[rmnunez]

Sounds like something that could be useful both domestically and in Baghdad.

That's my central worry. How many non lethal weapons do they have currently deployed in Iraq?

I gather this is “breakthrough technology”, the “Silent Guardian” mentioned in the item is said to be a “prototype”, I'd expect its a one-of-a-kind, maybe they made two or three. Obviously there are applications for the Iraqi scenario, I'd hope they'd send some of these to the "front".

I wonder whether it could be mounted on a helicopter.

I suspect it won't be long until they turn them on civilians, because after all, "they don't harm you", right.

It was tested on a “civilian”, who reported it felt like a “blast from an oven”. It could be used against unarmed civilians to move a crowd. Blast away and people will instinctively shield themselves, if it goes through glass I’d not advise using it in malls and commercial areas with many shopfronts, what catches fire at 50 degrees?

These weapons are primarily to deal with domestic civilians where deaths are politically damaging, as opposed to abroad where no one gives a crap.

Unpremised characterization and unsubstantiated speculation.

If the thing is effective for crowd control, do you think Sweden would reject the law-enforcement version? I'm sure Israel would like a few and put them to good use in clearing urban areas.

Yeah, but do you think the US will be the only one's with this technology in time?

I doubt anyone else has one, as noted, its "breakthrough technology". But if other countries had the same sort of weapons in their arsenals it shouldn’t make much of a difference, the weapon is clearly designed to disarm and chase away people.

The big question is, what will other's do to modify this tech and to what degree?

I'd improve its mobility, try for portability, miniaturize the thing, triple the power of the beam and focus it to the size of a dime.

It'll get modded to be made smaller, and used for interrogation/torture, depending on your idea of torture.

There’s an interesting idea, how long do you think a man can endure searing heat all over his skin before confessing?

I'm sure you could also up the power and just cook swathes of enemies/civilians with it if they can't move fast enough.

No, its a non-lethal weapon, "cooking" implies the cooked is dead, this doesn't kill. The weapon delivers a severe burning sensation through clothes to the skin's surface, internal organs are fine, a journalist volunteered to test it, he didn't die.

Like, for example, in a crowd. No bullets, more efficient, less gore than using nerve gas on them. Perfect weapon for tyrants.

Better than that they use scootered machine-gunning ayatollah wannabees from the Vice and Virtue Department.

The only benefit I see on this over bio weapons is that the damage would be easier to limit; no risk of damage spreading beyond controlled area.

I hadn’t thought of this, quite true.

I don't see this being used against actual enemy military succesfully, it would be easy to damage it enough to render it worthless.

The military guy said it could be used to disarm an enemy at 500 meters, unless the enemy has a better range this is a great way to push them back. I could see it used in any sort of Iranian-style "human wave" troop surge.

It seems to be pretty mobile, mounted on a hummvee like that, also looks fairly innocuous, I’d figure it was some sort of communications device, looks like a satellite reception dish to me. The beam’s invisibility is dubious in a military setting since I’d expect vegetation would wither in its path, how fast does the beam advance?

Against an unarmed opponent however, difficult. Mind you some good BB's and a slingshot might crack that dish, or some rocks and a good throwing arm.

The thing has a 500 meter range, that’s a long shot with a slingshot, it looks like metal, you think the dish is porcelain?

Another step along the path to total government control.

So Bush can keep things under control and assure his re-election