Despite major bombings that have rattled the nation, and fears of rising violence as American troops withdraw, Iraq’s security forces have been relying on a device to detect bombs and weapons that the United States military and technical experts say is useless.
The small hand-held wand, with a telescopic antenna on a swivel, is being used at hundreds of checkpoints in Iraq. But the device works “on the same principle as a Ouija board” — the power of suggestion — said a retired United States Air Force officer, Lt. Col. Hal Bidlack, who described the wand as nothing more than an explosives divining rod.
More at NY times (subscription required)
Depressing as it is, I can see how people might be reassured by the cloak of jargon drawn over this device. Stick a coupla big words together like “electrostatic magnetic ion attraction,” and people just assume that even if they don’t understand it, the smart science-savvy people in charge do. Anything arrogant enough to claim that it’s the Miracle All-Seeing Device, Yours For Only $18,500, though, gets kind of suspicious even for us laypeople.
I hate to be nitpicky, though, but if it’s not just a British variant I don’t know about… Shouldn’t it be dowsing rather than dousing? Unless they dump a bucket of water on it afterward.
critics should at least know the right term!
damn!!
Sounds like a waste of time. But at least if the soldiers think it works, they’ll be doing some good guess work.
For some would it not be considered to be ‘divine’ to have 72 virgins? No wonder the use of a divining rod is appropriate.
This story has been doing the rounds of many blogs recently. Some of the devices are made in the UK which is depressing. Apparently there have been many deaths due to the non-functioning of this device. However you could argue that if the bombers beleive they work, the device could be a deterrent! See the James Randi blog for more details.
How to describe what it feels like to be an American reading this…hmm…have you ever met up with an old school friend (chum) at a bar (pub) and, after a half-dozen too many drinks, he starts dry humping everyone and everything in sight before jumping up on the table and attempting to Riverdance for an unamused bartender as you shake your head in anger and embarrassment, wondering whether or not you can simply leave, or if you have to stick around and make sure your friend doesn’t get mercilessly beaten. Well, that’s the closest approximation I can come up with to what it feels like to be an American reading this story.
Whoops! Forget previous post. I thought we (the U.S.) had manufactured this “technology,” and our generals were debating its usefulness. Probably should’ve read the NYT article first, which makes it pretty clear this is an Iraqi divining rod…not an American made or endorsed one. We have our fair share of gullible and/or idiotic people in this country, but I’m heartened by the fact that the generals are dismissing this as complete nonsense.
‘U.S. Army Rejects “Dousing” Bomb Detection Kit as Completely Useless’…..Well, DUH!
Hmm, interesting post
It probably is a waste of time but i guess it’s up to these people whether they want to use it or not. Personally, i’d want something a bit more certain if bombs were involved but hey, whatever floats your boat 
Why does not some authority nab them for false advertising? They dd it with airborne.
As for Iraq you have to wander if someone is taking bucks on the side for buying this nonsense.
I think I have a good way of finishing this. People place three explosives and one dummy in an area. Each has a handle that will set it off if it explodes. Whoever signed the contract to buy this rubbish is given one. He must pull one lever. He can use the rod to find out which one.
Well if the intention is to find bombs it’s a fail, but if it’s to discourage people from moving bombs about from one place to another, surely it does the trick?