Ho-Leee Crap!

[valarltd]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/09/12/usaf.weapons.ap/index.html

The first paragraphs alone are awful:
Nonlethal weapons such as high-power microwave devices should be used on American citizens in crowd-control situations before being used on the battlefield, the Air Force secretary said Tuesday.

The object is basically public relations. Domestic use would make it easier to avoid questions from others about possible safety considerations, said Secretary Michael Wynne.



Hoooooleeeee CRAP!

Comments

[riverheart.livejournal.com]

Yeah, when the crowd starts being "testy". I read that as "disagreeing with the party in power".

Police state, anyone?

[cbpotts.livejournal.com]

This is so not a good sign. I don't think things are going to get any better around election time either (the big one, not the 06 congressional races, as this admin has already demonstrated that they don't care what congress thinks, they'll just do it anyway!)

The D-Man checks in

[(Anonymous)]

This administration cares plenty about what congress things... It just doesn't care what the liberal left (who are out of power as a decided minority) cares to keep whining about.

The D-Man checks in

[(Anonymous)]

So let me get this straight: You would prefer rubber bullets, hardwood batons, pepper spray, tasers, tear gas, and water cannons to a microwave device that just causes an out of control mob to feel too sick to the stomach to keep acting up until they simply leave the area of effect? You people get more microwave exposure talking on your cell phones in one day than you would from exposure to one of these crowd control devices. Bone up on the technology and what it actually does before you complain about it or draw ridiculous parallels to a forming police state.

Re: The D-Man checks in

[cbpotts.livejournal.com]

Mr. D --

Methods that sound innocent can and do often have lethal consequences, from the rubber bullets and hardwood batons you cited, to the proposed microwave technology, to the administrations current roster of 'intensive' interrogation techniques, which include forced standing in one position for over 40 hours, repeated dousing with ice cold water, sleep deprivation, and more.

Considering the administrations proven track record of diverting from the facts whenever it suits their needs, I'm hesitant to accept their assessment of any crowd control technology as harmless.

Additionally, considering some of the strongest opposition from the Presidents current push for a blank check allowing his teams to do whatever they'd like in the way of interrogation comes from members of the republican party, I'd hardly consider this a liberal position.

Finally, it might be suggested that one of the most effective routes to crowd control is to avoid giving people a reason to riot. I find it interesting that the only administration to talk publically about crowd control in the last 20 years is the one who is determined to pursue a course of action that the majority of the country is opposed to.

Re: The D-Man checks in

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

No, I'd prefer these not be held out as threats against American citizens who refuse to toe the party line.

They've been in use in Iraq since 2004, according to New Scientist.