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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: rscaper1070 on April 14, 2011, 07:39:55 pm

Title: Navy Tests Beam Weapon
Post by: rscaper1070 on April 14, 2011, 07:39:55 pm
The future is closer than you think....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/af_piracy_navy_laser (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/af_piracy_navy_laser)
Title: Re: Navy Tests Beam Weapon
Post by: Nuclear1 on April 14, 2011, 07:50:13 pm
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d5/DDG-104.jpg)
Somali vessel, this is the USS Psamtik.  You are ordered to power down and surrender.

(http://previous.presstv.ir/photo/20110125/shamlou20110125020124327.jpg)
Negative, American!  The gold dubloon is the only legitimate authority in this system!

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/USS_Arleigh_Burke_Mediterranean.jpg)
Surrender or be destroyed, Somali vessel.  This is your final warning.

(http://cache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/pirate_03_16/p13_17777557.jpg)
Your posturing insults us both, American!  I will not give up my ship!

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/USS_Halsey_DDG97.jpg/800px-USS_Halsey_DDG97.jpg)
As you wish.
Title: Re: Navy Tests Beam Weapon
Post by: StarSlayer on April 14, 2011, 07:54:21 pm
FIRE MEIN DEATH RAY!


This ought to be the sound it makes... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-mdjlc6_mk&feature=fvst#t=5m05s)
Title: Re: Navy Tests Beam Weapon
Post by: watsisname on April 14, 2011, 08:36:50 pm
The video is pretty cool.  Impressive that they can hold a beam so steady in those conditions. :)
Title: Re: Navy Tests Beam Weapon
Post by: mustang191 on April 15, 2011, 05:32:31 am
I read in the Economist a few issues back that 90% of arrested pirates are set free due to damn hard it is to extradite and prosecute them. Nothing is going to get done against the pirates at this rate.
Title: Re: Navy Tests Beam Weapon
Post by: Bobboau on April 15, 2011, 09:12:54 am
which is why you don't arrest them, thread topic related
Title: Re: Navy Tests Beam Weapon
Post by: SpardaSon21 on April 15, 2011, 10:55:55 am
Is hanging pirates still allowed?
Title: Re: Navy Tests Beam Weapon
Post by: Mustang19 on April 15, 2011, 10:58:57 am
Under the Geneva convention they're non-uniformed soldiers, but we've had a thread about this in the past.
Title: Re: Navy Tests Beam Weapon
Post by: SpardaSon21 on April 15, 2011, 11:00:57 am
Great, summary execution of pirates is perfectly legal under international law.  So why are we letting 90% of them go?
Title: Re: Navy Tests Beam Weapon
Post by: Mustang19 on April 15, 2011, 11:01:48 am
Because we're the nice guys, we have the moral high ground, we're civilized, etc.
Title: Re: Navy Tests Beam Weapon
Post by: Snail on April 15, 2011, 11:05:11 am
Pirates are people too
Title: Re: Navy Tests Beam Weapon
Post by: Nuclear1 on April 15, 2011, 11:07:31 am
Great, summary execution of pirates is perfectly legal under international law.  So why are we letting 90% of them go?

This...
uh...

I...

(http://www.chaobell.net/newgallery/d/1399-2/colbert-headdesk.jpg)
Title: Re: Navy Tests Beam Weapon
Post by: Snail on April 15, 2011, 11:08:11 am
They might get really pissed off and crash their space fighters into the USS LoneWolf.
Title: Re: Navy Tests Beam Weapon
Post by: BlueFlames on April 15, 2011, 01:20:35 pm
It would set a precedent, wherein the United States orders the summary execution of an entire generation of its own young adults?

Oh, wait....  Wrong kind of piracy.
Title: Re: Navy Tests Beam Weapon
Post by: Unknown Target on April 15, 2011, 08:37:41 pm
Hm, same difference, BlueFlames. Besides, piracy is a symptom of an issue in an area. You should focus on why these people turn to piracy instead of just killing the ones you catch.

That being said, I imagine all the pirates understand that if they get caught there's a good chance they'll get killed - the Russians, for instance, set them adrift with no food and no water (they of course later turned up dead). I could see an argument for doing that and giving them one round for each person.

Thievery, should it occur, should be brash, bold, and loud. Thieves should have enough of a respect so that they don't try to hide what they do. The worst thief is not the one who attacks you in the middle of a wide open area, and makes clear their intentions. The worst thief is the one who slides up next to you when you're weakest, still whispering promises of assistance and friendship as they slide the knife into your back.

I have more respect for the Somali pirates than I have for many of the people in power in our country.
Title: Re: Navy Tests Beam Weapon
Post by: Nuclear1 on April 15, 2011, 10:48:36 pm
Quote
The worst thief is not the one who attacks you in the middle of a wide open area, and makes clear their intentions.
No, but that is the stupidest thief.  Thieves aren't going to hand you a flintlock pistol, take ten paces, turn and fire. 

If someone wants to be good at robbing you blind or taking something that isn't theirs, they'll strike you when you're vulnerable or unprotected; they'll smash your car windows in a parking lot while you're shopping, they'll get you in an alley at night, or they'll storm your unguarded, civilian seafaring vessel with automatic rifles and rocket launchers.  None of those are honorable in the least.  Crewmen captured by pirates sometimes don't go home.

We already know what the cause of piracy in Somalia is:  anarchy and rampant poverty.  We can't solve much of that without getting militarily involved, which we just can't afford right now.  Last time we were militarily involved, Americans got so squeamish over the Battle of Mogadishu that they demanded Clinton withdraw.
Title: Re: Navy Tests Beam Weapon
Post by: redsniper on April 15, 2011, 11:42:21 pm
Just because you can kill someone, doesn't mean you should. You see, most humans find the idea of taking other humans' lives reprehensible, and would strive to avoid it whenever possible. So, even when people find themselves in a position where they are physically able and socially permitted to kill someone, it doesn't mean they always will. Also, this post is completely unecessary and you should all know this already, which I suspect you all actually do. But you know, ask a stupid question....