Seems the overall theme is
1) Our stuff is out of date, could we PLEASE get some better weapons
2) Snipers' usefulness is only remembered at the time of conflict, training and use are scaled back when there are no major engagements going on.
Point #1 - well, that's why we have places like adoptasniper.com
Point #2 can be applied to the US armed forces as well. After WWII, only the USSR kept it's snipers at the same levels, whereas the US dropped the numbers down significantly.
Despite technological achievements of satellite surveilance, UAVs, snipers continue being one of the best intel resources (yep, I know, I'm preaching to the choir). Of course, since snipers are expensive to train, budgeting without a cause (id est: major conflict) becomes an issue - so we get the rollercoaster-shaped sniper numbers. Oddly enough, it seems not to dawn on people making these decisions that since the train-up time for a sniper is significant, spiking up the number of snipers in responce to something is a delayed reaction, a-la swinging at someone when they've gotten into their car and left twenty minutes ago. Oh well, I figure four-five major conflicts later, the US will react and change. Grin.
1) Our stuff is out of date, could we PLEASE get some better weapons
2) Snipers' usefulness is only remembered at the time of conflict, training and use are scaled back when there are no major engagements going on.
Point #1 - well, that's why we have places like adoptasniper.com
Point #2 can be applied to the US armed forces as well. After WWII, only the USSR kept it's snipers at the same levels, whereas the US dropped the numbers down significantly.
Despite technological achievements of satellite surveilance, UAVs, snipers continue being one of the best intel resources (yep, I know, I'm preaching to the choir). Of course, since snipers are expensive to train, budgeting without a cause (id est: major conflict) becomes an issue - so we get the rollercoaster-shaped sniper numbers. Oddly enough, it seems not to dawn on people making these decisions that since the train-up time for a sniper is significant, spiking up the number of snipers in responce to something is a delayed reaction, a-la swinging at someone when they've gotten into their car and left twenty minutes ago. Oh well, I figure four-five major conflicts later, the US will react and change. Grin.
