Posted on 11/04/2009 6:53:44 AM PST by BGHater
Despite major bombings that have rattled the nation, and fears of rising violence as American troops withdraw, Iraq’s security forces have been relying on a device to detect bombs and weapons that the United States military and technical experts say is useless.
The small hand-held wand, with a telescopic antenna on a swivel, is being used at hundreds of checkpoints in Iraq. But the device works “on the same principle as a Ouija board” — the power of suggestion — said a retired United States Air Force officer, Lt. Col. Hal Bidlack, who described the wand as nothing more than an explosives divining rod.
Still, the Iraqi government has purchased more than 1,500 of the devices, known as the ADE 651, at costs from $16,500 to $60,000 each. Nearly every police checkpoint, and many Iraqi military checkpoints, have one of the devices, which are now normally used in place of physical inspections of vehicles.
With violence dropping in the past two years, Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki has taken down blast walls along dozens of streets, and he contends that Iraqis will safeguard the nation as American troops leave.
But the recent bombings of government buildings here have underscored how precarious Iraq remains, especially with the coming parliamentary elections and the violence expected to accompany them.
The sensor device, known as the ADE 651, from $16,500 to $60,000 each. Iraq has bought more than 1,500 of the devices.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
True story - our own military used dowsing rods to find underground bunkers during the Vietnam war. I saw the pictures of them being trained.
I can find water with two copper or steel rods so that part works. I can find disturbed soil also. Why won't it lead me to Gold or something use full?
ping
The early Europeans used rods to find precious medals.
I've always wondered why the Bible refered to "a rod AND a staff". If the rod wasn't used to find water etc., what did they use it for? Why carry two?
I'll have to ponder over that one a little bit.
This has a lot to do with the education level of Iraqi’s.
These are the same guys who when told that Wiley-X sunglasses allowed us to see through their clothes tried to cover up their privates.
There are many good people here. Just a few are causeing all the problems. Most Iraqi’s are war weary and just want to live in peace. The younger Iraqi’s want to wear western clothes and do the same things Americans do.
You’re on to something here. What matters is that Iraqis who’d plant bombs THINK the bomb detectors work.
OK, you may think I’m nuts, but I can only tell you what I have experienced. I am a degreed Mechanical Engineer, and I know what I’m about to say is foolishness, but it happened on more than one occasion...
I was working on a local natural gas company installation crew while in college, and they needed to find where the current underground line was for a home. Somebody brought out the “witch sticks”, two slender steel rods (so slender, they might be called wires instead of rods) bent at slightly more than 90 degrees, and held by the short end like a gun, extending about 18 inches in front of their hands.
They pointed the sticks straight ahead, holding them loosely, and keeping the extended parts parallel to the ground. They walked across the yard, and the sticks looked like they repelled each other, swinging out to point in opposite directions. They stopped, and said that’s where the line was.
Being the new kid on the crew, I suspected they were messing with me, so they had me hold the sticks and walk. They swung out. We dug. The line was very close.
I did it at other locations as well, so it couldn’t ALL be the power of suggestion. It was weird.
Thanks for the confirmation. Have a great day.
I was goofing around one day to see if dowsing rods actually work. I followed a path through our back yard. According to me, there was a water line running from the house to the barn.
My husband laughed at me. That's where he buried the water hose.
Hey, I found the underground water line, didn't I? I didn't know there was a hose full of water running exactly where I found it. In my opinion, dowsing works. As far as my husband, well, he just never lets me live it down.
Yep. Kinda spooky. I’m glad I don’t have to rely on it, though...
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