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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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11

Iraqis Swear by Pricey, Useless Bomb Detectors

US forces say handheld device is no better than a magic wand

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(Newser) – Go through any checkpoint in Iraq, and someone will probably wave a small, hand-held device over your vehicle. Dubbed the ADE651, it’s supposed to detect bombs. But in reality it’s totally useless, US military and technical experts tell the New York Times, with one retired officer saying it operates “on the same principle as a Ouija board.” US forces don’t use them, with one general describing them as a bogus “magic wand.”

Still, the Iraqi government has purchased more than 1,500 of the things, at $16,500 to $60,000 a pop. “Whether it’s magic or scientific, what I care about is it detects bombs,” says the head of the Iraqi government’s Directorate for Combating Explosives. It didn’t, however detect the two tons of explosives that exploded in downtown Baghdad last week, killing 155, which passed at least one ADE651-equipped checkpoint.

a man uses an ADE651 in this image taken from the company's website.
a man uses an ADE651 in this image taken from the company's website.
An Iraqi security forces member stand guards next to damage vehicles following a bus bomb explosion in the southern holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad, Iraq, on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. Three people were killed when a bomb that was detonated remotely exploded on a...
An Iraqi security forces member stand guards next to damage vehicles following a bus bomb explosion in the southern holy city of Karbala, 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Baghdad, Iraq, on Sunday, Nov....   (AP Photo/Ahmed Alhusseiney)
People gather around a destroyed car after a suicide car bomber targeted a checkpoint in Ramadi, 115 kilometers (70 miles) west of Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 7, 2009. The car exploded as vehicles were waiting to be inspected before crossing a bridge near the provincial capital of Ramadi, a police...
People gather around a destroyed car after a suicide car bomber targeted a checkpoint in Ramadi, 115 kilometers (70 miles) west of Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 7, 2009. The car exploded as vehicles were...   (AP Photo)
Security guards inspect the damage at a day care center near the Justice Ministry in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, in the wake of twin suicide bombings that killed at least 155 people
Security guards inspect the damage at a day care center near the Justice Ministry in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, in the wake of twin suicide bombings that killed at least 155 people   (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
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I don’t believe there’s a magic wand that can detect explosives. If there was, we would all be using it. I have no confidence that
these work. - Richard J. Rowe Jr., the US Major General in charge of Iraqi police training

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11 comments
VIEWING:
 
rkossik
Nov 4, 09 7:45 AM CST
The Iraqi government has serious internal problems if they spent over $25M on these things without determining their effectiveness. (As a side point, what do think the chances are that the $25M came from US aid?) Reply
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+1
IN RESPONSE:
dontlikeyou
Nov 4, 09 5:50 PM CST
The US government blows 1000 times that amount and probably more--- routinely.
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0
bewilderbeast
Nov 4, 09 8:48 AM CST
Hey, didn't they learn to purchase overpriced uselss stuff from Blackwater and Halliburton? I'm sure that's where they learnt this scam. Reply
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+5
cochiserocks
Nov 4, 09 9:01 AM CST
Who sold them to the Iraqis in the first place?- I wonder if they flinch whenever a fresh Iraq bombing hits the newspapers. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Unaffiliated
Nov 4, 09 9:23 AM CST
I wouldn't be surprised if they used those reports as advertising to sell more units.
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+1

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