Robots have been used extensively by the occupying forces but now they are to be armed with a potentially devastating array of weaponry including grenade and missile launchers. For more details see the link below:
http://blog.wired.com/defense/2007/08/httpwwwnational.html
Behind their development is Talon Robots, part of Foster Miller who in turn are a subsidiary of Qinetiq Group. As some may be aware Qinetiq emerged from the privatisation in 2001 of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), which was a part of the UK Ministry of Defence. QinetiQ is now one of the largest defence research organisations in the world and employs over 11,400 people.
According to Talons website:
"TALON SWORDS robots can be configured with M240 or M249 machine guns or Barrett .50 caliber rifles for armed reconnaissance missions. The system was evaluated by the 5th Special Forces in Iraq and three systems have completed evaluation with the 3rd Infantry Division and will likely deploy to Iraq in 2007. Additional systems are deployed and being evaluated by military units throughout the United States. Alternative weapons, including 40 mm grenade launchers and anti-tank rocket launchers, continue to be evaluated by the U.S. Army."
And as Qinetiq and Foster Miller make clear they are happy to supply the private sector which includes the mercenary companies such as Aegis and Blackwater operating in Iraq.
http://www.qinetiq.com/home/aboutqq/closer_look.html
The good news is that Qinetiq employ over 8000 employees throughout the UK so there is probably a unit close to where you live.
http://www.qinetiq.com/home/aboutqq/our_business/locations.html
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The man who dRove Walker Georg Bush
14.08.2007 17:47
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhqKoqqS0XI
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118698747711695773.html?mod=hpp_us_whats_news
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday that takes place on the first Monday in September.
the US 'surge' does not look likely to succeed
Despite of all the fiction, sometimes it is worthwhile to mention a semiphrase of truth:
eight report of Foreign Affairs Committee of the house of commons:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmfaff/363/36302.htm
174. We conclude that it is too early to provide a definitive assessment of the US 'surge' but that it does not look likely to succeed.
We believe that the success of this strategy will ultimately ride on whether Iraq's politicians are able to reach agreement on a number of key issues. We recommend that, in its response to this Report, the Government set out what actions it is taking to facilitate political reconciliation in Iraq.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmfaff/363/36309.htm#a38
Karl Rove