Somali Terrorist Blown to Bits

[Savaric]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,334531,00.html

This has to be the coolest way to kill terrorists. One moment your sitting in your shanty tent with your trusty ak by your side, the next moment you're just pieces of meat. I mean, the amount of precision, technology, and just utter sophistication of cruise missiles is really quite amazing. It's like being struck down by God's own hand .

[Aristotle]

Originally posted by Savaric
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,334531,00.html

This has to be the coolest way to kill terrorists.

I don't disapprove of these actions, but I think "coolest" is the wrong way to describe having to kill another human being - no matter how evil (or deserving) they are.

I fear the inevitable flame war caused by this, and I am concerned by the possibility that you chose that word specifically to tweak the noses of people you disagree with. If the latter is the case, that is outright trolling.

I am asking people in advance to just ignore his use of "coolest", and either discuss the situation itself or just let this thread pass them by.

[Pyrosama]

Originally posted by Savaric
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,334531,00.html

I mean, the amount of precision, technology, and just utter sophistication of cruise missiles is really quite amazing. It's like being struck down by God's own hand .

Not really. Technology isn't something that evolved overnight and destroying terrorists isn't something we sought in the last day or two. There's a lot more hard work involved in developing these sorts of systems than the efforts required from a God in order to achieve the same result. There are also a lot more struggles that we as human beings experience when making decisions that require judgement against others. There is no comparison or likeness.

If you've been involved in the evolution of technology and systems, especially SDLC, you'd have a greater appreciation for the hard work involved in creating systems that deliver the results you find to be so amazing.

Just a thought.

[Rosuav]

Regarding precision placement of explosive power, I think that "cool" isn't completely wrong. Who can fail to be impressed by the simplicity and success of the Dambusters? But maybe some other word would be more appropriate... impressive? Not sure, my brain's half-fried at the moment and my thesaurus is out of order. Ever since aeroplanes first dropped munitions back in the early 20th century, precision has been an issue. Carpet-bombing is way too expensive. Today we have missiles and GPS-guided bombs that can be aimed, not just at a building, but at a particular _window_ in that building. And technologically, that's pretty neat stuff.

As to methods of blowing up terrorists though... frankly, I don't think it makes all that much difference. The difference is that this is, hopefully, a method of NOT blowing up NON-terrorists. And that's a lot harder. In this instance, it said something about 8 wounded; that's better than flattening a city to dispose of one international criminal, but it can still stand some further improvement. This is where billions of research dollars are going all the time, and I think it's a Good Thing.

[Achtius]

Okay, you guys are probably right about the whole not cool to say anything about a "cool" way to kill someone, but even still I am a huge fan of explosions. I work on C-130's as a pastime ( I am forced to consider it a hobby since my pay for doing it blows) and I can't get enough of the MOAB, granted it has never seen any use in conflict but I will be the first to admit that my first reaction to seeing it incenerate an entire city would be sheer glee. Remorse might come as an afterthought.

[Savaric]

Originally posted by Aristotle
I fear the inevitable flame war caused by this, and I am concerned by the possibility that you chose that word specifically to tweak the noses of people you disagree with. If the latter is the case, that is outright trolling.

No, I don't create threads with other forum members in mind.

Even our own government has a policy of "destroying" terrorists wherever they are. Terrorists are faceless; they aren't people. The same way serial killers aren't people. They have no humanity. Being human goes beyond just having a certain genome.

For anyone not familiar with me I was in the military for 5 years. I love guns, military technology and warfare. I can spend an hour watching a show (Weaponology) on the ten greatest military rifles. That's the way I am. So yea, cruise missiles + terrorists = good fun.