From: "Catherine Austin Fitts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> SIGHTINGS New US Rifle Can Shoot Around Corners By Ian Brodie In Washington http://www.the-times.co.uk/news/pages/tim/00/02/26/timfgnusa01004.html?999 2-27-00 Some call it the Smart Shooter, a new rifle for American infantry troops that is two weapons in one, is accurate up to 1,000 yards and in effect fires around corners. Its message to enemies is that they can run but they can't hide. The futuristic mega-gun is causing alarm among arms-control specialists who call it the Darth Vader weapon and say that it will cause enormous carnage among civilians when it inevitably falls into the hands of terrorists. Still in the development phase, the rifle for 2006 has just been shown off with great pride by the Pentagon to members of Congress who will be asked to put up the money. It will not be cheap. Each rifle will cost as much as £7,500 pounds - 20 times the price of the M16 that it will replace. But, as army officers like to say, they will get a much bigger bang for their buck. The makers, Alliant Techsystems, say that the weapon will revolutionise ground combat much as the machine gun. Pentagon jargon has given the new gun an awkward title: the Objective Individual Combat Weapon. Using one trigger, the rifle can fire a standard 5.56mm Nato bullet and a 20mm high explosive shell that will burst in the air. It can spray shrapnel behind, above or even from the side of enemy troops who have taken cover behind a building. The shell can be timed to explode after a short delay. The weapon's 1,000-yard accuracy is twice that of other rifles, made possible by a laser system built into the sight. This rangefinder fixes the target, measures the distance and passes it along to a computer chip in the shell. The gunsight has an infrared lens for night vision. It can also have video camera with a zoom lens that is linked to a video display attached to the soldier's helmet, allowing him to aim accurately without exposing himself to enemy return fire. But there are snags still be be ironed out. Two men were injured when a shell burst in a barrel during firing tests. The rifle weighs more than 18lb. There are questions whether its electronic innards will be rugged enough for rain, snow and difficult terrain. Michael Klare, a professor of peace and world security issues and a board member of the Arms Control Association, says that the Pentagon is seeking this combination of firepower and automation to compensate for the uncertain aim of GIs. He said: "Soldiers won't have to worry about careful steady aim. They'll just look through the viewfinder and pull the trigger." SIGHTINGS HOMEPAGE This Site Served by TheHostPros ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GET A NEXTCARD VISA, in 30 seconds! Get rates as low as 0.0% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR and no hidden fees. Apply NOW! http://click.egroups.com/1/937/2/_/475667/_/952196437/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------
