Friday Files: Counter-Mine Dowsing Rod Science
Caveat emptor. Received the email below from John, complete with
his apropos signature line (personal info redacted). His thorough
YouTube Channel is evidence of
his commitment to this "science" and features an eclectic set of clips and soundtracks
in the mix along with his rigorous explanation of the topic. I'm
shocked, shocked that DoD
and DARPA refused comment. One would think that after all the experimentation
to come up with a technological nose that can out-rover Fido, they might open their
aperture to lower tech alternatives. They may get more of these unsolicited
proposals than we do so a little slack might be due, but they are better
staffed.
Happy weekend.
Dear Small Wars Journal,
I've put out on YouTube a 12-part
series on using low-tech methods to counter the low-tech methods in the current
small wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Of course, the Dod and DARPA have refused
to even comment on them. I believe the techniques work, and for pennies, much
like the tactics used by the guerillas.
You may or may not be interested in these YouTube offerings, but they can be
found under "iesigma" or "dowsing rod science." The technique works on coat hangers,
welding rods or other such items energized by the earth's natural electricity (known
since the 1840's). That means anyone, anywhere can use it.
At any rate, please give at least some of them a try. Like many things
in science, it does not fit the current paradigm, and is scorned by much (but not
all) of the established. At the moment, other countries are beginning to put
their fingers in it. There are no fee, charges, or commitments.
Write me if you are considering any or all of the videos! I look forward
to hearing from you. <snip>
Keep up the good work!
<snip>
"Good decisions come from experience. Experience comes from making a lot of
bad decisions." -Anon.
Re: "other countries are beginning to put their fingers in it." I'm not
really sure what to make of that. Should we brace for a dowsing rod race? Explore
counter-counter-measures? Or just put our fingers in it, too?
Starbuc, you don’t have to wait until you get home! Go out and buy yourself a ouija board.
It’s the same principle: if you believe – well, you believe! And no, I don’t believe.
v/r an old farm boy turned Soldier
Aw man, I have to wait till I get home to view this on Youtube. Anyone care to fill me in on what the video is about?
This is nothing new.
The definitive work on dowsing/divining is a book that started out as a US Army report, called The Divining Hand, by Christopher Bird.
It includes an entire section on the unit set up by the US Army during Vietnam which taught dowsing skills to sergeants to help them locate booby traps, landmines and tunnels.
“The Divining Hand, The 500-Year-Old Mystery of Dowsing”, New Age Press, Black Mountain, NC, 1979 , second ed., 1985, p. 289.Author: Christopher Bird.
Major Paul Smith (ex-US Intel and ex-member of US Army remote viewing unit) has produced a number of teaching tools. Some YouTube clips from them below;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_4YsRRl_48
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYwn0c-euYE
Paul O’Connor
Dublin, Ireland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADE_651
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADE_651
“The ADE 651, produced by ATSC (UK), is advertised as a hand-held “remote portable substance detector”…However, investigations by the BBC and other organisations have reported that the device is little more than a “glorified dowsing rod” with no ability to perform its claimed functions”
Will this never die? In 2009 I was the senior advisor to the Director of Military Engineering(M-10) for the new Iraqi Army(IA). At the time the Iraqi Army Engineers and Bomb Disposal units were desperate to acquire any available means to detect VBIEDs at ECPs.
The Iraqi Police (IP) had purchased a significant quantity of ADE-651 units, and were using them at checkpoints throughout Iraq. I personally observed them in use by ECP guards almost daily at various compounds within the Green Zone. The IP authorities had lent several ADE-651s to the IA Engineers for evaluation. (As it later turned out a notoriously corrupt IP General received kickbacks on the purchase of each device and was attempting to drum up more sales).
We did extensive testing on the ADE-651, GT-200 and others. The Advisor Teams already knew it was snake oil, however we conducted the tests for the benefit of the IA Engineers. I enlisted the help of an Air Force officer with an extensive background in operational test and evaluation. We developed a double blind methodology executed over several weeks at the 6th IA Division’s Engineer Regiment, IA Bomb Disposal Regiment, and the IA Bomb Disposal School.
I also contacted the Royal Engineer S&T section in London. They informed me of the ongoing investigation of ASTC by UK law enforcement officials.
Needless to say the IA Engineers did not acquire any of these devices and the ‘scandal’ broke in the press about a year later when the company founder was arrested.
I did feel sorry for my IA counterparts. They very much wanted the tech to work. They did not want to invest in IED Detection K9s due to their cultural aversion to dogs. The devices also provided a certain psychological boost to the poor illiterate Jundi, charged with the hopeless task of manning the ECPs, who were the inevitable victims of VBIEDs.