A loaded debate

摘要

Recent years have abundantly demonstrated that assault weapons, rifles and carbines remain vital tools for the modern-day soldier. High-tech systems cannot replace boots on the ground. Where in the past the importance of small arms and the skills for military personnel in supporting roles may have been less pronounced, current operational theatres in Iraq and Afghanistan prove quite the opposite. In the absence of a defined front line, every soldier has to be able to use his or her weapon skilfully. Small arms manufacturers today are like the proverbial duck looking serene above the surface but frantically paddling below the water line looking for solutions.