US troops in Iraq come up with an aesthetic idea

Just noticed the 23 July Business Week, page 33: "Beam of Light Technologies (Portland, OR) imports green lasers from Taiwan for such civilian uses as classroom teaching and birdwatching. Soldiers in Iraq have found that green lasers, easier to see than red ones, can be used to warn motorists to stop when they approach a checkpoint. The alternative - firing a few warning shots - often frightens drivers, prompting them to accelerate instead, which can cause soldiers to open fire. The REF (an Army office) reports that green lasers have reduced aggressive drivers at checkpoints by as much as 80%." Positive news is hard to find in the mainstream media.