When Apple installed a “kill switch” on its phones the number of phone thefts plummeted.  And then a light came on.  Wait a moment.  If Apple can remotely disable a phone, why can’t armaments manufacturers install similar switches to disable serious military weapons?

When the ISIS forces captured Mosul earlier this year they captured a lot of the weapons given to the Iraqi army by the United States.  This included helicopters, Abrams tanks, humvees and lesser weaons, which they then used to capture the Mosul Dam.

Epicurus, were he alive today, would be delighted to think that wars could be brought to a grinding halt by having all weapons disabled from a distance.  Such an invention is very Epicurean – Epicurus disapproved of all wars of conquest.  After all, the unnecessary invasion of Sicily was the beginning of the end of the Athenian empire.

A touch of caution, however.  The idea puts a premium on who has the technology and know-how to make modern weapons with the new gizmo installed. The unforeseen results of this new capability would probably be that everyone from Saudi Arabia to Taiwan would cease buying from the established manufacturers (“Why should I buy from you if you can summarily halt any just war against our neighbors for your own purposes?).  The race would be on for every country to build up their armaments industries, confounding us all.

Oh, well, it was a good idea while it lasted!