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EX500rider

(10,532 posts)
Fri Nov 22, 2019, 01:16 PM Nov 2019

Instant DNA ID:

There were some questions here recently when the US military took out Abu Bakr al Baghdadi whether they could do on site DNA tests. Apparently yes:

"November 22, 2019: U.S. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) revealed that it used a portable DNA tester to quickly confirm the identity of ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi after a raid on his Syrian hideout in September. Baghdadi blew himself up when he was cornered in a tunnel but most of his body was recovered and his head and face were intact. The digital picture of the face was taken and quickly identified as Baghdadi but confirmation came within two hour with the use of a portable (weighing about 45 kg/100 pounds) DNA lab that was on one of their helicopters.
SOCOM would not give details on their portable DNA tester other than to confirm that it existed and was easy enough to use for SOCOM personnel to be trained to operate it in a combat zone. SOCOM personnel regularly use a lot of complex equipment but for something to be used under combat conditions it must be fairly rugged and easy to operate. SOCOM did reveal that they had earlier obtained a DNA sample for Baghdadi back when he was jailed in Iraq during 2004. The DNA was further confirmed by obtaining another from one of his daughters for familial comparison and confirmation.

SOCOM had long sought such portable and speedy DNA ID kits, especially after the 2011 raid in Pakistan that killed al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden. A DNA sample was taken and flown to a lab Afghanistan for analysis, a process which took more than a day. The big problem with using DNA testing is having a DNA analysis of the suspect or one of his close kin. The U.S. does not have a large DNA database of Islamic terrorist leaders and getting a DNA of dead Islamic terrorists usually gets delayed by the effort to find something to compare it to. DNA of one of bib Laden’s sisters was available and more collected from kin in his compound. The U.S. military already has a large biometric database of digital facial pictures, fingerprints and iris scans and is in the process of building a DNA database.

It was known back in 2015 that SOCOM was testing two portable DNA analysis devices overseas. These two devices each cost about $250,000 and one weighed 55 kg (120 pounds) and the other 91 kg (200 pounds). Both required near constant power because some of the chemicals used must be kept refrigerated. Most importantly these devices could analyze a tissue sample of DNA in 90 minutes and produce an electronic record of the analysis that could be compared with a biometric database via a wireless link. Previously the analysis had to be sent back to the United States or some other nation with classified DNA analysis facilities and this took several days at least. This much speedier DNA analysis has made it possible to catch some bomb builders or others involved in terrorism because of the DNA samples taken from bomb fragments or someplace just raided could be analyzed and compared to suspected terrorists in the area (or not) and suspects could be captured (or killed) before they got away. The portable DNA analyzers were designed to be used by the usual SOCOM personnel found overseas. These guys were bright but few had training as lab technicians. Not much was heard about progress in developing these machines other than that they were still around and being used successfully."

More here:
https://strategypage.com/htmw/htcbtsp/20191122.aspx

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EX500rider

(10,532 posts)
2. Used in conjunction with other biometrics would seem pretty confidant.
Fri Nov 22, 2019, 01:32 PM
Nov 2019

The US military collects fingerprints, iris scans, facial recognition & DNA of suspected terrorists.

Backseat Driver

(4,339 posts)
3. Scarily useful devices, quick and available
Fri Nov 22, 2019, 01:40 PM
Nov 2019

to multiple persons...when you consider that at least 1 of 10 people have mental health issues, scary! Science doesn't lie but where its application is used and for what intent is human-ly influenced clearly without purchasing a 23and me kit...radioactive crap rolls off the truck quite often, and we worry about card readers, hackers...eeek!

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