Danger Room‘s Nathan Hodge, while talking about a Mexican drug cartel’s improvised .50-caliber machine gun to be bolted to a pick-up, uses this new-to-me terminology: “technical“—an improvised fighting vehicle of the kind favored by Somali warlords and developing-world armies.”
Previously ⌦ gadget, a word
Yeah a Technical is normally seen nowadays as a stripped down Toyota pick up with a deck mounted DShK or a pair of PKs in the back and about 30 Somalis all toting AKs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DShK_Machine_Gun
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PK_machine_gun
It seemed more common in western media in the late 80s and 90s. I haven’t heard it for a while.
roveg
The desert combat mod for Battlefield 1942 has had technicals as a vehicle type since the beginning. Loads of fun.
http://desertcombat.com/Vehicle%20Images/Pickups.jpg
I have an idea. Let’s just put everyone in jail right now and get this stupid drug war over with already.
Of course the Mexican drug cartels will build fancy military-style trucks to implement their turf wars; it comes with having lots of money and few morals. And that comes from the fact that drugs are illegal yet in demand.
Clearly, Joel, you need to go read Black Hawk Down.
Which is an awesome book anyway.
I believe the term ‘Technical’ started in the so-called “Toyota Wars” in Chad back in the late ’80s.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_(fighting_vehicle)
The wikis to the rescue! AFAIK came into common usage in the early 90s during the Somalia conflict.
And as Top Gear proved, a Toyota Hilux diesel is the ideal platform. Tough as nails, though I guess being slow as molasses isn’t a good thing when being shot at.
/sigh
Woe be unto me for not looking at links in the OP. I hereby revoke my own commenting rights for a period of no less than 48 hours, followed by a probationary period of the life of the Rickroll meme.
Technicals – as seen in Command & Conquer Generals! In other words – not knowing the word identifies you as not being a computer game player