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	<title>modern-warfare &amp;laquo; WordPress.com Tag Feed</title>
	<link>http://wordpress.com/tag/modern-warfare/</link>
	<description>Feed of posts on WordPress.com tagged "modern-warfare"</description>
	<pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:47:08 +0000</pubDate>

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<title><![CDATA[Call of Duty beta begins, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 possibly coming to next gen]]></title>
<link>http://callofthegamer.wordpress.com/?p=128</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:49:20 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>adamantlee</dc:creator>
<guid>http://callofthegamer.it.wordpress.com/2008/10/13/call-of-duty-beta-begins-marvel-vs-capcom-2-possibly-coming-to-next-gen/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Good afternoon everyone. First actual update I&#8217;ve done in the afternoon in a while, so here we]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Good afternoon everyone. First actual update I've done in the afternoon in a while, so here we go.</p>
<p>The new Call of Duty: World at War game opened up its <a href="http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3170603">multiplayer beta</a> today. To get in, you either need to preorder the game at GameStop, or register at the official <a href="http://www.callofduty.com/register/">Call of Duty website</a> to have a chance to get one. The beta offers four different modes to play, with three maps and four groups available to choose from. I'm interested myself in getting into it, just to see if they're keeping the same formula from Modern Warfare, or trying to bring back CoD3 style of play. Here's hoping they saw what a good thing Modern Warfare was, and are just trying to improve it.</p>
<p>In Playstation 3 and XBox 360 news, the <a href="http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3170600">ESRB rated Marvel vs. Capcom 2</a> today for both systems. The game, which was only available for arcade, XBox, and Playstation 2, was a rare game to find, running at least $60 at GameStop for the <a href="http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=22349">XBox version</a>, and $80 for the Playstation 2 version. While this is only a rumor until the companies confirm it, it makes sense that this could e an arcade release for both consoles so that more gamers could experience this rare gem.</p>
<p>That's all for my afternoon update. Stay tuned for my nightly update later tonight.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Call of Duty: Roads to Victory [PSP]]]></title>
<link>http://peacegrenade.wordpress.com/?p=1301</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:23:30 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>boromi</dc:creator>
<guid>http://peacegrenade.it.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/call-of-duty-roads-to-victory-psp/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[
Go! Go! Go!! - Call of Duty - objawienie rynkowe roku 2003 na PC. Niedawno, seria doczekała się c]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://peacegrenade.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/callof.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1307 aligncenter" style="border:1px solid black;" title="callof" src="http://peacegrenade.wordpress.com/files/2008/09/callof.jpg" alt="" width="440" height="207" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Go! Go! Go!! - </strong>Call of Duty - objawienie rynkowe roku 2003 na PC. Niedawno, seria doczekała się czwartej odsłony, która powróciła na PC po krótkim „skoku w bok" w postaci części trzeciej. Teraz jednak skupmy się na swoistym „back to school", czyli odsłonie na PSP. Podczas gdy oczy wszystkich graczy zebrane były na niedalekiej przyszłości i konflikcie z terrorystami, na handheldzie Sony, twórcy zdecydowali się powrócić na najsłynniejsze pola bitew Drugiej Wojny Światowej. "Nie umarło, co zasnęło przed wiekami...", jednak czy wciąż jest równie dobre...?<!--more--></p>
<p><strong>„War... war never changes..." </strong>- Kampania shootera jest podzielona na 3 części - amerykańską, kanadyjską i brytyjską. W każdej z nich wcielamy się w innego żołnierza - "zwykłego, szarego Supermena", którym wyrzynamy w pień setki nazistów. Towarzysząc naszemu nad-wojakowi, uczestniczymy w operacjach Market Garden (buuuuu!), Avalanche, czy Blockbuster. Przed każdą misją, zainteresowani będą mogli poczytać "notatki" żołnierskie wystylizowane na autentyczne, a przy rozpoczęciu każdej kampanii, autorzy raczą nas oryginalnym filmem dokumentalnym z właściwego jej fragmentu wojny. Zaraz obejrzeniu pierwszego z nich czeka nas prawdziwe piekło...</p>
<p>Po krótkim (aczkolwiek zapoznającym nas jedynie z podstawową klawiszologią) samouczku, typowo dla serii - rozpoczyna się niespodziewany atak nieprzyjaciela na bazę. Zapewne pierwsze minuty rozgrywki każdemu zapadną w pamięci na długo, niestety - głównie przez morderczą, pełną poświęcenia walkę z morderczym... interfejsem. Wielka szkoda, że twórcy nie dali nam możliwości dowolnego zdefiniowania klawiszologii, jednak sądzę, że spośród kilku, uprzednio przez nich przygotowanych profili, każdy powinien znaleźć coś dla siebie. Na szczęście, arcy-niewygodne sterowanie z użyciem jednej niewielkiej gałki analogowej, po pewnym czasie przyzwyczaja do niewygód i z jego użyciem gra się całkiem nieźle. Kwestią sporną pozostaje auto-celowanie. Niby rozgrywka z jego użyciem staje się dość łatwa (mimo to nie liczcie na zbytnie fory), jednak za nic nie chciałbym grać na poziomie innym niż „łatwy" bez tego rodzaju wsparcia. Po prostu postać obraca się byt wolno, by móc efektywnie przeć do przodu.</p>
<p><a href="http://peacegrenade.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/932969_20061026_screen004.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1308" style="border:1px solid black;" title="932969_20061026_screen004" src="http://peacegrenade.wordpress.com/files/2008/09/932969_20061026_screen004.jpg" alt="" width="440" height="249" /></a></p>
<p>Czas przejść do sprawy, która od zawsze była zarówno najmocniejszą stroną, jak i piętą achillesową Call of Duty. Mowa oczywiście o skryptach. Cóż, w tej materii nic nie uległo zmianom: dalej pole bitwy robi piorunujące wrażenie, dalej wszystko zdaje się być dla gracza niesamowicie realne i niemal wyczuwalne i dalej... Dalej to jest już tylko gorzej. Po pewnym czasie bowiem, zaczynamy zauważać że to, kto ginie w danym momencie jest z góry założone, oraz że eksplozje towarzyszące bombardowaniom, to jedynie ładny element zdobniczy (ile to razy bomba spadała centralnie na mojego żołnierzynę, nie czyniąc mu przy tym najmniejszej szkody...?). Irytują też pociski, które zdają się lecieć w ściśle określonym przez NPC kierunku. Historia zna skrajne przypadki, gdy jakiś niemiaszek stojąc do mnie tyłem, wesoło nawalał w moją stronę, najwyraźniej strzelając sobie przez klatkę piersiową. Przy takich rewelacjach nikogo nie zdziwi już chyba wieść o niebywałej zdolności, jaką w grze nabyli żołnierze obu stron, mianowicie o podkręcaniu wystrzeliwanych kul (nawet o 90 stopni!). Liniowość w CoD jest obecna na każdym kroku i to niestety widać.</p>
<p>Opisywana przeze mnie produkcja ma dość specyficzny poziom trudności. Otóż - idziemy sobie, beztrosko piorąc tyłki niemieckim żołnierzom, oglądając ornamenty w stylu „Adolf", aż tu nagle - JEBUDU!! - nie żyjesz. Najwięcej trudności na dalszych poziomach, sprawiają bez wątpienia granaty, w które jest zaopatrzony każdy z wrogów. I choć gra informuje nas o położeniu niechcianego przedmiotu, gdy ten zostanie rzucony, to i tak człowiek od czasu do czasu po prostu gubi się i ginie, rozpaczliwie użerając się z - zawodną w nagłych wypadkach gałką. W naszych rękach także zagości nieraz granat, a dzięki zerowej niemal zdolności wroga do unikania, tudzież odrzucania ich, sytuacja ta kończy się zazwyczaj ich masową eksterminacją. Co jak co - ale AI nie jest mocną stroną tej produkcji...</p>
<p><strong>Do czołgu? - </strong>Muszę przyznać, że - pod względem ilości pojazdów, którymi dane mi było pokierować, gra mnie rozczarowała. Nie uświadczymy urozmaicenia w postaci misji, w których jedziemy Jeepem prowadzonym przez kompana, a sami grzejemy do innych z karabinu stacjonarnego. Jedyną tego typu odskocznią jest misja, w której obsługujemy działa słynnej „fortecy powietrznej", bombowca B-17. Wielka szkoda, że jest to pojedynczy wyskok - grafika w niej zawarta, zrobiła na mnie kolosalne wrażenie. Wszędzie widoczna jest poświata odbijanego słońca, tak typowa dla najnowszych rozwiązań, chmury w tle sprawiają niemal wrażenie prawdziwych. No i te eksplozje... W zasadzie, wydaje mi się że oprawa wideo w tym epizodzie, stoi co najmniej o klasę wyżej, niż ta z pozostałych misji.</p>
<p><a href="http://peacegrenade.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/call-of-duty-roads-to-victory-20070103095212331_640w.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1309" style="border:1px solid black;" title="call-of-duty-roads-to-victory-20070103095212331_640w" src="http://peacegrenade.wordpress.com/files/2008/09/call-of-duty-roads-to-victory-20070103095212331_640w.jpg" alt="" width="440" height="249" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Pain in back - </strong>Twórcy w kanonadzie potknięć i niedoróbek, nie ustrzegli się chyba najpoważniejszej, dotyczącej kontynuowania „napoczętej" rozgrywki. O ile brak save'a w dowolnym momencie w pełni rozumiem, o tyle kretyński system checkpointów na zawsze pozostanie dla mnie zagadką. Wyobraźcie sobie taką sytuację - gracie sobie i gracie, jesteście już kawał drogi od początku misji, jednak nagle zachciewa się Wam posłuchać na swym PSP muzyki. Wychodzicie więc do menu startowego systemu, odpalacie grajka powróciwszy po pewnym czasie do zabawy, ku swojemu zdziwieniu, odkrywacie, że macie jedynie możliwość wyboru ostatniego zadania. Nie wiem kto wpadł na pomysł, by możliwość kontynuacji gry od ostatniego autozapisu dotyczyła jedynie sytuacji „pośmiertnej", jednak niewątpliwie należy pogratulować mu ciężkiej głupoty.</p>
<p>Do niewątpliwych zalet gry, należy z pewnością oprawa wideo. Chociaż w gorętszych momentach animacji zdarza się porządnie chrupnąć, to i tak wrażenie robi mnogość efektów. Wybuchy, rozbłyski, kurz... niemal wszystkie elementy zostały wykonane wzorowo. Doskonale wyglądają też ludzie - posiadają właściwe proporcje, a ich twarze robią wrażenie ilością detali. Jako - tako jest natomiast z niektórymi teksturami - zdarzały się rozmazańce (choć w większości są to ostre jak brzytwa żylety). Wszelka broń, jaką nasz wojak będzie miał możliwość uchwycić, została wykonana naprawdę szczegółowo i nie można mieć w tej materii żadnych zastrzeżeń do pracy wykonanej przez grafików. Oprawa wideo trzyma w „Call of Duty: Roads to Victory" naprawdę wysoki poziom.</p>
<p><a href="http://peacegrenade.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/call-of-duty-roads-to-victory-20061026020024866_640w1.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1316" style="border:1px solid black;" title="call-of-duty-roads-to-victory-20061026020024866_640w1" src="http://peacegrenade.wordpress.com/files/2008/09/call-of-duty-roads-to-victory-20061026020024866_640w1.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="255" /></a></p>
<p><strong>"Nasze dzwony brzmiały dostojnie" -</strong> Trzeba powiedzieć, że oprawa audio w najmniejszym stopniu nie ustępuje grafice. I chociaż muzyka jako - taka, pojawia się w misjach sporadycznie (zawsze w bardziej dramatycznych momentach), to zrywa wówczas czapkę razem z głową. Przepiękne utwory, wykonane przez orkiestrę nie pozostawiają cienia wątpliwości - ktoś się do tego przyłożył. Bębny - typowo wojenne instrumenty, występują tu nader często, choć czasem ustępują miejsca niekoronowanemu królowi budowania napięcia, smyczkom. W każdym razie, za samą muzykę, należy się grze owacja na stojąco. Nieco gorzej jest za to w przypadku odgłosów - wszystko „odzywa się" tak, jak powinno. Oprócz ludzi. To znaczy - co do doboru głosów i samego voice actingu nie można mieć zastrzeżeń. Wrogowie po prostu za często się powtarzają. Można uznać to za błahostkę, jednak obawiam się że jedynie do czasu, gdy czekając w ukryciu na odpowiedni moment do szturmu, samemu nie doświadczy się kilkukrotnego powtórzenia niemieckiej kwestii... Jest to z pewnością zależne jedynie od "maszyny losującej", jednak niewątpliwie ten element można było bardziej dopracować.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;"> </span></p>
<p><strong>„This is madness..." - </strong>O grywalności w serii CoD mówić dość trudno, gdyż w grubo ponad połowie, stanowi o niej jej zawiesisty, gęsty klimat. I choć starsze odsłony dziś, z powodu przestarzałości skryptów robią już mniejsze wrażenie, to oddajmy cesarzowi, co cesarskie. Przenośna konsola, w której trwa regularna wojna... to MUSI robić wrażenie. Co prawda, kiepski interfejs nie pozwala w pełni cieszyć się doznaniami, a AI wrogów budzi często jedynie uśmiech politowania. Nie zmienia to faktu że do grania bynajmniej nie przymuszałem się i zapewniam że Wy też nie będziecie musieli tego robić. Przez kampanię idzie się spokojnym, miarowym tempem - jest po prostu przyjemnie (pomijając powtykane tu i ówdzie, frustrujące fragmenty). Grywalność utrzymuje się tu na stałym, dość dobrym poziomie. Oczywiście - nie jest to najciekawsza rozgrywka, jakiej dane mi było doświadczyć na PSP, jednak obgryzać konsoli nikt nie powinien. No, ewentualnie w ostatniej misji, gdzie system checkpointów jest już wybitnie skopany...</p>
<p><a href="http://peacegrenade.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/call-of-duty-roads-to-victory-20070103095213362_640w.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1318" style="border:1px solid black;" title="call-of-duty-roads-to-victory-20070103095213362_640w" src="http://peacegrenade.wordpress.com/files/2008/09/call-of-duty-roads-to-victory-20070103095213362_640w.jpg" alt="" width="440" height="249" /></a></p>
<p>Nie warto owijać w bawełnę - „Roads to Victory" nie jest największym osiągnięciem w serii. Co więcej, przy wysokim poziomie jaki reprezentuje cykl, można stwierdzić, że jest wręcz kazirodczym wybrykiem programistów. Nie oznacza to jednak, że jest grą złą, czy niewartą uwagi. Po prostu twórcy dość nieumiejętnie podeszli do „małej" platformy i - pomimo świetnej oprawy a/v i nieźle zaprojektowanych poziomów, wiele elementów kuleje, nie pozwalając w pełni cieszyć się eksterminacją nazistów. Brak możliwości dowolnej konfiguracji interfejsu, checkpointy których nie można wczytać po wyjściu do menu głównego - to jedynie najpoważniejsze z długiej listy niewygód, na jakie panowie z Amaze Entertainment nas skazali...</p>
<p><strong>boromi</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://peacegrenade.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/61.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1304" title="61" src="http://peacegrenade.wordpress.com/files/2008/09/61.jpg" alt="" width="136" height="92" /></a></p>
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<title><![CDATA[The American Civil War and the Origins of Modern Warfare]]></title>
<link>http://wigwags.wordpress.com/?p=689</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:59:52 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Rene Tyree</dc:creator>
<guid>http://wigwags.it.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/the-american-civil-war-and-the-origins-of-modern-warfare/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Edward Hagerman. The American Civil War and the Origins of Modern Warfare: Ideas, Organization, and ]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Edward Hagerman. <em><a title="Hagerman" href="http://astore.amazon.com/wig-wags-20/detail/0253207150/102-6988136-3924942" target="_blank">The American Civil War and the Origins of Modern Warfare: Ideas, Organization, and Field Command</a></em><span>. Reprint. Indiana University Press, 1992.</span></p>
<p><span><a href="http://wigwags.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/hagerman.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-691 alignleft" style="border:1px solid black;margin:2px 6px;" title="hagerman" src="http://wigwags.wordpress.com/files/2008/09/hagerman.jpg" alt="" width="88" height="134" /></a>In this important work on tactical and strategic military history, Edward Hagerman posits that the American Civil War marshaled in a new era in land warfare colored by the impacts of the <a title="Reference on the Industrial Revolution" href="http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1981/2/81.02.06.x.html" target="_blank">Industrial Revolution</a>. He argues that the complete command and control systems of armies was impacted by factors both occurring across the globe (i.e. technological developments in weaponry and transportation) and unique to America: its culture, geography, and history. </span></p>
<p><span>Hagerman is clear in setting two broad aims for the book. The first is to provide a new analysis of the “theory, doctrine, and practice of field fortification in the tactical evolution of trench warfare.” The second is to analyze the development of field transportation and supply and its impact of the movement and maneuvering of Civil War armies</span></p>
[caption id="attachment_707" align="aligncenter" width="202" caption="Petersburg, Virginia. Dead Confederate soldiers in trenches of Fort Mahone"]<a href="http://wigwags.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/warfare-trench.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-707  " title="warfare-trench" src="http://wigwags.wordpress.com/files/2008/09/warfare-trench.jpg?w=253" alt="" width="202" height="240" /></a>[/caption]
<p><!--StartFragment--><span>Hagerman organizes his study around several themes. The first addresses the ideas and education that informed the American military including the influence of theorists such as <a title="Posts on Jomini" href="http://wigwags.wordpress.com/?s=jomini" target="_blank">Jomini</a>, <a title="Clausewitz.com" href="http://www.clausewitz.com" target="_blank">Clausewitz</a>, and at <a title="West Point" href="http://www.usma.edu/" target="_blank">West Point</a>, <a title="Previous posts on Dennis H. Mahan" href="http://wigwags.wordpress.com/?s=dennis+hart+mahan" target="_blank">Dennis Hart Mahan</a>. Secondly he looks at the organizational change, or lack thereof, in the Army of the Potomac including an explanation of the educational orientation of its leaders. Thirdly he explores the Army of Northern Virginia and the culture and traditions which informed men of the south who entered the military. Next he dives into the emergence of trench warfare and the strategic and tactical evolution that resulted from it. And importantly, he finishes with the evolution of total war and the strategy of exhaustion. </span></p>
[caption id="attachment_391" align="alignright" width="48" caption="Dennis H. Mahan"]<a href="http://wigwags.wordpress.com/files/2008/05/dmahan-cropped.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-391 " title="dmahan-cropped" src="http://wigwags.wordpress.com/files/2008/05/dmahan-cropped.jpg" alt="Dennis Mahan" width="48" height="206" /></a>[/caption]
<p><span><span>This work should be of particular interest to military historians and even more so to those interested in the American Civil War and its impact on military logistics, the use of technology, weaponology, military tactical and strategic thought, and the concepts of modern warfare and its history.</span> </span></p>
<p><span><span>There is an extensive notes section valuable to the serious student of military history. This is augmented by a “Works Cited” section including listings of primary sources. The introduction to the book provides an exceptional summary of many of the key factors that impacted the war.</span> </span></p>
<p><span><span>Edward Hagerman brings to this study the credentials of academician. He was Associate Professor of History at York University in Toronto, Canada at the time of the book’s publication. He is also the recipient of the <a title="Society for Military History Awards" href="http://www.smh-hq.org/awards.html" target="_blank">Moncado Prize of the Society of Military History</a>.</span><br />
</span></p>
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<title><![CDATA[Why equipping martyrdom in hardcore COD4 matches is ridiculous]]></title>
<link>http://dymndheartkilla.wordpress.com/?p=33</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:19:57 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>dymndheartkilla</dc:creator>
<guid>http://dymndheartkilla.it.wordpress.com/2008/09/23/why-equipping-martyrdom-in-hardcore-cod4-matches-is-ridiculous/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I love hardcore search and destroy and hardcore team deathmatch in Call of Duty 4. The only thing th]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I love hardcore search and destroy and hardcore team deathmatch in Call of Duty 4. The only thing that could possibly be better would be hardcore team tactical, but that will probably never happen. However, the one thing I hate (other than RPG team killers) is teammates who keep martyrdom activated as their third perk in hardcore matches.</p>
<p>Three reasons why martydom is a ridiculous perk to equip in hardcore matches:</p>
<ol>
<li>Martyrdom is really only useful on smaller maps, of which there aren't many.</li>
<li>It is so hit and miss that you end up getting as many team kills off of it as you do enemy deaths. Especially on larger maps where you are near your teammates.</li>
<li>While I will admit it's nice to get the occasional redemption, that is all wiped away by all those who will call you a dumb ass for team killing.</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>Here's me crossing my fingers that they get the no team kill hardcore game modes up soon...</li>
</ul>
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<title><![CDATA[COD4 for Mac is finally available!]]></title>
<link>http://prettypinkninja.wordpress.com/?p=456</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:50:47 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>prettypinkninja</dc:creator>
<guid>http://prettypinkninja.it.wordpress.com/2008/09/22/cod4-for-mac-is-finally-available/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Update: please read Delu&#8217;s comment, below.
It is finally possible to play COD4 on Mac OSX.  I ]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><b>Update:</b> please read Delu's comment, below.</p>
<p>It is finally possible to play COD4 on Mac OSX.  I was beginning to think that the day would never come, but alas, here it is! It is temporarily out of stock on Amazon.ca, so you might want to look elsewhere for it at the moment.  I wonder if any local stores would already have it in stock...</p>
<p>I can't believe that a month has gone by already.  I was right when I predicted that I would be too busy with readings to play another game haha.  I wish it had come out in the summer time!</p>
<p>Amazon.ca : <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/11760-Call-of-Duty-4/dp/B00134G3AS/ref=pd_bbs_sr_6?ie=UTF8&#38;s=videogames&#38;qid=1219691974&#38;sr=8-6" target="new">COD4 for Mac</a></p>
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<title><![CDATA[Double XP weekend and 50% off Map pac]]></title>
<link>http://senorbarrigas.wordpress.com/?p=188</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:28:26 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>senorbarrigas</dc:creator>
<guid>http://senorbarrigas.it.wordpress.com/2008/09/11/double-xp-weekend-and-50-off-map-pac/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[
Heads up that this weekend from Friday the 12th - Sunday the 14th on Xbox Live (PS3 event will be l]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://senorbarrigas.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/2xp.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-189" title="2xp" src="http://senorbarrigas.wordpress.com/files/2008/09/2xp.png" alt="" width="420" height="358" /></a></p>
<p>Heads up that this weekend from Friday the 12th - Sunday the 14th on Xbox Live (PS3 event will be later, closer to the 18th), IW will be having Double XP all weekend long on every playlist. In addition, IW be doing some DLC promotion on the Xbox Live Marketplace that will allow you to download the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Variety Map  Pack for 50% off, which means you’ll be able to snag all four maps for just 400 MS points. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://senorbarrigas.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/prestiges.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-190" title="prestiges" src="http://senorbarrigas.wordpress.com/files/2008/09/prestiges.png" alt="" width="420" height="95" /></a></p>
<p>That’s not all though, the Prestige Gamer pic pack will be back on the marketplace for download for all those who missed out on it’s limited offering during the last LIVE fire weekend. </p>
<p>So you’ll be able to grab gamer pics of every prestige rank after downloading the discounted Variety Map Pack.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Call Of Duty 4 - Final]]></title>
<link>http://ismetc.wordpress.com/?p=52</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:14:01 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>ismetc</dc:creator>
<guid>http://ismetc.it.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/call-of-duty-4-final/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Call Of Duty 4: Mopdern Warfare oyunundan aldığım 9:39 dakikalık video. Oyunu ikinci zorluk dere]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Call Of Duty 4: Mopdern Warfare oyunundan aldığım 9:39 dakikalık video. Oyunu ikinci zorluk derecesinde bitirdim.<br />
</p>
<div>[livevideo id=A4A8EA8CB4F446E790A686D7112736FC/764668/call-of-duty-4-final.aspx]<br /><a href="http://www.livevideo.com/video/embedLink/A4A8EA8CB4F446E790A686D7112736FC/764668/call-of-duty-4-final.aspx">Call Of Duty 4 - Final</a></div>
<p>Bu da 3 dakikalık son bölüm.</p>
<p><font size="1"><a href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1679625/call_of_duty_4_final/">Call Of Duty 4 - Final</a> - <a href="http://www.metacafe.com/">The best bloopers are here</a></font></p>
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<title><![CDATA[Modern Warfare playlist UPDATE]]></title>
<link>http://senorbarrigas.wordpress.com/?p=76</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:30:44 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>senorbarrigas</dc:creator>
<guid>http://senorbarrigas.it.wordpress.com/2008/08/19/modern-warfare-playlist-update/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[IW is hard at work trying to get the playlist update out to us as soon as possible.  But this does ]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>IW is hard at work trying to get the playlist update out to us as soon as possible.  But this does not come easy with all the testing that is needed to make sure that the update does not unbalance game play and/or messes something else up.  Some of these can be accomplsished with a simple update to the game. But other gametypes would requiere and actual "patch' for the game to solve some of the problems that are accuring.</p>
<p>Here are the playlist that are currently in testing and where IW stands. <a title="updated playlist" href="http://www.fourzerotwo.com/2008/08/18/mixing-things-up-new-playlist-status/#more-429" target="_blank"><em>source 402</em></a></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Hardcore Headquarters - <span style="color:#008000;"><em>No Patch Required</em></span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Testing is completed for Hardcore HQ. This playlist has standard HQ rules w/ Hardcore Settings. Limited HUD, Increased Bullet Damage, and Friendly Fire Enabled.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Hardcore Ricochet Playlist - <span style="color:#008000;"><em>Currently Testing</em></span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">We’re currently testing this playlist now to see if a patch will be required for it or not. We should know soon. This is the No Teamkilling playlist. Any damage a teamkiller attempts to do to their team mates is reflected onto themselves only. Therefore, if they attempt to shoot an RPG into the ground at the beginning of the match; the only person who will die, is the Teamkiller. This eliminates the fear of being shot in the back by some asshole, but still encourages players to play tactically and not throw random nades, because if you accidentally hit a teammate, you’re only going to end up killing yourself and they’ll go unharmed. No Teamkilling, No Random Nades. This playlist will include the variant for Hardcore Teamdeathmatch, Hardcore Search and Destroy, and Hardcore HQ.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Sudden Death Sabotage -<em> <span style="color:#008000;">Currently Testing</span></em></strong></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Sabotage with no respawns. Fast-paced and intense Sabotage. No more hiding with the bomb until time runs out for sudden death. Increased XP per kills to encourage Team Deathmatch mentality. Defend your objective, while attempting to secure the bomb and plant on theirs. Once you’re dead, you’re dead. No second chances. We’re currently testing to see if this can be implemented without a patch.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Second Chance Search and Destroy - <span style="color:#008000;"><em>Currently Testing</em></span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Search and Destroy with 1 respawn each. This completely revamps your Search and Destroy tactics. No longer will lucky frag or well-placed claymore end your chance of victory. Each player has 1 respawn, creating longer more thoughout attack / defend strategies. Eliminate enemy players, and cut off their reinforcements while you defuse.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">——–</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">If all these get past Quality Assurance (Test) with zero bugs, then we’ll be able to implement these four new playlists rather quickly (once QA and Localization is finished). In addition, we plan on adding Killhouse to more playlists and adjusting the amount of XP you get in certain playlists. (i.e. double XP in hardcore and new playlists).</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Hit the jump for the playlists we’d like to do, but would require some code work to implement.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">
<p style="text-align:left;">The following gametypes would require code support in order to implement. Which means we’d have to patch. Now anytime you require a patch that’s a much lengthier process than just doing a playlist update because it requires code work, very extensive QA both internally, at Activision, and at Microsoft / Sony. Which is why we want to attempt to get the playlist updates <span style="text-decoration:underline;">ABOVE </span>out first, and then see what our options are with the ones <span style="text-decoration:underline;">BELOW</span>. The ones which require additional support  include:</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Bare-Bones Team Deathmatch - <span style="color:#ff0000;"><em>Patch Required</em></span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Team Deathmatch with no perks and no air support. Problem: Slot 1 Perks Glitch</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Hardcore Free for All - <span style="color:#ff0000;"><em>Patch Required</em></span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Free For All with Hardcore Settings. Problem: UAV glitch</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><em><strong>Team Elimination (Last Man Standing) - <span style="color:#ff0000;">Patch Required</span></strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">3 round Team Deathmatch w/ no respawns. Switch sides each round. Problem: Round Switch Glitch</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Multi-Bomb Search and Destroy - <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Patch Required</span></em></strong></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Search and Destroy but all attackers spawn with a bomb. Problem: Planting Glitch</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Future wars to be fought with mind drugs]]></title>
<link>http://miketomlinson.wordpress.com/?p=728</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:06:31 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>mt330404</dc:creator>
<guid>http://mike-tomlinson.com/2008/08/14/future-wars-to-be-fought-with-mind-drugs/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[
By Jon Swaine
Telegraph.co.uk
August 14, 2008
Click here for the original article
Landmines releasi]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="byline">
<p>By Jon Swaine<br />
Telegraph.co.uk<br />
August 14, 2008<br />
<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/onthefrontline/2557025/Future-wars-to-be-fought-with-mind-drugs.html" target="_blank">Click here for the original article</a></div>
<p><img class="alignleft" src="http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/8/2008/02/village-of-the-damned-kids.jpg" alt="" width="256" height="161" />Landmines releasing brain-altering chemicals, scanners reading soldiers' minds and devices boosting eyesight and hearing could all one figure in arsenals, suggests the study.</p>
<p>Sophisticated drugs, designed for dementia patients but also allowing troops to stay awake and alert for several days are expected to be developed, according to the report. It is thought that some US soldiers are already taking drugs prescribed for narcolepsy in an attempt to combat fatigue.</p>
<p>As well as those physically and mentally boosting one's own troops, substances could also be developed to deplete an opponents' forces, it says.</p>
<p>"How can we disrupt the enemy's motivation to fight?" It asks. "Is there a way to make the enemy obey our commands?" Research shows that "drugs can be utilized to achieve abnormal, diseased, or disordered psychology" among one's enemy, it concludes.</p>
<p>Research is particularly encouraging in the area of functional neuroimaging, or understanding the relationships between brain activity and actions, the report says, raising hopes that scanners able to read the intentions or memories of soldiers could soon be developed.</p>
<p>Some military chiefs and law enforcement officials hope that a new generation of polygraphs, or lie detectors, which spot lie-telling by observing changes in brain activity, can be built.</p>
<p>"Pharmacological landmines," which release drugs to incapacitate soldiers upon their contact with them, could also be developed, according to the report's authors.</p>
<p>The report, which was commissioned by the Defense Intelligence Agency, contained the work of scientists asked to examine how better understanding of how the human mind works was likely to affect the development of technology.</p>
<p>It finds that "great progress has been made" in neuroscience over the last decade, and that continuing advances offered the prospect of a dramatic impact on military equipment and the way in which wars are fought.</p>
<p>It also explains that the concept of torture could be transformed in the future. "It is possible that some day there could be a technique developed to extract information from a prisoner that does not have any lasting side effects," it states. One technique being developed involves the delivery of electrical pulses into a suspect's brain and delay their ability to lie by interfering with its neurons.</p>
<p>Research into "distributed human-machine systems", including robots and military hardware controlled by an operator's mind, is another particular area for optimism among researchers, according to the report. It says significant progress has already been made and that prospects for use of the field are "limited only by the creative imagination."</p>
<p>Jonathan Moreno, a bioethicist and the author of 'Mind Wars: Brain Research and National Defense', said "It's too early to know which, if any, of these technologies is going to be practical. But it's important for us to get ahead of the curve. Soldiers are always on the cutting edge of new technologies."</p>
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<title><![CDATA[New playlist for Modern Warfare in the works.]]></title>
<link>http://senorbarrigas.wordpress.com/?p=55</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:54:48 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>senorbarrigas</dc:creator>
<guid>http://senorbarrigas.it.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/new-playlist-for-modern-warfare-in-the-works/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[IW is working on a whole new playlist to add to its all ready successful and addicting game, Call of]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>IW is working on a whole new playlist to add to its all ready successful and addicting game, Call of Duty 4: M.W..  The playlist are currently under testing to make sure everything is balanced and everything works well.  AS of right now there is no ETA on when they will be available but hopefully it will be soon.</p>
<p>Here are the new playlist that will be added.</p>
<p><strong>Bare-bones Team Deathmatch</strong></p>
<p>No more excuses. No more blaming Martyrdom or Juggernaut for your lack of skills and kills. Bare Bones Team Deathmatch eliminates the excuses and takes it back to basics with standard Team Deathmatch with no perks, no kill streak rewards. Just you, your skill, and your weapons.</p>
<p><strong>Hardcore HQ</strong></p>
<p>Hardcore HQ requires a lot more than just spamming the HQ position with nades and running in guns blazing. Hardcore HQ encourages more tactical gameplay and communication to win with increased damage, no HUD elements, and friendly fire on.</p>
<p><strong>Multi-bomb Search and Destroy<br />
</strong></p>
<p>Multi-bomb Search and Destroy starts every member of the attacking team with a bomb. So everyone has the opportunity to plant if they’re good enough.</p>
<p><strong>Hardcore FFA</strong></p>
<p>Even faster paced Free For Alls, where every bullet counts and playing smart is key for a solid k/d ratio. Standard Free for All rules, with Hardcore mode enabled for extra damage, no HUD, and no health re-gen.</p>
<p>source: <a class="alignleft" title="new playlist" href="http://www.fourzerotwo.com/2008/07/21/new-playlists-status-process/" target="_blank">www.fourzerotwo.com</a></p>
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<title><![CDATA[Monday August 4, 2008]]></title>
<link>http://nostalgeek.wordpress.com/?p=204</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:16:22 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>nostalgeek</dc:creator>
<guid>http://nostalgeek.it.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/monday-august-4-2008/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[SquareEnix Continues to Make Noise
They already made the biggest announcement of this year&#8217;s E]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="color:#993300;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>SquareEnix Continues to Make Noise</strong></span></span></p>
<p>They already made the biggest announcement of this year's E3 revealing that <strong>Final Fantasy XIII</strong> would be released on the Xbox 360 but today they said something that is sure to annoy a lot of PS3 anew.<br />
Apparently development of the game on the Microsoft console hasn't even started since they haven't received the dev kits yet. This should be good news for Sony fans no? Well not at all. While the Playstation will have a timed exclusivity in Japan, <strong>SquareEnix</strong> has announced that the game would be released on both consoles simultaneously in the U.S.. This means that even if the PS3 version is finished, users may have to wait months for the 360 version to come out before they can play the game.<br />
As Will Smith used to say in <em>Bad Boys</em> : "I'd be....pissed!"</p>
<p><span style="color:#993300;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Call of Duty 6 Developed by Infinity Ward?</strong></span></span></p>
<p>Activision is set to try and release a CoD game every year but in order to achieve this they need to have 2 studios working at the same time on different games. Currently <strong>Treyarch </strong>is working on <strong>Call of Duty 5: World at War</strong> so when <strong>Activision Blizzard</strong> CEO Bobby Kotick confirmed that another CoD title was planned for 2009 it set ablaze rumors that <strong>Infinity Ward</strong>, who developed the hit <strong>Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare</strong>, was working on the title.<br />
It hasn't been confirmed yet but the studio said they were working on a new title for Activison so it looks like it is a strong possibility.</p>
<p><span style="color:#993300;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>American McGee Is Back!!!!!!</strong></span></span></p>
<p>After the amazing <strong>American McGee's Alice</strong>, which is one of my all-time favorite games and holds one of my top 10 favorite soundtracks ever thanks to Chris Vrenna, and the very sad cancellation of <strong>American McGee's Oz</strong> (please please please! make it!), the infamous guy went underground for a while. But now he is back with a gritty adaptation of the Brother's Grimm tales.<br />
The game will be released in 24 episodes available through <a href="http://www.gametap.com/grimm/" target="_blank">Gametap </a>and it's all free so you have no excuse. The first episode was released last Thursday, the 31.</p>
<p>I haven't tried the game yet but I intend to soon and will try to make a quick review.</p>
<p><a href="http://nostalgeek.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/21741_normal.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-205" src="http://nostalgeek.wordpress.com/files/2008/08/21741_normal.jpg?w=128" alt="" width="128" height="96" /></a> <a href="http://nostalgeek.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/01423460.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-206" src="http://nostalgeek.wordpress.com/files/2008/08/01423460.jpg?w=120" alt="" width="120" height="96" /></a> <a href="http://nostalgeek.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/01423516.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-207" src="http://nostalgeek.wordpress.com/files/2008/08/01423516.jpg?w=120" alt="" width="120" height="96" /></a></p>
<p><span style="color:#993300;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>Nintendo and the Rumor Mill</strong></span></span></p>
<p>A bunch of rumors went through the web today after some fans saw RSS feeds mentioning the <strong>Wii 2</strong> and <strong>Shigeru Miyamoto</strong>'s 'last' project. The whole thing emerged from a <em>Wall Street Journal</em> talking about the company trying to keep its momentum.<br />
In the end it turns out it's just some very basic info that was overblown. <strong>Nintendo </strong>is indeed working on the Wii 2....since the Wii launched. Just as Sony has been working on the PS4 and Microsoft has been working on the Xbox 720.<br />
As far as Miyamoto's last project, they simply meant "the last project that he had in mind when they launched the Wii (almost 2 years ago). So he is now brainstorming hard to find new original and exciting (hopefuly more so then Wii Music) for our pleasure.</p>
<p>In the end, nothing to write home about.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Billion Dollar Toys]]></title>
<link>http://fucksquad.wordpress.com/?p=342</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:46:28 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jason Rickner</dc:creator>
<guid>http://fucksquad.it.wordpress.com/2008/07/19/billion-dollar-toys/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[CNN reports that the presidential candidates have been asked to weigh in on the Marine One, a fleet ]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>CNN reports that the presidential candidates have been asked to <a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/07/18/obama-mccain-yet-to-take-stand-on-pricey-new-marine-one/">weigh in on the Marine One,</a> a fleet of over two dozen helicopters used to transport the President over short distances. As is typical with any military project, the cost is in the billions; also typical for such projects is the fact that it's costing about twice as much as was originally projected:</p>
<blockquote><p>Originally carrying a hefty price tag at $6.1 billion, the fleet of 28 helicopters being built to fly the next president is now projected to cost $11.2 billion.</p></blockquote>
<p>This bloated endeavor is symptomatic of the state of defense spending in the US. Eager to avoid being labeled as "weak on defense," legislators form both parties almost never reduce the budget of any defense project, even if they know it's wasteful, unnecessary or not even requested by military leaders. In many cases, Congressmen will add billions in additional funds to defense appropriations for no reason whatsoever, just for the purposes of election posturing.</p>
<p>And this madness doesn't even guarantee a better functioning military; rather, it removes any sense of accountability from contractors or military producers. Other First World militaries, who actually have to make the case to their governments how any proposal would actually be useful, have been transforming into streamlined forces more capable of dealing with 21st century challenges; meanwhile, we're pumping more and more money into a bloated Cold War behemoth with modern elements being stacked on top, not replacing the outdated elements. And they're even doing it on the cheap. In the case of these helicopters:</p>
<blockquote><p>At $400 million apiece, the helicopters far exceed a prime example McCain uses on the campaign trail to rail against congressional pork-barrel spending, a $230 million "bridge to nowhere" in Alaska. The British have bought the same base model helicopter for $57 million each.</p></blockquote>
<p>We spend more money on our military than entire continents, often without concrete benefits to its effectiveness. Any politician who really wants to talk about government accountability needs to stop stabbing at our now-pitiful social welfare programs and turn their attention to the trillion-dollar elephant in the room.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Infinity Ward renegocia contrato com Activision para nova franquia]]></title>
<link>http://hardcoregaming.wordpress.com/?p=948</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:17:44 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>khorino</dc:creator>
<guid>http://hardcoregaming.it.wordpress.com/2008/07/08/infinity-ward-renegocia-contrato-com-activision-para-nova-franquia/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A Infinity Ward, criadora da franquia Call of Duty, confirmou hoje por meio de Rob Bowling, em seu b]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2d/Infinityward.png" alt="" />A Infinity Ward, <strong>criadora da franquia Call of Duty</strong>, confirmou hoje por meio de Rob Bowling, em seu blog, que renegociou o contrato com a Activision para que possa começar a produzir uma nova franquia. A diferença sobre Call of Duty é que nessa nova franquia, que <strong>deve ser de ficcção científica</strong>, a empresa terá controle total. Já a famosa série de guerra também é desenvolvida pela Treyarch, que é responsável pela quinta versão.</p>
<p><em><strong>“Nós estamos felizes em anunciar que nos meses recentes, nós decidimos renegociar nosso contrato com a Activision”</strong></em>, disse Rob Bowling.</p>
<p><em><strong>“O contrato renegociado pode não ter muito impacto para vocês, mas permite que nós comecemos a pensar em nosso futuro projeto, assim como a possibilidade de uma nova franquia, que nós teremos controle total. Nós estamos felizes em trabalhar no nosso próximo projeto, mas vai demorar um pouco para detalhar o que o projeto é exatamente.”</strong></em></p>
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<title><![CDATA[New Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare v1.7 Patch]]></title>
<link>http://yosuaniam.wordpress.com/?p=218</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:15:52 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Yosuan</dc:creator>
<guid>http://yosuaniam.it.wordpress.com/2008/06/28/new-call-of-duty-4-modern-warfare-v17-patch/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The latest patch for the PC edition of Infinity Ward&#8217;s Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is now a]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The latest patch for the PC edition of Infinity Ward's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is now available, <span class="ii iipatch">updating the game to version 1.7</span>.</p>
<p>According to publisher Activision, the 39mb download includes the following changes:</p>
<ul>
<li>Fixed an exploit that allowed players to access certain console dvars during multi-player matches.</li>
<li>Fixed a crash that could occur when a Chinatown Sabotage match would go into over-time.</li>
<li>Fixed a bug where the MP icons (Bomb, Defend, Capture, etc) were always showing up as English regardless of the install language.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.gamershell.com/download_28304.shtml">http://www.gamershell.com/download_28304.shtml</a></p>
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<title><![CDATA[Cluster munitions: a harrowing aspect of modern warfare]]></title>
<link>http://ishratsaleem.wordpress.com/?p=13</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:02:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>ishratsaleem</dc:creator>
<guid>http://ishratsaleem.it.wordpress.com/2008/06/12/cluster-munitions-a-harrowing-aspect-of-modern-warfare/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[
Ishrat Saleem
Where advances in technology have unimaginably eased the life of people by providing ]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0;"><span style="font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0;"><span style="font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Ishrat Saleem</span><font face="Times New Roman"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Where advances in technology have unimaginably eased the life of people by providing modern gadgets and means of communications, they have also produced fearful weapons for militaries. Cluster munition is one such kind of weapons, which helps the military to achieve its objectives with precision, but pose a grave danger to the population of the area. Cluster munition has earned this name because each such bomb, artillery shell, or rocket eject a cluster of small bomblets, which are spread over a wide area. However, wherever they have been used, civilian populations have paid a heavy price over many years after the conflict ended. The main threat of cluster bombs does not come from bomblets that exploded. It comes from those that did not explode and, like landmines, pose a long-term danger to unsuspecting civilians, who may hit them unwittingly and cause an explosion. It is extremely expensive to locate and remove unexploded munition left by cluster bombs. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The increasing number of victims and the scale of use of cluster munitions prompted Norway to take initiative to gather support again the use of cluster munitions and start what is now called ‘Oslo process’ a year earlier. This process matured after meetings in Lima, Peru, and Vienna, Austria last year and yielded a draft declaration at a meeting in Wellington, New Zealand in February this year. The draft was again taken up again in Dublin and after 12 days of intense negotiations, members agreed on the final draft. On May 30, 2008, the United Nations approved the draft of a convention to ban on cluster munitions. Delegates of some 111 countries were present in Dublin, Ireland, to approve the draft of Convention on Cluster Munitions (called Wellington Declaration). The convention bans the use of cluster munitions, requires the destruction of stockpiles within eight years and provides for helping victims and clearing contaminated areas within 10 years. This convention will be opened for signature in December. However, like all UN conventions will come into force after a specific number of signatories ratify it. In this case, the number is 30.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Although major cluster bomb stockpilers and producers - United States, China, Russia, Israel, India and Pakistan - did not participate in negotiations, those campaigning for ban on the clumber bombs described the adoption as hugely significant. They hope to stigmatise cluster bombs as much as landmines and shame the non-signatories into not using them. This treaty has been hailed as a real contribution to humanitarian law. Among the supporters are important nations such as Britain, France, Australia, Norway, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, South Africa and Ireland. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has confirmed that Britain would discontinue its use of two cluster munitions: an Israeli-designed artillery shell and a US-made rocket system for use on Apache attack helicopters. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Cluster munitions have been used by as many as 14 nations since the creation of the United Nations. These include former Yugoslavia, Russian, Eritrea, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and United States. The nations that have used cluster bombs but now support Convention on Cluster Munitions are France, Netherlands, Sudan, United Kingdom, Monaco, Nigeria, and Tajikistan. About 28 countries, including Pakistan have produced cluster munitions, while about 75 countries have stockpiles of these weapons on their soil. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The United States has refused to be a party to this treaty on the plea that elimination of its stockpiles would endanger the lives of its soldiers and coalition partners. It may be remembered that the US extensively used cluster munitions during attack on Afghanistan and Iraq, leaving hundreds killed or maimed, while unexploded bombs still pose danger to whoever steps upon them. Likewise, Israel rained Lebanon with cluster bombs during the war in 2006. You would wonder why vast tracks in Southern Lebanon had not been sown, as is the centuries-old practice. The reason is that they have been sowed by enough unexploded bomblets that it is extremely dangerous to even walk through the area.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The statistics about unexploded submunitions lying dormant in the fields and roadsides of Southern Lebanon are frightening. About 40 percent of the bomblets dropped on Lebanon did not explode. In early 2007, the United Nations put the number of unexploded bomblets present in Southern Lebanon at about a million – more than the number of people. They lie in tobacco fields, olive groves, on rooftops, in farms, mixed in with rubble. Several people have lost their lives or got injured by these munitions.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">It is encouraging that the 111 nations across the globe realise the danger that these weapons poses to the population. The treaty, however, leave the door open for the future production and use of this kind of munition (if the number and weight of submunitions meets the criteria laid out in the treaty and it contains auto-self-destruct mechanism). The Convention allows military cooperation of member countries with non-signatory nations and is silent on the presence of a foreign nation’s stockpile of cluster munitions on a member country’s soil. Despite these drawbacks, the Convention is a significant achievement. Cluster munitions ban campaigners should keep on working to gather more support and also address the loopholes in the treaty to make the world a safer place.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:Arial;" lang="EN">Countries that ratify the convention are obliged "never under any circumstances to":</span></p>
<p style="margin-left:0.5in;margin-right:0.5in;"><span style="font-family:Arial;" lang="EN">(a) Use cluster munitions;<br />
(b) Develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer to anyone, directly or indirectly, cluster munitions;<br />
(c) Assist, encourage or induce anyone to engage in any activity prohibited to a State Party under this Convention</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></p>
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