:** ![Caveat\_lector\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@Caveat\_lector\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caveat_lector_1)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839/23 "2008-09-10T03:03:01Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > My guess is a very high powered laser on a Predator or Global Hawk, something that you can kill with just as quickly as you can ID them. Throw in some enhanced optics and facial recognition software, and pretty soon you’ll see little puffs of smoke everywhere. It’ll be like a teeny version of – remember all the pics of the burning Kuwaiti oil wells? This I doubt. I just read an article that discussed how, for now at least, any weaponized laser would act more like napalm and cause severe burns rather then just strait out kill. I can’t find the article though. I’m betting its some special forces team or some such myself. Maybe they’ve even managed to gets some actual human intelligence from inside the insurgent organizations. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839/24 "2008-09-10T03:08:21Z")
> [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](#): > > I hope it’s blinding lasers, and expressly forbidden by the Geneva Convention. That’d be pretty super. > > Oh, and to head people off at the pass: unless you’re exceedingly clever with it, a 1920’s-style “Death Ray” joke won’t be funny. People are still making those? Kyrie. They were old before I left. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839/25 "2008-09-10T03:46:41Z")
> [@rbroome](#): > > I have no idea, but it sounds like a contractor is unsure of next year’s funding and felt the need to do a bit of viral marketing. Oct 1 isn’t far away-if they haven’t heard about their funding by now it is time for some dramatic steps. That sounds plausible. If such a weapon exists outside of Woodward’s imagination, I expect that it’ll be some overly expensive, oversold gadget that turns out to be useless in this situation. [QUOTE=Boyo Jim] My guess is a very high powered laser on a Predator or Global Hawk, something that you can kill with just as quickly as you can ID them. Throw in some enhanced optics and facial recognition software, and pretty soon you’ll see little puffs of smoke everywhere. [/QUOTE] Even assuming that lasers and facial recognition were good enough for that to be possible, it still wouldn’t work. First, because most Iraqis justifiable support killing their occupiers, so the people you kill would just be replaced by new recruits. And second, because the entire population of the country would start wearing face coverings, and stay indoors as much as possible; both to support the “insurgents”, and because they aren’t stupid enough to trust us. Congratulations; we’ve actually discovered a way to make burkhas popular with Iraqi women. And men too. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839/26 "2008-09-10T05:33:04Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > My guess is a very high powered laser on a Predator or Global Hawk, something that you can kill with just as quickly as you can ID them. Throw in some enhanced optics and facial recognition software, and pretty soon you’ll see little puffs of smoke everywhere. It’ll be like a teeny version of – remember all the pics of the burning Kuwaiti oil wells? Unless they’re making Global Hawks the size of 747’s that aint gonna happen. ---
**Author:** ![puppygod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@puppygod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puppygod)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839/27 "2008-09-10T09:14:50Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Unless they’re making Global Hawks the size of 747’s that aint gonna happen. Actually, [C-130 is enough](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Tactical_Laser). ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839/28 "2008-09-10T09:39:43Z")
Does [this](http://www.segway.com) come in a military version? I don’t think it’s a weapon, more of a way to find guys who have previously remained hidden. No technology is going to remove the need to identify and locate the target. Once they’re identified and located, you don’t need new technology, soldiers with rifles (or planes with bombs) will do the job just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839/29 "2008-09-10T13:22:22Z")
> [@Jurph](#): > > 1. Them that knows don’t talk. > 2. Them that talks don’t know. Ah, the Bullshitter’s Credo. It doesn’t really work unless you let a bit more ‘slip’ and make it ‘obvious’ you can’t talk. Nice try, though. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839/30 "2008-09-10T13:54:12Z")
The Internet. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839/31 "2008-09-10T14:04:03Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Ah, the Bullshitter’s Credo. It doesn’t really work unless you let a bit more ‘slip’ and make it ‘obvious’ you can’t talk. Nice try, though. Conrad ‘Connie’ Brean: And it’s most certainly NOT about the B-3 bomber. John Levy: There is no B-3 bomber. Conrad ‘Connie’ Brean: I just said that! There is no B-3 bomber. I don’t know how these rumors get started! [right]-- _Wag The Dog_[/right] Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839/32 "2008-09-10T15:19:24Z")
Blue-skying, here. Rooftop installation. Equipped with facial recognition, & robotic control. And a rifle, with silencer. Build it small/disguised. An auto-sniper? ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839/33 "2008-09-10T16:19:48Z")
Sharks with friggin lasers on their heads? ---
**Author:** ![joemama24\_98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce7236/32.png) [@joemama24\_98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joemama24_98)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839/34 "2008-09-10T17:11:25Z")
[This?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nude_Bomb) Would send them screaming ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839/35 "2008-09-10T17:25:53Z")
It’s the Neutron Bomb for a single building. When you get a report that an Al-Qaeda operative is in a building, you kill everyone in it. Foreign civilian deaths don’t matter and there’s no property damage. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839/36 "2008-09-10T19:26:31Z")
I think “Task Force 145” is what he’s talking about: [Joint Special Operations Command Task Force in the Iraq War - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Task_Force_145) It would meet Woodward’s statement of identifying and taking out targets. I think the interviewer was the one steering the concept towards a weapon. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839/37 "2008-09-10T20:46:32Z")
Venn ist das nurnstuck git und slotermeyer? Ya! Beigerhund das oder die flipperwaldt gersput! ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839/38 "2008-09-10T20:50:35Z")
If it were TF14-something, then the whole program would just be the old Phoenix program reborn. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839/39 "2008-09-11T00:06:45Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > …Even assuming that lasers and facial recognition were good enough for that to be possible, it still wouldn’t work. First, because most Iraqis justifiable support killing their occupiers, so the people you kill would just be replaced by new recruits. And second, because the entire population of the country would start wearing face coverings, and stay indoors as much as possible; both to support the “insurgents”, and because they aren’t stupid enough to trust us. Congratulations; we’ve actually discovered a way to make burkhas popular with Iraqi women. And men too. I didn’t say it was a good idea, or morally justified, or some kind of long-term solution to anything. Just that, if they haved amped up the power and shrunk down the size of a laser that can punch a hole through someone’s head in a millisecond, this is just what they’d do with it. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2008, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839/40 "2008-09-11T00:22:51Z")
FUrther, we have no internet video of Ali AL-Capone drilled with a laser hole in one ear and out the other. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-secret-weapon/462839.md?page=3)