Military Says Test New Weapons on US Crowds Before Using in Battle

[beltman713]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/A...in&oref=slogin

Official Touts Nonlethal Weapons for Use

(Beltman713: Unfucking believable!!!)

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 12, 2006

Filed at 7:42 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Nonlethal weapons such as high-power microwave devices should be used on American citizens in crowd-control situations before they are used on the battlefield, the Air Force secretary said Tuesday.

Domestic use would make it easier to avoid questions in the international community over any possible safety concerns, said Secretary Michael Wynne.

''If we're not willing to use it here against our fellow citizens, then we should not be willing to use it in a wartime situation,'' said Wynne. ''(Because) if I hit somebody with a nonlethal weapon and they claim that it injured them in a way that was not intended, I think that I would be vilified in the world press.''

The Air Force has funded research into nonlethal weapons, but he said the service isn't likely to spend more money on development until injury issues are reviewed by medical experts and resolved.

Nonlethal weapons generally can weaken people if they are hit with the beam. Some of the weapons can emit short, intense energy pulses that also can be effective in disabling some electronic devices.

On another subject, Wynne said he expects to pick a new contractor for the next generation of aerial refueling tankers by next summer. He said a draft request for bids will be put out next month, and there are two qualified bidders: The Boeing Co. and a team of Northrop Grumman Corp. and European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., the majority owner of European jet maker Airbus SAS.

The contract is expected to be worth at least $20 billion.

Chicago-based Boeing lost the tanker deal in 2004 amid revelations that it had hired a top Air Force acquisitions official who had given the company preferential treatment.

Wynne also said the Air Force, which is already chopping 40,000 active duty, civilian and reserves jobs, is now struggling to find new ways to slash about $1.8 billion from its budget to cover costs from the latest round of base closings.

He said he can't cut more people, and it would not be wise to take funding from military programs that are needed to protect the country. But, he said he also encounters resistance when he tries to save money on operations and maintenance by retiring aging aircraft.

''We're finding out that those are, unfortunately, prized possessions of some congressional districts,'' said Wynne, adding that the Air Force will have to ''take some appetite suppressant pills.'' He said he has asked employees to look for efficiencies in their offices.

The base closings initially were expected to create savings by reducing Air Force infrastructure by 24 percent.

[simuvac]

http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/

NEW MILITARY DOCTRINE ON NONLETHAL WEAPONS

Nonlethal weapons "can provide a forgiving means of imposing our will
on adversaries," according to a new U.S. military manual.

Nonlethal weapons (NLW), which do not normally cause fatal injuries,
are intended to provide combatants with tools to disable, apprehend or
deter an opponent by means short of lethal force. They may be deemed
appropriate in urban combat or other environments where civilians are
present among opposing forces.

However, by lowering the threshold for violent conflict and diminishing
its consequences, nonlethal weapons may paradoxically encourage the
outbreak of violence in some circumstances.

The new military manual seeks to preempt confusion about the proper
role of nonlethal weapons while promoting their use when suitable. The
manual also identifies the NLW capabilities that are currently available
for use in each of the military services.

"The existence of NLW does not represent the potential for 'nonlethal
war,' and unrealistic expectations to that effect must be vigorously
avoided," the document states. "NLW provide a wider range of options
that augment, but do not replace, traditional means of deadly force."

Among their presumed advantages, "NLW can facilitate post-incident
stabilization by reducing populace alienation and collateral damage."

"NLW can reduce the possibility of injury to friendly forces."

"NLW have relatively reversible effects compared to lethal weapons."

The new manual on nonlethal weapons has not been approved for public
release. But a copy was obtained by Secrecy News.

See "Multi-Service Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for the Tactical
Employment of Nonlethal Weapons," U.S. Army Field Manual FM 3-22.40,
October 24, 2007 (154 pages, 4.5 MB PDF file):

http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-22-40.pdf

We have deleted one illustration on page III-34 because it is
copyrighted.

[dMole]

The CNN links appear to have 404'ed since 2006.

http://www.mondovista.com/microwave.html

Copyrighted article at:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14806772#storyContinued

How exactly does Fair [research] Use work these days?

[AuGmENTor]

Nonlethal weapons "can provide a forgiving means of imposing our will
on adversaries," according to a new U.S. military manual.

Chilling statement, considering the broad definition of the term adversaries.

[BASE701]

...

[simuvac]

Chilling statement, considering the broad definition of the term adversaries.

And the use of the word "forgiving" is an interesting choice. Suggests both "to yield" and "to forgive".