Posted by David Kopel:
Two ways to support the troops:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2007_01_14-2007_01_20.shtml#1168823097
1. Silly string.
The indispensable Strategy Page [1]reports:
...Militarily, Silly String is useful for troops doing room-to-room
searches, who have to contend with booby traps (IEDs, or Improvised
Explosive Devices). Before entering a room, they can squirt the
stuff inside. If it lands on the floor, the room is likely to be
clear of trip wires. But if the stuff hangs in the air, it may have
snagged on a nearly invisible wire (sure, the troops might be able
to spot the wire if they peer carefully into the room, but this
might not be possible in the presence of armed folks with hostile
intent).
There's a major problem getting enough Silly String to the troops.
It isn't in the Department of Defense (DoD) standard supply basket
(which is perhaps just as well, or a can might run several hundred
bucks, because of all the special rules applying to military
acquisition, and the tendency to customize things for "military
use.") Some unit commanders have reportedly been using their
discretionary funds to secure supplies. But for the most part, the
troops have been relying on Mom to supply them, writing home to
send some. This isn't easy, as Silly String comes in aerosol cans,
which cannot legally be shipped by the Postal Service or commercial
mailing services.
The "queenpin" of Silly String Supply To The Troops is Marcelle
Shriver, who has a son in Iraq. She arranges shipments of Silly
String to her son's unit and other units. Donations can be sent to
her, c/o St. Luke Church, 55 N. Warwick Rd., Stratford, NJ 08084.
2. American Snipers
[2]This fine organization donates sniper accessories (scopes,
rangefinders, special slings compatible with body armor, etc.) to
American snipers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It would be better, of course, if soldiers did not need to supplement
their military-issue equipment, but I suspect that there hasn't been a
major war in American history in which some soldiers have not
supplemented their standard equipment. \
References
1. http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htmurph/articles/20070110.aspx?comments=Y
2. http://www.americansnipers.org/index.html
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