"I think it would need modification. Would it need to be made of some sort of stealth material (or shape), to avoid sonar detection? Or is it already small enough that it would be mistaken for debris?" I don't think his point is too far out. Right now, perhaps sonar is limited to a short range and fixed or limited range/purpose platforms like military subs, but if this aquaglider technology (UMV) develops in the manor suggested by the article, I don't see why the world governments wouldn't have thousands, perhaps millions of these (or similar configurations) out there with sonar rigs. They would autonomously operate and surface once a predetermined set of conditions were met, such as the detection of enemy subs, or small man made objects coming from known vectors of transit between drug making and drug loving countries. Maybe someone with some time on their hands could calculate whether or not, based on the range and accuracy of current sonar technology, it would be feasible to 'mine' the coast of Florida with these things and get something like a 15% or 20% coverage.

"No invisibility cloak can hide" famous last words...

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&safe=off&um=1&sa=1&q=RQ-170+Sentinel&btnG=Search&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g10&start=0 wtf.....

Here's what I wonder about the whole issue of games letting us act out illegal/abhorrent/socially unacceptable actions: do they serve as 'first base' for those inclined to commit such crimes or actions? What I mean to say is, lets say I've got a desire to run people over on the streets and speed away. Playing GTA might help me break the ice for this action in an environment where there are no consequences. I can test out how it feels, practice the best speed/turns/whatever that is needed to make a clean getaway, all within the comfort of my living room. If you take this to a rape simulator, I'm sure the same applies. One can conduct their own tests as to methods or perverse pleasure feedback from the suffering of others, without the full weight of the crime itself, as well as breaking down the fear of committing a crime itself. And perhaps after playing for a while, they are one step closer to actually committing a crime. Don't get me wrong, I don't advocate censorship for all of us, just to protect the small percentage of the insane who live among us. But before someone says 'adults aren't that malleable', let me say "bullshit". Every single 'evil' leader in history had a full population of active adults behind them. Its all about power, or being close to it and feeling special as a result. And while 'these games' provide a mere drop in the bucket of the feeling of power that criminals claim exist in capital crimes, the existence of these games may be the drop that causes the whole thing to overflow.

you have too much faith in the public. remember that dude who got his head cut off on a greyhound bus? everyone just sat there screaming, and then ran off the bus while this poor kid was being stabbed to death. and we called them brave for locking him in the bus so he could decapitate the body. no, if another airliner is hijacked, the exact same thing will happen. people are scared and have way too much faith in their government to jump in and save the day.