Rocket’s red glare

So I was reading the news before I headed to bed tonight and came across this headline: “Rocket Attacks Kill 2 Soldiers In Green Zone, 1 on U.S. Base”  Unfortunately this type of headline isn’t as uncommon as it should be, nor is it particularly new.  However it did produce a thought that focused around the first word “rocket.”  Rockets, self propelled, typically ballistic (otherwise they’re described as missiles), relatively complicated weapons.  Rockets.  60 years ago rocket attacks were the works of governments.  So significant of a financial outlay building rockets could only be sponsored by a rich government.  Mind you the rockets mentioned in the article are significantly smaller then the V2s that I’m referencing here but my point remains the same, things have changed, and a lot.  Even 15 years ago I think the idea of portable rockets in the hands of anyone not being sponsored by a government in some way was unknown.  Sure, non-state actors such as the Taliban used more significant technology against the Soviets in Afghanistan, but that technology was both bankrolled and developed by the United States.

We’re talking about non-state sponsored (Iran may be an issue here but it’s just as likely they aren’t) group possessing rockets, significant technology, I think is pretty incredible.  Incredible in a completely non-value-judgment sort of way.  It’s kind of a sad situation that this is the case, but that doesn’t change how significant this is.

Just a little epiphany I had and I thought I’d share.