Well, one problem with that is it would take substantially more power for the laser light to go through water.
Ah, more fuel for MTG's fires.
Definitely valid concerns.
Its all science that is out there in the real world. Just like the US is "developing" hypersonic missles (that Putie is bandying around like a cave-man's club), pretty much any country with enough will and resources could develop something like this. Hint: look up "laser phase conjugation" and pretty much even you can get the optical fibers that actually produce the laser emission, and on which I suspect that this weapon is based, literally from mail order houses on the net.
Given the direction that current politics is going, having a Reagan again would be an improvement over Trump butt lickers, IMO.
I wonder why so many admire Reagan so much? IMO, his mystique in conservative circles is much like the mystique that surrounds Musky, or Bezos - lots of everything but true substance. At least Reagan was not a wannabe dictator.