Weapon of Choice

The Washington Post has a long article about the AK-47, the practical "weapon of mass destruction" that has altered the combat equation for decades. Originally designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov after World War II to ensure that his native Russia would never by outgunned again, the Avtomat Kalashnikova 1947 (AK-47, Cold War and post-Cold War politics brought effective firepower to the masses as well as armies.

Kalashnikov has mixed feelings about his invention.

"I invented it for protection of the motherland. I have no regrets and bear no responsibility for how politicians have used it." Other times he is haunted by the killing machine he has bestowed upon the world. "I wish I had invented a lawnmower," he told the Guardian in 2002.

The article compares the AK-47's simplicity and easy maintenance to the American M16, which was born out of necessity when US M-14's were no match for AK's in Vietnam. By the time I reached Vietnam, M-16's were pretty reliable if you kept it clean, although the early M-16's had a disturbing reputation for jamming. During my infantry training a drill sergeant compared the two weapons. He described the AK-47 as a durable weapon that functioned well in a harsh environment, put out a heavier slug at a higher muzzle velocity but was heavier and crippled by a noisy safety switch. The years since have demonstrated a clear market preference for the AK-47 over the M-16, even to the newly American-equipped Iraqi Army.

If you're looking for a metaphor about the trajectory of American influence in the world, the M-16 AK-47 competition is a good one.