ADE-651 Magic Wand Bomb Detector Is a Fraud, Probably Killed Hundreds

[Renew Deal]

Jim McCormick promised his ADE-651 wand could identify anything, including bombs, simply by waving it around with the right RFID card inside. Yeah, totally fake, and now he's in prison. Too bad Iraq already spent $85 million on them. Updated.

Literally, the $40,000 (apiece) devices did absolutely nothing. Nada. Zilch. Experts think the insides contained nothing more than a dumb RFID card. Powered by nothing. Nope, not even a power supply. Just some snake oil, if that. $85 million!

Even worse, "inventor" McCormick was a firm, open believer in dowsing (as in, finding water with a stick), and that's what the device was based on. Dowsing!

The BBC ran an investigative report on the device, during which McCormick claimed, without breaking his stride, that the device could detect explosives up to one kilometer away. Video below (money shot at 7:30 when the insides are shown to be empty):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQMwXo1SSVo

Now the money lost is bad, but the loss of life is worse. Immeasurable. Security personnel and Iraqi soldiers were using these powerless dowsing rod devices in the field to detect bombs at security checkpoints and who knows where else. Scores died with this murderous thing gripped tightly in their hands. Hundreds more when the security checkpoints, armed with these devices, failed to protect them.

Update: We ran the US's doubts on this device in November. This story confirms without a doubt that devices were fake, probably resulted in hundreds of deaths, and that McCormick, thankfully for the human race, has been arrested and is awaiting trial (although he's currently out on bail).

Update 2: The story gets worse. As some have pointed out below, the Iraqi government is standing by these useless devices, even after the BBC report and complaint were filed.

http://gizmodo.com/5455692/ade+651-magic-wand-bomb-detector-is-a-fraud-probably-killed-hundreds

[thunder rising]

1. "Iraqi government is standing by these useless devices"? I love it. At least McCormick has a job

[dipsydoodle]

2. Been reported before

and shortly afterwards the Iraqi governmant stated that they do work and will continue to buy them. :shrug:

[Blue_Tires]

3. somewhere the big cheeses at KBR/Halliburton are pissed

mostly, because they didn't think of it first, and that some no-name small timer is cutting into their profiteering action....

[SallyMander]

4. Hey, anything for a buck, right???

Just sickening... :puke:

[Vinnie From Indy]

5. Has the world gone insane?

How in the hell could these things have been purchased without some sort of vetting/testing process? I find it inconceivable that these wands were not waved over some test subjects to find out if they worked. How would they train people to use these if they never went off? This is perhaps one of the most bizarre stories I have ever heard if it is all true.

[wroberts189]

10. Perhaps contract kickbacks/bribery? ...it is perplexing that is for sure. nt

[dbonds]

6. Testing whether a device can detect explosives or not is not a hard test.

Is there no acceptance testing? or worst case field reports?

[Renew Deal]

9. My guess is that no one wants to do the testing.

:nuke:

[dbonds]

11. After some thought, I can't see how anyone would buy these untested.

Maybe there is a different side to this article. I don't know, but maybe this is just info put out by a competitor. How could anyone spend 85 million on devices that aren't tested, examined and wouldn't work in the field? Either there is a kickback/corruption with the purchaser and manufacturer, or this is spin by a competitor. I just find it hard to believe at face value that some guy was selling empty rods and Iraq bought $85 million untested. There is more to this story.

[SidDithers]

7. Endemic of the belief that magical thinking is real...

It's supremely unfortunate the the consequences in this case are so dire.

Sid

[Scurrilous]

8. K & R

:thumbsup: