US Air Force to Test Hi-Tech Weapons on Americans?

GayBliss writes to tell us CNN.com has an article about how the US Air Force secretary proposes testing new 'non-lethal' weapons on American citizens before deploying them to the battlefield. New weapons like a high-power microwave device are designed to incapacitate people or sometimes even electronic devices. From the article: "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."

Comments

Re:Major Flaw

[Red Flayer]

Give me a break. When you get to the point where you are trying to care about what people think about you in a war you are losing. War is for one thing only--the destruction of your enemy.

Wars have always been fought for things other than destruction of your enemy.

Independence (which doesn't require destruction of enemy.
Territory (ditto).
Other scarce resources (food, water, oil, gold, etc. -- doesn't necessarily require destruction of your enemy).

War isn't about destroying your enemy (that's genocide you're thinking of, there). War is typically about the control of resources, and one of those resources is popular opinion. Plenty of wars have been fought for PR reasons -- an external enemy is one way of helping ensure you don't have to deal with an internal enemy.

Out of context

[liak12345]

I think he just stated his point poorly. It isn't that he wants to test them on US citizens, it is that- If we're developing weapons to use on civilians that are supposed to be non-lethal BUT we're afraid to use them on our own citizens THEN we're not really sure that they're non-lethal and shouldn't be used. If we are secure enough in their safety that we would be willing to use them at home then they are ready to be used overseas. He isn't advocating rounding up citizens to shoot guns at. He's focusing on safety.

Re:How about

[Amouth]

that is what the guy to invented the bullet proof vest did..

he made it and no would would buy it.. so he video taped him self shooting him self in the gut.. and sent the tape to the police departmnets - and well we all know how well that worked out...

hell i would take a bullet to have that credit to my name

Re:Rich = Powerful = I Do Whatever I Want

[Marxist Hacker 42]

Does anyone get the feeling that sometimes America is a place where rich, powerful people do whatever they want?

Yes, it's been that way since a Supreme Court Clerk Decided that corporations were persons back in 1886. We lost our democracy then.

Yesterday, we learn that the HP executive who authorized the illegal surveillance has been slapped on the wrist.

Of course- she's not in your class.

Today, we learn that government officials will arbitrarily test military weapons on American citizens.

But only in keeping with what the Corporations want- in other words, they'll be used on protestors who are blocking streets and endangering profits.