The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is the central research and development organization for the Department of Defense (DoD).
They have created a self-healing, self-hopping landmine network.
The mines are provided with an ability to reform their barrier by jumping up to 90 feet at a time after the minefield is penetrated.
For example – during the Iran-Iraq war, in Vietnam, in Afghanistan and other wars –soldiers would take children or prisoners and walk them ahead into a mine fieldto clear it.
DARPA developed the mines for three reasons:
1. Stop troops from marching through a breach in a minefield
2. Double use out of anti-tank mines asanti-personnel mines
3. They are cheap and easy to deploy. They use the same technology employed in department stores to connect cash registers together
Some of the mines use rockets to move while others have a hopping mechanism that will allow them to hop over 100 times.
"Since the minefield is no longer a static obstacle, an open breach cannot be maintained," DARPA has posted on their web site. "The Self-Healing Minefield forces the enemy to attack the minefield and deplete the antitank mines surrounding the breaching lane by either repeated as saults or a wide area breach/clearance."
There is an animation at this web site :
http://www.darpa.mil/ato/programs/SHM/index.html#
DARPA has already run tests with the hopping mines and wants to the U.S. Army to use them.
These mine fields can be fooled with a five dollar piece of equipment from Radio Shack.
I believe that DARPA needs to have a close review of its programs.

Cite your sources for the crap about using children to clear minefields in Vietnem.

I can also point out that the U.S. does NOT sell landmines to other countries, and the U.S. has made an effort to make landmines that degrage and no longer become dangerous after a while.

Dammit.

Prove what you are talking about.

You're not making any sense.

Originally posted by cranston36
Prove what you are talking about.

You're not making any sense.
Burden of proof, buddy. YOU have to prove what YOU are talking about.

I don't think he meant our soldiers used kids to "walk the field". He just stated that it was a tactic used by soldiers in the Iran-Iraq war, Vietnam, and in Afghanistan.

cranston,

What part of my post do you not understand? I thought my post was pretty damn clear.

I stated in my post that the United States does NOT

1. Sell landmines to other countries.

2. Is making landmines that will self destruct after a period of time.

I can also point out that the U.S. spends massive amounts of money clearing old and dangerous minefields left by OTHER armies/countries.

Here's (http://www.state.gov/t/pm/rls/fs/30044.htm) a link backing up ALL I've claimed. Read it and weep.

NOW, in your post, YOU implied that U.S. soldiers used Vietnames children to clear minefields. I've asked you to cite your sources backing up that claim. Dammit.

Frankly, I'm not against using landmines in the context of an old-fashioned military vs. military full-out land war (like maybe NATO v. Warsaw Pact in the Fulda Gap). The only place I can think of something like that happening would be Korea. War is hell, as they say.

But anyway, DARPA's role is to be forward thinking, anything is fair game, think tank sort of place where people are allowed to think up and develop wild ideas that may or may not actually become something. Like the internet, for example. But the fact that they've come up with this doesn't mean that it will ever actually see the light of day.

Originally posted by The Praetorian
I don't think he meant our soldiers used kids to "walk the field". He just stated that it was a tactic used by soldiers in the Iran-Iraq war, Vietnam, and in Afghanistan.

I've heard several stories about "our" soldiers in Vietnam doing things far worse than just making kids walks minefields " and these stories were from people who were actually there".. Back then there were a lot of people in the military that were on drugs, and I'm sure we all know by now that people on drugs have no real control over what they do.. :(


Anyone one here familiar with Lt Cally and the My-Lai massacre back during the Vietnam war? For those of you that do, that's how all of that "baby-killer" crap got started back then.

For those that are too young to remember, heres a little info on it : http://www.dreamscape.com/morgana/mylai.htm

Originally posted by Darth Be'lal
I can also point out that the U.S. does NOT sell landmines to other countries

At present, the U.S. doesn't sell them.

But what is being overlooked [or covered up] by that statement is the fact that a huge portion of the 100 million or so still estimated to be in the ground --and that still maim or kill an estimated 26,000 people each year--- WERE sold by the US prior to discontinuing sale of them.

There's no sense in crying over spilt milk, FT. What's done is done, and I'm pretty sure that of the 26,000 people you mentioned in which are killed by mines annually, not all of them die because of us. Lots of countries have used mines over the last century. Do you think they picked ‘em all up??? I highly doubt it…

Originally posted by The Praetorian
There's no sense in crying over spilt milk, FT.

Right.

The US government has been responsible for the indiscriminate death of untold tens or hundred of thousands of innocent people throughout the world because of its cold-blooded militarism and aggressive imperialism, [as is the the case currently with the millions of remaining landmines] but hey!, it's all just *spilt milk*, so let's not "cry" about it.

Originally posted by The Praetorian
I'm pretty sure that of the 26,000 people you mentioned in which are killed by mines annually, not all of them die because of us.

I agree completely on that point.

I seriously doubt that ""all"" of the 26,000 that die each year die because of landmines that came from the US.

Just most of them.

But, once again, since it highlights the despicable and anti-human policies and actions of the US, let's just sweep it under the rug and forget about it.

A) I don't think the wars we've fought over the years, with the exception of say, Vietnam, have been entirely "indiscriminate". Remember, it was during war when US forces laid the mines that are, unfortunately, still accidentally killing people today.

B) What would you have us do to correct the problem? Please keep your answer within practical boundaries.

But, once again, since it highlights the despicable and anti-human policies and actions of the US, let's just sweep it under the rug and forget about it.
And finally, C) Where do you come up with some of the shit you do, FT??? How, with all the mayhem and chaos in the world, did the United States win the right of your unbridled hatred?

Originally posted by The Praetorian

B) What would you have us do to correct the problem? Please keep your answer within practical boundaries.

Give reparations to the injured parties.....begin a concentrated effort to remove every remaining landmine placed by the US, paid for by the USCorporations who manufactured the deadly weaponry and whose profits came at a cost of many thousands of innocent people's deaths.


Originally posted by The Praetorian
Where do you come up with some of the shit you do, FT??? How, with all the mayhem and chaos in the world, did the United States win the right of your unbridled hatred?

For one thing, the political leadership in the US is a leading sponsor and cause of mayhem and chaos throughout the world, and its number one exporter of terrorism.

I just like to relentlessly call attention to the actions and imperialist policies of the US that have caused so much pain and suffering throughout the world...........is that "hatred"??

"Give reparations to the injured parties" - You must be joking...

How uber-liberal of you.

paid for by the USCorporations who manufactured the deadly weaponry and whose profits came at a cost of many thousands of innocent people's deaths.
What part of them doing their job do you not understand? I wouldn't mind if there were a unified fund for all countries who've planted land mines in the past to ante up a couple million a year in an COLLECTIVE effort to help clear the fields, but for us to take on the task ourselves is totally asinine, and to expect it is even more so...

I just like to relentlessly call attention to the actions and imperialist policies of the US that have caused so much pain and suffering throughout the world...........is that "hatred"??
I think, given some of your prior statements, that it's fairly safe to assume you hate this country. Yes, it's hatred...

Originally posted by The Praetorian
"Give reparations to the injured parties" - You must be joking...

You ASKED me what I would do to address the problem. I told you.

Originally posted by The Praetorian
How uber-liberal of you.

Thank you.

I wear that label proudly.


Originally posted by The Praetorian
What part of them doing their job do you not understand? I wouldn't mind if there were a unified fund for all countries who've planted land mines in the past to ante up a couple million a year in an COLLECTIVE effort to help clear the fields, but for us to take on the task ourselves is totally asinine, and to expect it is even more so...

I do not *expect* it.

I do not think it will ever come to pass.....in fact, i am quite certain that it WON'T ever be done. You ASKED me what I would do to correct the problem. I told you.

Originally posted by The Praetorian
I think, given some of your prior statements, that it's fairly safe to assume you hate this country. Yes, it's hatred...

I don't hate the country.....just its recent turn toward a kinder-gentler brand of hard-right Fascism.

Thinker,

Do you have any phucking idea just how close I've just come to dropping my rule of not someone personally and calling every god-damned name in the book?

Thanks for showing me that you failed to read the link I posted and instead just started talking out of your ass!


As it is, the United States spends more money than anyone else on the planet to REMOVE landmines place BY OTHER PEOPLE! AMERICA REMOVES LANDMINES PLACED BY OTHER PEOPLE! Is that too many syllables for you? In addition to that WE ALREADY PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INJURED BY LANDMINES. PLUS, we are designing landmines that self destruct after a certain period of time.

The U.S. is not a terrorist organization. We do not fly planes into buildings, we do not encourage people to strap bombs onto themselves and blow up buses and restaurants full of people, we do NOT shoot scores of protestors and pass out medals to the shooters (read tianemen square for those who don't know already).

You know, thinker, if you don't like the U.S., and it's apparent you don't, you can always get the hell out. Be very careful posting anything bad about the U.S. 'cause I'll nail you. You've been warned.

Is it too damn much for people to read a link I posted?

Originally posted by Darth Be'lal
Thinker,

Do you have any phucking idea just how close I've just come to dropping my rule of not someone personally and calling every god-damned name in the book?

Oh, even though you have retained your saintly composure, I'm sure you have been mightily phucking tempted.

Those who are accustomed to being the unquestioned ruling political ideology cannot bear to be criticized or have their political system's anti-human policies and acts exposed.

Originally posted by Darth Be'lal
Thanks for showing me that you failed to read the link I posted

I read it.

It's a US government website. There is no surprse that they toot their own horn while neglecting to mention that a great many of the people who've been harmed or killed by landmines suffered that consequence specifically because of US policies in the first place.


Originally posted by Darth Be'lal
As it is, the United States spends more money than anyone else on the planet

They should. They have placed [or been the direct cause of the placement of] more landmines than anyone else on earth.

Originally posted by Darth Be'lal
to REMOVE landmines placed BY OTHER PEOPLE!

They should. They have made more money from the manufacture of landmines than any other people.

Originally posted by Darth Be'lal
AMERICA REMOVES LANDMINES PLACED BY OTHER PEOPLE! In addition to that WE ALREADY PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INJURED BY LANDMINES.

Yep, that's what the link says.

Originally posted by Darth Be'lal
PLUS, we are designing landmines that self destruct after a certain period of time.

Which is a bit like a person who has been abusing their wife for years bragging---"Nowadays, I only slap her around a little bit when she needs it".

Originally posted by Darth Be'lal
The U.S. is not a terrorist organization. We do not fly planes into buildings, we do not encourage people to strap bombs onto themselves and blow up buses and restaurants full of people, we do NOT shoot scores of protestors and pass out medals to the shooters

But we do stride across the globe leaving a trail of devastation in our wake, waging wars and military campaigns [the following partial list of "interventions" for which the United States is responsible comes to mind; *600,000 civilians were killed in Cambodia by US bombing between 1969 and 1975. -- * Over 500,000 people were killed in Laos when America subjected that country to “secret bombing” from 1964 to 1973 -- *200,000 people were killed when the Philippines were conquered by American forces-- *23,000 people were slaughtered in Taiwan by US-backed, trained, equipped, and funded forces -- *200,000 were slaughtered in East Timor in 1975 by General Suharto with US support] for the sake of profits for US Corporations, and we do overthrow legitimately elected foreign leaders and replace them with brutal dictators for the purpose of opening those countries up to exploitation by US Big Business interests.

* In 1953, the CIA helped overthrow Muhammad Mussadegh, the elected prime minister of Iran; he was replaced by the Shah.

* In 1954, the CIA organized the ouster of Guatemalan President Jacobo Arbenz Guzman, and his replacement by a military dictator.

* In 1960, the CIA helped undermine Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, the only legitimately elected leader in Congolese history. He was killed the following year. The US-backed, corrupt and brutal dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko then dominated Congo for decades.

* In 1973, the CIA conspired against Chilean President Salvador Allende, who committed suicide after being overthrown by Gen. Augusto Pinochet.

Those coups overthrew leftist governments that represented a threat to the economic interests of US corporations. For example, Mussadegh had just nationalized Iran's oil. Arbenz had pushed through a law allowing the Guatemalan government to buy and redistribute land from major landowners [such as U.S.-based United Fruit Co] whether or not the landowners wanted to sell.


Originally posted by Darth Be'lal
[B] You know, thinker, if you don't like the U.S., and it's apparent you don't, you can always get the hell out. Be very careful posting anything bad about the U.S. 'cause I'll nail you. You've been warned.

I will tell only the truth about what the US has done. You've been assured.

Originally posted by Freethinker
You ASKED me what I would do to address the problem. I told you.
OK, fair enough, albeit not entirely practical.

Originally posted by Freethinker
I do not *expect* it.

I do not think it will ever come to pass.....in fact, i am quite certain that it WON'T ever be done. You ASKED me what I would do to correct the problem. I told you.
The same answer given above doesn't hold water seeing as to how in my original request, I asked that you keep your answer within practical boundaries. That being said, if you believe that this solution won't ever come to pass, then how is it a practical fix?

Originally posted by Freethinker
I don't hate the country.....just its recent turn toward a kinder-gentler brand of hard-right Fascism.
FT, how many presidents have we had that you liked? Are we a free democracy? Do we do good things for others?

Here are some "cherry-picked" questions for you to ponder over, and given the nature of your typical responses, I already think it's safe to assume that you dislike the very fabric and foundation that our country is built on. If you can define this as something other than hate, or a strong dislike, then I'm all ears.

Originally posted by The Praetorian
The same answer given above doesn't hold water seeing as to how in my original request, I asked that you keep your answer within practical boundaries. That being said, if you believe that this solution won't ever come to pass, then how is it a practical fix?

The ways of addressing the problem that I was proposed were entirely within reasonable boundaries.

The fact that the Neo-Cons in charge will never apply them has nothing to do with its being practical or not.

Originally posted by The Praetorian
FT, how many presidents have we had that you liked?

In my lifetime?

Zero.

Originally posted by The Praetorian
Are we a free democracy?

Ostensibly, yes.

In reality, No.

The US, politically, is now under the rule of fascism [which is simply another way of saying *Corporatism*] .......societally, it is an oligarchy where the elite control the ignorant masses thru complete control of all (mainstream) sources for the dissemination of information........the extreme gullibility and complacency of the Public that is a necessary prerequisite for such control is accomplished thru the systematic indoctrination of every citizen with a fatalistic, black-and-white, faith-oriented way of looking at the world and processing information. IOW, thru indoctrinatiing the herd to have a religious mindset.

[i]Originally posted by The Praetorian
Do we do good things for others?

Absolutely.

We will do good things PROVIDED it is in the best economic interests of some Corporation or other.

But, IF it should turn out to be in the best interests of some Corporation or other to do so, we will also use our vast military superiority to kill any person or group of persons and overthrow any country that gets in the way of Corporate profits.

So effectively, you answered no to all three questions. Where I'm most inclined to agree with you is in regards to the last question. We are self-serving, but I don't think that doing good things for others ever needs a qualifier.

Thinker,

I'm astounded by the rampant ignorane you have posted about U.S. corporations and won't even try to come up with a response. My only advice is that whatever it is you smoke, put it down!

Also, I'd like you to site sources on the idea that the U.S. placed most of the landmines that are killing people. That is patently untrue.

Then there is all this crap you post about the evils the U.S. did throughout the world. Never mind the good we did in Western Europe, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. All democracies and all thriving, thanks to the U.S. You forget Stalin and the Gulags, Pol Pot, Moa Tse Dung, Ho Chi Minh, the Khmer Rougue. All which slughtered people on a scale that would dwarf what the Nazis done. But in your book, only atrocities committed by the U.S. (not true, but there you are) are the ones you remember.

Originally posted by Darth Be'lal
Thinker,

I'm astounded by the rampant ignorane you have posted about U.S. corporations and won't even try to come up with a response.

Quite the contrary....I believe I gave a very clear response.

As to my posting **ignorane* here, your rushing in and sniffingly proclaiming it "ignorance" fails to impress or convince. You seem to me the person who is incapable of a response or refutation.


Originally posted by Darth Be'lal
Then there is all this crap you post about the evils the U.S. did throughout the world. Never mind the good we did in Western Europe, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.

You seem to be infected with the same childlike *black-or-white* mindset that possesses so many of your Rightwing ideological brethren.

It's true that the US fought some very necessary battles in Western Europe and laid the groundwork for democracy to flourish there after WWII. But the fact that the US has done "good" things in the past does nothing to negate the fact that they have also done some very harmful things----as I recounted in detailing the humndreds of thousands of deaths in Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Taiwan and East Timor that the the US is responsible for---and that is WITHOUT going into detail about the millions of US-caused deaths in Korea, Guatemala, Indonesia, Cuba, Congo, Peru, Grenada, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Iraq, Sudan or Afghanistan.

Originally posted by Darth Be'lal
You forget Stalin and the Gulags, Pol Pot, Moa Tse Dung, Ho Chi Minh, the Khmer Rougue.

I'm sorry, but I cannot seem to locate the post where I indicated that I had *forgotten* any of those people.

Originally posted by Darth Be'lal
All which slughtered people on a scale that would dwarf what the Nazis done.

It is generally agreed by historians that the Nazis were responsible for the deaths of well over 8 million people....with estimates ranging upwards of 13 million.

Stalin and Mao did kill many millions of people.

But Ho Chi Minh --according to encyclopedia sources--is responsible for less than 1.5 million deaths.

Pol Pol and the Khmer Rouge are believed responsible for the deaths of 1.7 million.

IOW, your puerile little ***they all slaughtered people on a scale that would dwarf what the Nazis done*** claim is demonstrated to be patently FALSE.

Originally posted by Darth Be'lal
But in your book, only atrocities committed by the U.S. are the ones you remember.

I have never suggested in any way, shape, form or fashion that other deaths should be disregarded or that I am not aware of the other deaths you've mentioned.

You're entirely wrong, and I just demonstrated it.

First off thinker, for one who makes the blanket declaration "For one thing, the political leadership in the US is a leading sponsor and cause of mayhem and chaos throughout the world, and its number one exporter of terrorism" who the hell are you to accuse me of seeing in black and white? Doesn't seem like you are seeing any good in the U.S. at all.

The reason I didn't get into the discussion about your ideas of "evil corporations" is that I sat there and stared in amazement knowing that the computer you use, the gas you buy, the medicine you get, the car you drive are all the results of the "evil corporations" you so despise. Ignorance on that level I can't do much about. How's that for a reply?

And you failed to get my reply that you seemed to have forgotten about the atrocities commited by Pol Pot, Ho Chi Min etc. What I was seeing is that you seem to only record the evils done by the U.S. I guess only those count. And yes taken together, between China, Russia, North Korea, North Vietnem have killed people on a scale that dwarfed what the Nazis had done. Dammit.

Originally posted by Darth Be'lal
The reason I didn't get into the discussion about your ideas of "evil corporations" is that I sat there and stared in amazement knowing that the computer you use, the gas you buy, the medicine you get, the car you drive are all the results of the "evil corporations" you so despise. Ignorance on that level I can't do much about. How's that for a reply?

Incredibly lame.

Originally posted by Darth Be'lal
And you failed to get my reply that you seemed to have forgotten about the atrocities commited by Pol Pot, Ho Chi Min etc.

?!?!?!?

I replied to it in full.

I said that I could not locate the post where I said that I'd **forgotten** about them.

In fact, I am well aware of them. I have not forgotten them at all.

Is that clear enough for you??

Originally posted by Darth Be'lal
And yes taken together, between China, Russia, North Korea, North Vietnem have killed people on a scale that dwarfed what the Nazis had done. Dammit.

You're once again exposed for a falsehood.

NOW you attempt to change your allegation to *together* they have killed people on a scale that has dwarfed the Nazis.

BZZZZZZZZT.

Sorry. That is not what you previously stated.

You named various countries and said , and I quote, ---**"all of which have slaughtered people on a scale that would dwarf what the Nazis done"**.

*"all of which"** is undeniably an assertion that every one of the named countries have slaughtered more people than the Nazis were responsible for killing.

Laughably false.

Originally posted by Freethinker
Incredibly lame.


In other words, you can't think of an intelligent response, so you call names.

I hate to go 'round and 'round on these damn things.

First off thinker, in my comment that you seem to have forgotten attrocities committed by other countries, what I mean to say, and obviously you still haven't got it, is that the attrocities you remember most are the ones committed by the U.S. You claim that I see things in black and white, yet your comment about terrorism being the chief export of terrorism throughout the world shows that your vision of the U.S. is decidedly monochomatic.

Also, my comments about corporations being, as you called it, lame is ludicrous. Your life has been greatly enhanced, extended and has far more luxury in it thanks to corporations. From pharmaceuticals providing anti-biotics to cures for an entire spectrum of diseases, to the computer you are using. There is nothing lame about that.

And yes, you are right, attrocities being committed by Kim Jong Il, Pol Pot and so forth do NOT equal what the Nazis did, at least in scale. But the brutality.....