Of Arms & the
Nature of Man
by Hellesponte & Kerodin
October 8, 2010
I have been a
Weapons Guy my entire life. From an early
age I understood that much of human interaction was
predicated on conflict and the attempt to dominate.
I was fascinated by the arms of the militiaman since
my earliest years, and most of my boyhood friends
were just like me.
When I was a young
teenager my Aunt married a fascinating man who
opened the doors to real weapons. We clicked
and my new Uncle became the one in my life to
emulate in most matters. Living on the Patuxtent
River southeast of DC we hunted, fished, ran trot
lines for crabs, experimented with the grill and
local groundhogs, muskrats and such, just to do it.
Three weeks after handing me his 1911 from his time
in the Army, he had me double-tapping pie plates at
40 feet.
When I hit 18 I found
a very traditional Aikijutsu dojo tucked away in NW
DC, and immersed myself into the martial. Here
I was able to explore the nature of man in many
ways, primarily with empty hands, but including live
blade techniques, katanas, staff, et cetera. I
studied here for years, every day, usually 2-3
classes each day. In the 90's I loaded my Jeep
with my barest essentials, including my 125# Akita
named Shoki, and headed west. I didn't stop
until I was in Los Angeles. Torrance, to be
exact. I spent some time there learning ground
skills.
I continued this path
until I married at 35.
I believe that
Americans, males especially, have an affection for
the arms of the militiaman that has been encoded in
our genetics. We understand that the nature of
Man is conflict and violence, and weapons enhance
ones chances of prevailing. Every serious
American knows the names of Colt and Browning &
Gatling.
Red blooded Americans
know and revere Gordon Ingram, Harry Sanford, Lynn
Thompson. A very special place in the
hierarchy of Man is reserved for the legendary Lee
Jurras.
If you don't know who
these Americans are, please report to the nearest
full-blooded American woman and submit for
inspection. She needs to vouch for your
manhood, or we may be forced to revoke your card...
This brings us to
Stuxnet.
There are some
weapons I will never master. For instance, I
will never use a .50 Barrett to engage a target at
7,500 feet. Development of my weapons
skill-set has pretty much plateaued. I am
content with my skill-set. But, that
doesn't mean I do not appreciate those weapons and
their Operators!
Stuxnet is apparently
a wicked little weapon that invades our enemies
computers that manage vital controls, pumps, motors,
et cetera. The experts say that this computer
weapon can cause cascading failures within weapons
systems and industrial facilities. Stuxnet,
they say and speculate, shut down the Iranian nuke
plant.
Imagine this new age
of weaponcraft, at least as significant to humanity
as was the Atomic and Nuclear weapons systems
populating the world. Have we just unleashed a
family of weapons that may evolve to digitally wreck
the nuclear arsenals of our enemies? Is it
possible that Stuxnet is not ours?! Are
our nukes at risk of having control systems
scrambled as they sit in silos and hide on Boomers
out in the trenches of the Atlantic and beyond?
America has been the
military powerhouse of Planet Earth for the majority
of our existence. That makes me happy and
proud. We have not been seriously attacked
because our enemies know we have the power to erase
their cultures from existence.
Yet in recent
generations we have seen Russia develop weapons
equal to our own. The Chinese Tiger has risen.
Pakistan owns nukes, which means that the Muslim
armies of the world possess nuclear missiles.
North Korea and Iran bring nuclear nightmares to the
brink of reality.
But, could Stuxnet
sweep them from the field, essentially knocking the
military might of Russia and China to the early 20th
Century?
Sweet.
I do not care if the
other guy has a stick...so long as our stick is
bigger. But if he has a stick and we have a
pistol! Oh ho ho! Me likee.
First, let us hope
that it was our folks in DARPA and beyond who
created this digital weapon, and that they are
evolving it to its logical ends. Let's hope
they turn off every foreign weapon system that could
hurt Americans...even if that means corrupting
Siemens controllers in their power grid and potable
water systems. I do not like living in a world
where people who are on the record as being hostile
to me and my Country are armed with anything beyond
sticks and stones.
If Stuxnet is
ours, I am proud of those who developed the system
and are making us safer. We may never know
your names, but you have earned your place with
Mister Jurras.
If Stuxnet is not
ours...get on it, guys!
Sam
III
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