[Boot Hill]

“Some villagers, who had been out on their roofs to guard their homes, claimed they saw a bright white ray of light emanating from the white unmanned aircraft just before the missile attack.”

LOL, when I read that the literacy rate in South Waziristan was only 18% (to a six-grade level) for men and under 1% for women, I had my doubts, but this story sure supports that claim!

First, by definition, there is no such thing as a "white laser". Second, the laser the Predator uses emits infrared light. Can you imagine anything as dumb as a targeting system that uses a laser that can be seen by everyone, especially the target? Third, if the attack occurred, as reported, at 9:30PM, how did they see the "white aircraft" and how could they tell it was unmanned? (Typical stand-off distances for the Predator would be two to three miles.) Fourth, how could they see the missile since its engine burns out in the first 2-3 seconds of flight and essentially coasts (at mach 1.25) its' way to the target?

"Why, Nek, what big eyes you have. All the better to see the infrared laser coming, my dear."

What a bunch of maroons!

--Boot Hill

[nuconvert]

It's HiPakistan....think there's a bit of poetic/literary/journalistic license here.

[AdmSmith]

Why, Nek, what big eyes you have. All the better to see the infrared laser coming, my dear.

"Nek, what a terribly big mouth you have! All the better to speak on the satellite phone.

[AdmSmith]

First, by definition, there is no such thing as a "white laser".

You are right if you just think of a monochromatic laser. If you mix several frequencies you get a white laser light, like this one http://www.edinst.com/whitelaser.htm , but this has no military use, at least not in weapon systems.