Pentagon's latest weapon: a pain beam March 2, 2001 Web posted at: 12:49 p.m. EST (1749 GMT) WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Pentagon on Thursday unveiled a new "non-lethal "weapon designed to drive off an adversary with an energy beam that inflicts pain without causing lasting harm. The weapon could be used for riot control and peacekeeping missions when deadly force is not necessary, officials said. The weapon, called "active denial technology," was developed by Air Force research laboratories in New Mexico and Texas as part of a multi-service program run by the Marine Corps. "This revolutionary force-protection technology gives U.S. service members an alternative to using deadly force," said Marine Corps Col. George P. Fenton, director of the program at Quantico, Virginia. The weapon is designed to stop people by firing millimeter-wave electromagnetic energy in a beam hat quickly heats up the surface of the victim's skin. Within seconds the person feels pain that officials said is similar to touching a hot light bulb. Like being burned "It's the kind of pain you would feel if you were being burned," said Rich Garcia, a spokesman for the Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. "It's just not intense enough to cause any damage." The Pentagon has made a strong push to develop "non-lethal" weapons in the aftermath of a humanitarian mission in Somalia in 1992-93 that put soldiers in the ine of fire in urban areas where civilians were present. A prototype of the weapon will be tested on goats and humans at Kirtland in the next few months, Garcia said. "When it penetrates in, it activates the pain sensors, and you feel a lot of pain," Garcia said. "But there's no damage. It truly is a non-lethal device." The Marine Corps said $40 million was spent developing the weapon during the past decade. The Marine Corps plans to mount the microwave weapon on top of Humvees, he Jeep-like vehicles used by both the Marines and the Army. Later it might be used on aircraft and ships, officials said. The weapon could be fielded by 2009, officials said. Concerns remain William Arkin, senior military adviser to Human Rights Watch, questioned whether a pain weapon would be safe to use against civilians in combat situations. "What about children in the crowd? What about pregnant women and the elderly?" he said. "We have developed a nonlethal weapon which causes pain. What happens when someone continues to walk toward the source of the high-power microwave? What happens when panic ensues in a crowd as a result of high-power microwave? What happens when it's focused on someone's eye?" Arkin said. ------------------ Everything you do, effects everything that is.
Just in case; I was joking about wanting one. ------------------ Everything you do, effects everything that is.
Let's just hope they don't invent a pain Internet virus that can shock you through your mouse. I could see Crisco launching that on all of us.
"A prototype of the weapon will be tested on goats and humans at Kirtland in the next few months, Garcia said." I`m sure PETA will have something to say about this. If there going to test this on a human, why the need for a goat? ------------------
This country is scaring the hell out of me more and more every day! ------------------ Rocks2001 in disguise. . .
I like that they call it "active denial technology". I use that all the time. I tell myself I'm not getting fat. I tell myself I'm handsome. I tell myself that women who aren't interested in me are stupid. If that's not effectively using "active denial technology", I don't know what is. ------------------ Houston Sports Board The Anti-Bud Adams Page
Raises interesting questions about mind over matter..... I wonder if they have or would consider testing them on NBA officials. ------------------ Sometimes I think I'd be better off dead. No, wait, not me...you.
I wonder if the IRS will use this as a collections device. You WILL pay your taxes! BZZZZZZ! AAAAAAH! ------------------ "Relax... kids swallow quarters all the time. If she craps out two dimes and a nickel then start worrying!" -Grumpier Old Men [This message has been edited by Timing (edited March 02, 2001).]
"Honey, either I'm having hot flashes, or you left the 'active denial technology' phaser on the sofa again. I hate when you do that." every wife. ------------------ humble, but hungry.
Couldn't the money they spend on these "weapons" be better used for education or feeding the hungry. After all, don't people have enough pain in their lives already? ------------------ "Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."- (Aldous Huxley)
This would be fun to have at the Delta Center. ------------------ That team is not afraid of anybody in the East, and they've been playing that way -- George Karl on the Rockets.
Great, now people are gonna start gettin' carjacked with these damn things! What happened to good ol' days when people brought violence upon you with some nice guns?! ------------------ Whatever you want to do, you have to do something else first.
http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/science/03/02/new.weapon.02/index.html here's the CNN link with pics rH ------------------ Homecourt will always be 'The Summit' to me!! Until we move downtown!! The Psychedelic Groove House of Rockets Basketball Love! Come and chat with us on game nights in CC.net chat!
