[DugwayDuke]

While I agree with the intent of this article, one can hardly consider the HELLFIRE missile as a "sniper" weapon. Granted, it is very accurate, but it's shaped charge warhead is capable of killing the heaviest known or projected armor. It is not capable of killing one person while leaving the one standing next to him unharmed. Most snipers can do that.

[Poohbah]

True, but in most cases, our targets are bigtime known scumbags, and they tend to associate with other known scumbags. Removing the various hangers-on around Saddam Hussein from this mortal coil would be no great loss.

[Rebelbase]

"It is not capable of killing one person while leaving the one standing next to him unharmed. "

The job gets completed anyway. The end justifies the means.

[pragmatic_asian]

Actually, I wouldn't mind if those people standing around Saddam also got nailed.

[punster]

A sniper is very precise, eliminating one critical individual among a group of enemy personnel. However, the real problem is getting a sniper to the right place at the right time. That is what is necessary to eliminating the critical individual (Osama bin Laden, for example).

If you can do it remotely, it makes sense to launch a Hellfire or other missile and be sure of eliminating that in critical individual. So what if you kill several of his associates while you are killing him, they are most probably terrorists too. If they are dead, they most certainly won't be participating in any more terrorist activity.

[steve-b]

While I agree with the intent of this article, one can hardly consider the HELLFIRE missile as a "sniper" weapon. Granted, it is very accurate, but it's shaped charge warhead is capable of killing the heaviest known or projected armor. It is not capable of killing one person while leaving the one standing next to him unharmed. Most snipers can do that.

That could be done, if desired, by replacing the explosive warhead with a terminal guidance package (basically turning the missile into a big smart bullet).

Making that sort of impression on the Bad Guy's nearby lieutenants (and probable successors) might be more effective than blowing them up -- the technology allows either option.