Boulevards of Steel

摘要

Whether it was Stalingrad in 1943, Hue during Tet in 1968, Mogadishu in 1993, Grozny in 2000, or Jenin in 2002; fighting in cities is a nightmare for the ground pounder. Roads between buildings channel forces into sniper-infested alleys, and tunnels become a hive for enemy forces who sprinkle booby traps and crouch behind each corner or patch of rubble. These problems are multiplied when troops are used as peacekeepers in strife-torn regions such as Bosnia or the West Bank, where attackers can blend in with civilians, and restrictive rules of engagement can turn self-defense into a war crime. A new generation of communication and sensing devices is being designed to help level the playing field for troops fighting in urban terrain.