semantic drift: "disrupt"

[Dave Hause]

FWIW, the literature probably would have BATF origins - they were using the
term in the mid 90s specifically in disabling explosive devices by an
explosively fired water jet.  I've seen it done, but not seen it written.
Dave Hause, dwhause at jobe.net
Waynesville, MO
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mullins, Bill AMRDEC" <Bill.Mullins at US.ARMY.MIL>

This didn't sound too unusual to me.  But I searched through Newsbank's
"Armed Services and Government News" and "Military Periodicals" and got
nothing similar.

No "Disrupt" AND IED/Bomb/EOD.

No "Disrupt the vehicle/bomb/device/IED".

I'd have thought something would have come up.

> [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Jonathan Lighter
>>
> The D.C. police are at the moment employing a bomb-squad
> robot called "Robocop" (maybe a trademark?) to investigate a
> suspicious vehicle. The police spokesperson is describing the
>   procedure, which includes knocking out a window with a
> robotic arm, as "disrupting the vehicle."  She says too that,
> once it had broken its way inside, the robot could fire a
> stream of water "to further disrupt the vehicle."
>
>   I'd have said "neutralize," but "disrupt" seems to be the
> term of art.

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