In the usual ranting on SlashDot
First:
every project final report had to mention possible military applications
That’s kind of depressing… why didn’t they require that every final report had to mention applications that could improve life in underdeveloped areas or something?
Then students would pursue projects with this in mind, instead of developing with military applications in mind. Highly reliable and easy-to-repair water pumps, improved farming tools constructable from local materials, simple and effective water filtration devices, etc.?
You say that like those aren’t military applications, I think perhaps your out of touch with what modern military actualy does. Demonizing anything military is easy, and the people who do it the most are the people who don’t realize that it’s the military’s infrastructure that make most humanitarian relief operations possible. Next time you think somebody needs 10,000 tons of relief supplies ask FedEx what the going rate is, and if they drop it off in a hostile fire zone.
I like that last bit about FedEx. After the Tsunami, there was some ex-military blogger who was at this trade show where some Frenchman made a crack about Bush sending an aircraft carrier to aid the tsunami victims. The blogger in question pointed out that aircraft carriers can generate electricity and produce fresh water, as well as airlift supplies. At the time our US Military was delivering aid while the UN guys were sitting around with their thumb up their ass.
I can’t find the original article, but Michelle Malkin has some stats about the U.S.S. Lincoln.
Comments (1)
Not to mention the fact that much of our medical trauma techniques come from what’s learned by combat docs. What we’ve learned from M.A.S.H. units has proven invaluable in city ER’s, treating gunwounds and the like. Innovating for battle (and for that matter, space) is driven by a particular kind of urgency that can’t be found in a most civilian settings.
Posted by dean bonzani | April 29, 2005 12:08 AM
Posted on April 29, 2005 00:08