Thanks to the engineers and scientists at the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), our troops are using futuristic technology and weapons to put some serious hurt on our jihadi enemies, with even more advanced weaponry on the horizon. Among the new hi-tech gadgetry is the Wasp, a small aerial vehicle weighing in at only about 11 ounces that can be carried in a backpack and fly nearly undetectable reconnaissance missions for up to two hours, providing imagery to U.S. troops operating in urban areas. The Radar Scope, weighing less than 1.5 pounds and working on AA batteries, allows U.S. troops to “see” through concrete walls to determine if someone is on the other side, a particularly nice advantage for our troops in places like Baghdad. And the Tactical Ground Reporting System (TIGR) brings front-line combat into the Internet age, allowing troops going out on patrol to scrutinize a computerized map that outlines their area of operations, with icons detailing known dangers. Clicking an icon, troops can bring up information on not only past hostile action but also photos and background on local leaders, friendly or not, as well as current videos and reports from recent patrols, information previously unavailable to frontline troops.

In the wings is TransTac, providing on-the-spot Arabic/English speech translation (Star Trek Universal Translator, anyone?), and FOPEN, radar that can penetrate dense foliage to locate enemy fighters and vehicles. How appropriate that an Islamist foe that has declared war on modernity itself is being pounded by modern technology. Keep ‘em coming, DARPA!