Jim Dunnigan’s Strategy Page reports the cancellation of the development of the XM8, another lightweight assault weapon chambered for the 5.56×45 mm NATO (.223 caliber), owing to growing reports from Iraq of American forces’ disenchantment with the groundhog round’s poor killing power on white-tailed deer-sized targets, i.e., human beings (Too often, enemy troops require several 5.56mm bullets to put them out of action), and because of the small round’s lack of ability to penetrate walls and doors in urban fighting.

Reports from Iraq indicate that the infamous M-16 is just as prone to jamming on account of desert dust, as it was from jungle mud in Vietnam.