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.