The New Weapons of War

By Lana Christian

We’re good at making war. But we’ve never mastered getting along with each other. That’s why we still have wars.

As the United States looks to the next unavoidable conflict, it’s arming itself with a cadre of new, non-lethal weapons. Instead of killing the enemy, we can disarm, disorient, or disable it. (Killing is still an option, too.) Sci-fi meets science in this brave new world. Luke Skywalker waged war close-range with blasters that could stun. Pretty soon, so will our armies. And then our law enforcement officers. Disruptive plasma streams and shock waves are no longer the stuff of Star Trek. They’re new ways to incapacitate the enemy du jour.

An offshoot of a wireless taser will soon become a new form of crowd control. Long-range "sprays" of electricity, conducted via a gas stream or a stream of fibers will subdue a crowd by overloading the nervous system. (Since reported side effects include pain and spasms, we’re not sure how the military will handle thousands of induced epileptic-like fits at once. But they probably have a plan for that, too. Besides, the spasms are supposed to subside.)

Other kinds of "spark streams" can be used as perimeter defenses to deter incoming grenades and missiles—or keep convicts from trying to climb the outer fence. Similarly, non-lethal landmines can deliver 50,000 volt jolts to whoever gets in the way.

An ultrasonic weapon simply called "Screech" disorients oncomers with its piercing pitch and the instant headache it produces. Hand-held lasers and their long-range sisters (yes, they’re truly called "photonic disruptors") disorient perpetrators near or far by shining intense light in their eyes. No reports yet on long-term effects.

A particularly intriguing development is non-lethal bullets—easily adapted to standard guns and rifles. These "smart bullets" can hit targets accurately up to 300 feet away, reportedly not injuring or killing people, especially the ones who accidentally wander in the line of fire. The bullets include boosters that drop off soon after leaving the gun’s muzzle (much like miniature versions of the space shuttle’s booster rockets). This provides tremendous kinetic energy, a.k.a. really packs a wallop when it hits you. But it doesn’t kill you. According to the manufacturer, this enables the military to "punch, slap and hit an individual repetitively from a distance and in a manner, which provides no injuries." Hmmm. An optional bonus is that the bullets can unleash irritants, laughing gas, or chemical agents upon impact.

Companies like Xtreme Alternative Defense Systems are cranking out these inventions as fast as government contracts and R & D will allow. While we applaud the innovations that are intended to minimize "collateral damage" (a.k.a. dead civilians), you have to wonder about human rights issues. What all can you do to someone whose nervous system is shut down for a while (besides drag ’em into jail)?

Let’s hope that the government is equally creative and ardent about honing its communication and negotiation skills.