ABSTRACT

The transition between outright war and the limited enforcement of obedience of populations can be demonstrated by observing the utilization of rubber and plastic bullets. 1 Among others, they are used in Israel, Indonesia, and Northern Ireland. Rubber bullets contain a core of light metal and a coating of rubber. Thus, the term rubber bullet is misleading and can be regarded as a euphemism. The name implies harmless effects, at least not mutilation or death. The majority of reporting journalists know neither the makeup nor the real effects of these missiles. Not until the middle of 2001 did German TV start to refer to coated-bullets instead of rubber bullets, at least on occasion.