Martyred with a joystick (Isn't automation wonderful?)

National Post ^ | November 6 2002

[knighthawk]

Many commentators have noted that the war on terrorism will require a battle for the "hearts and minds" of the world's Muslim radicals. We agree. But it's also true that, when all else fails, some of the more incorrigible hearts and minds need to be atomized. That's where the U.S. Predator unmanned drone comes in.

In northwest Yemen on Sunday, a certain Qaed Salim Sunian al-Harethi was travelling by car with five other notables when a Hellfire missile, released by a Predator soundlessly lurking at high altitude, hit his vehicle. Car and occupants were destroyed. But Mr. al-Harethi will not be missed by many, for he was one of the chief planners of the al-Qaeda attack on the USS Cole two years ago -- an attack that took 17 lives; his unfortunate friends were lower level al-Qaeda operatives.

The operation was a model of cost-efficiency: For the price of a single air-to-surface missile, originally manufactured for anti-tank use, CIA officers and military personnel -- who guided the Predator from an air-conditioned control room in Tampa, Fla. -- eliminated six terrorists who were collectively responsible for dozens of murders and, presumably, were planning many more. The enterprise is believed to be the first lethal attack outside Afghanistan using the Predator (though Israel has deployed the weapon for its own, similar purposes). As such, Sunday's news represents a welcome advance in the U.S. war on terror.

Surely we are not alone in our admiration for the Predator. Given Islamist terrorists' belief that dying in the struggle against the Great Satan guarantees them a place in heaven, such operations as Sunday's are win-win. Isn't automation wonderful?

[knighthawk]

Ping

[wideawake]

Bump.

We will "martyr" as many of you as you want. G'head! It's on us.

[dead]

I hope that, for at least a split second, this bastard knew he was about to be blown up.

[r9etb]

who guided the Predator from an air-conditioned control room in Tampa, Fla.

When you think of what has to happen for this to work -- an amazing feat.

[knighthawk]

Mess with the best, die like the rest!

[Clara Lou]

It is a real laugher to think that the "pilot" of that drone might be sitting in a chair in an air-conditioned room eating Cheetos and pushing that red button to launch hellfire missiles. (Their vehicle was blown to smithereens. Some of the metal actually melted. A preview of Hell for the "martyrs" before they actually went there.)

[Owl4USA]

How do you get the job of playing "Remote Control Martyrdom?" That sounds like a pretty decent job!

[Owl4USA]

"Mess with the best, die like the rest."

Seen the movie Hackers have you?

[CaptRon]

But it's also true that, when all else fails, some of the more incorrigible hearts and minds need to be atomized.

LOL!

[FreedomPoster]

I have a 16-year-old who is extraordinarily well qualified for that job! LOL, I'm sure many of us do, or know of one.

[CaptRon]

Ender's Game.

[knighthawk]

Actualy, it was on this Monday here, but I only saw the last part.

I saw that line on some T-shirts from the US Marines.

[meenie]

The hearts and minds of the Muslim six in the automobile were won rather quickly. Probably a few associates will do a little wondering if they want to meet Allah as quickly as their terrorist friends. That car had to be loaded with explosives, a hellfire won't pulverize the target and do that much disintegration.

[Redcloak]

Predator bump

...which reminds me: Those drones need better paint jobs. Maybe some fangs and dreads.

[rmlew]

I think I have found the perfect military role: playing videao games with real missles!

[Billy_bob_bob]

The battles of WWIII will be won on the playing fields of Nintendo.

[Sir Gawain]

Atari was ahead of the curve.

[Gorzaloon]

I hope that, for at least a split second, this bastard knew he was about to be blown up.

Sad to say, it is doubtful. They would not have heard it coming, of course, and an antitank missle against a car is a little like shooting a mouse with a deer slug.

No, I imagine they were tooling along, singing "Kill an Infidel for Allah", when, suddenly, they were standing in front of allah, dazed and perplexed, staring at allah's goat horns, hooves, barbed tail, and bat's wings.

[Cicero]

If they created a beta web site and invited people to subscribe to the game, I'll bet they'd get some very competent teenage players. Maybe they could let them work their way up through various levels, and when they reached the top level, they could trade in their rifles and bazookas for Predators and al Qaeda targets.