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Terror Networks
Weapons: Turning VidCams Into Killers :
2006-10-30
Pakistani police have captured Taliban and al Qaeda personnel who were in possession of surveillance cameras. Apparently al Qaeda or Taliban bomb makers have been experimenting with the use of surveillance cameras in conjunction with command-detonated (via a wire or wireless) IEDs. Because American and NATO forces have so many jammers, wireless detonators are often useless. So by using cheap vidcams, a wire detonated roadside bomb could be watched without having any terrorists nearby. Since the American and NATO response is often so swift, the bomb detonation team is often in great danger when they try to get away. The battlefield is different in Afghanistan, where population density and distribution is quite different from Iraq. So new technologies are needed if the bomb teams are to survive.
Posted by:3dc

#4  This could be a good thing: since vidcams are relatively cheap, our forces could shoot out the fixed ones and see who comes in to fix the 'bait,' if its a good guy, give him a new one (with a secret feed, just in case, and if its a bad guy, well either give HIM a new one with the secret feed to find out where he is hiding out or just cap him then. mobile ones are going to be a bit harder, but its a start.
Posted by: USN, ret.   2006-10-30 17:19  

#3  This is an incredibly dangerous precedent - probably evolving from the use of just such videocams to "hunt" by remote control from some stupid bunch of butchers in Nevada or somewhere last year (they set up several remote cameras and a gun that you were supposed to be able to fire via the web to kill game with).

I have no objection to hunting (though I no longer do so myself - too many fools and idiots carrying weapons out in the hills and woods these days for my taste), but doing so without actually going into the great outdoors, doing so solely for the pleasure of the kill, and doing so without packing out and eating what you kill is simply wrong.

Back on point, however, this whole technology sets an incredibly dangerous precedent that can be used and abused by anyone anywhere in the world.

Posted by: FOTSGreg   2006-10-30 15:57  

#2  So we can kill anyone with vidcams?!?! We might accidentally get a few reporters...
Posted by: DarthVader   2006-10-30 12:06  

#1  It also lets them collect snuff films.
Posted by: Rob Crawford   2006-10-30 11:44  

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