- Tripwire
A tripwire is a passive
trigger ing mechanism, usually/originally employed for military purposes, although its principle has been used since prehistory for methods of trapping game.Typically, a
wire orcord is attached to some device for detecting or reacting to physical movement. From this basic meaning, several extended and metaphorical uses of the term have developed.For example, theBerlin Brigade stationed in the divided city ofBerlin during theCold War was given the mission to be the "tripwire" for aSoviet incursion intoWest Germany . [ [http://groups.msn.com/berlintankers/general.msnw?action=get_message&mview=1&ID_Message=162 "...but what a tripwire we were!!!"] posted on the [http://groups.msn.com/berlintankers/ Berlin Tankers] web group2005-08-21 , retrievedJune 16 ,2008 :To conclude, I will again agree that we were a trip wire for World War III, but what a great tripwire we were. If an invasion had ever occurred we would have innevitably lost, but the price that the enemy wold have paid to take Berlin would have crippled them.
]Military usage may designate a "tripwire" as a wire attached to one or more mines — normally
bounding mine s and the fragmentation type — in order to increase their activation area. Alternatively, tripwires are frequently used inboobytrap s, whereby a tug on the wire (or release of tension on it) willdetonate theexplosives .Soldiers sometimes detect the presence of tripwires by spraying the area with
Silly String . If the string falls to the ground there are no tripwires. If there is a tripwire, the string will be suspended in the air without pulling the wire. It is being used by U.S. troops inIraq for this purpose. [cite news | url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1561143,00.html | title=Not So Silly String In Iraq | publisher=TIME.com | accessdate=2007-10-16] cite news | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/06/iraq/main2234543.shtml | title=A Serious Use For Silly String | publisher=CBS News | accessdate=2007-10-16] cite news | url=http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/FOX_VIDEO_Silly_String_saving_lives_1204.html | title=FOX VIDEO: 'Silly String' is saving lives over in Iraq | publisher=The Raw Story | accessdate=2007-10-16] .References
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