"Useless" bomb detector used by thousands

I think they did sort-of...

but presumably not well designed tests... mention of an Iraqi general commenting that a soldier wasn't doing it right etc.. rater than questioning whether the equipment itself worked... Dunno maybe they assumed that because it was western technology it was totally legit... 'white man's magic' etc..
 
dowie said:
I think they did sort-of...

but presumably not well designed tests... mention of an Iraqi general commenting that a soldier wasn't doing it right etc.. rater than questioning whether the equipment itself worked... Dunno maybe they assumed that because it was western technology it was totally legit... 'white man's magic' etc..
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the solders liked it as it meant they didn't have to search the vehicles, and risk getting blasted to smithereens.

if someone tells you this bomb detector works you just have to wave it vaguely near the truck, and someone else says the detector is useless you have to search the truck and hope that you dont accidentally set it off or the driver doesn't deliberately set it off if he thinks you'll find it, any sane person will take the detector any time, as at least it's someone else not going home to their wife then.
 
MooMoo444 said:
Used by thousands? 40,000 dollars per device?

What a bunch of gullible fools in this world with money.
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spending other people's money, argubly the primary factor at play. When spending money that you didn't earn, you don't have the same appreciation or expectation of value. either it was fools who shouldn't be spending other peoples money or they did a back hand deal like the infamous golden toilet seats in Iraq.


for reference http://articles.latimes.com/2004/apr/22/opinion/oe-boot22 $640 toilet seats
 
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MooMoo444 said:
Used by thousands? 40,000 dollars per device?

What a bunch of gullible fools in this world with money.
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Seems it was more a case of corruption than being gullible.

Taking bribes and agreeing to purchase devices they knew were fakes. In order to make not only the seller rich but themselves as well.
 
Tefal said:
the solders liked it as it meant they didn't have to search the vehicles, and risk getting blasted to smithereens.

if someone tells you this bomb detector works you just have to wave it vaguely near the truck, and someone else says the detector is useless you have to search the truck and hope that you dont accidentally set it off or the driver doesn't deliberately set it off if he thinks you'll find it, any sane person will take the detector any time, as at least it's someone else not going home to their wife then.
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nah - if a VBIED is going to go off then you're pretty much toast whether you're clambering all over the cab or whether you're standing next to it waving a magic wand... in fact you'd be lucky if the driver didn't simply drive into the checkpoint and set it off....

if it worked then it might be useful in searching for someone trying to smuggle through explosives/weapons etc.. but basically would only be preferred on the basis of lazyness.... If you're going to search a vehicle at a VCP then you should still be searching it properly anyway.
 
FoxEye said:
Seems it was more a case of corruption than being gullible.

Taking bribes and agreeing to purchase devices they knew were fakes. In order to make not only the seller rich but themselves as well.
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Exactly, The naivety of replies on here, It's not stupid or gullible people buying these devices, it's people who have been bribed with a lot of money and thus in on the scam.
 
dowie said:
nah - if a VBIED is going to go off then you're pretty much toast whether you're clambering all over the cab or whether you're standing next to it waving a magic wand... in fact you'd be lucky if the driver didn't simply drive into the checkpoint and set it off....
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targets are usually behind checkpoints not the checkpoints.
 
same story with the bs body scanners that were pushed through via a fake underpants bomber psyop. chertoff who had financial interest in the scanners was pushing for there application by whatever means he had available.

I am sure this story has similar insiders who have managed to get away with corrupt procurement practice's, IMO the entire security industry is corrupt as can be.
 
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Energize said:
The buyers are also responsible given that they bought products they knew were fraudulent in order to obtain a financial gain for themselves, without their criminal acts these products would not have made it into the hands of anyone.
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in places like Iraq where there is complete breakdown of social order and hierarchy the "buyers" were probably privileged pen-pushers with some connection to the military.
they may have known the devices were rubbish, but quite likely they didn't. they were accepting a sweetener to complete the deal. in many cases these bribes are the norm in their society.
eg, the high ranking police and military jobs are nearly always secured with a bribe in Iraq.
let's not blame the victims for this :mad:
 
bazaarboy said:
in places like Iraq where there is complete breakdown of social order and hierarchy the "buyers" were probably privileged pen-pushers with some connection to the military.
they may have known the devices were rubbish, but quite likely they didn't. they were accepting a sweetener to complete the deal. in many cases these bribes are the norm in their society.
eg, the high ranking police and military jobs are nearly always secured with a bribe in Iraq.
let's not blame the victims for this :mad:
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I dont see how anyone can blame any victim, either way nobody really gives a damn, people are just mad that they didnt think of it first.

After all we did infact INVADE the countries in question, any semblance of pity falls out of the window.
 
bazaarboy said:
in places like Iraq where there is complete breakdown of social order and hierarchy the "buyers" were probably privileged pen-pushers with some connection to the military.
they may have known the devices were rubbish, but quite likely they didn't. they were accepting a sweetener to complete the deal. in many cases these bribes are the norm in their society.
eg, the high ranking police and military jobs are nearly always secured with a bribe in Iraq.
let's not blame the victims for this :mad:
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Who's blaming the victims?

I believe beyond a reasonable doubt that the buyers knew they were fake, they were complicit in a scam that cost many lives.
 
I haven't read any of the thread, but I can't fathom how this even got to the stage of, "Yes, this aerial fitted to a plastic box looks great, we'll take 100,000 of them".

For me personally, the blame rests with the people that gave the go ahead to even buy them... I can't believe they didn't test them once.
 
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