Experimental Laser-Guided Bullet + More Access for US Military to Philippines

choi

(1) News release: Sandia’s Self-Guided Bullet Prototype Can Hit Target a Mle Away; Four-inch-long bullet can be steered to its target. Sandia National Laboratories, Jan 30, 2012 (video).
https://share.sandia.gov/news/resources/news_releases/bullet/
("a self-guided bullet for small-caliber, smooth-bore firearms that could hit laser-designated targets")

Note:
(a)
(i) Sandia National Laboratories
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandia_National_Laboratories
(The primary campus is located on Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the other is in Livermore, California, next to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)
(ii) The labs are named after
Sandia Mountains
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandia_Mountains
(Sandía means watermelon in Spanish)

(b) gun
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun
(Barrel types include rifled—a series of spiraled grooves or angles within the barrel—when the projectile requires an induced spin to stabilize it and smoothbore when the projectile is stabilized by other means or rifling is undesired or unnecessary)


(2) Manuel Mogato, Exclusive: US Military Seeks More Access in Philippines. Reuters, Feb 9, 2012.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2 ... USTRE8180Q020120209

Quote:

"'It's access, not bases,' a foreign affairs department official familiar with the strategic dialogue told Reuters.

"These activities would allow the US military more access in the Philippines, stretching its presence beyond local military facilities and training grounds into central Cebu province or to Batanes island near the northern borders with Taiwan.

"US ships and aircraft are seeking access for re-supply, re-fueling and repairs, not just for goodwill visits, exercises and training activities, the diplomat said.

"A Filipino diplomat said Washington's expanding presence is allowed under the under a 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement and a 2002 Mutual Logistics Support Agreement.

Note:
(a) The "foreign affairs department official" or "diplomat" is of the Philippines--not US.
(b) Bartanes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batanes
(The provincial capital is Basco on Batan Island[, the main island of the Batanes Province])

Take notice Batanes islands are named after the indigenous people and their language there (in Spanisj, the letter "v" is pronounced the same as "b").
Ivatan language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivatan_language