Posted on 09/13/2006 6:42:45 AM PDT by rightgrafix
WASHINGTON - 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 Air Force 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 can weaken people if they are hit with the beam.
Some of the weapons can emit short, intense energy pulses that also disable some electronic devices.
Shows you exactly where we rank in their minds... foreign opinion first, American lives second.
The military should be finding ways to use feathers to fight with.
Of all the crap I have ever read, this is got to be the no. 1 insane idea I have ever encountered.
General Patton said, we have got to kill these son's of bitches, because if we don't they are sure as hell going to kill us.
An enemy is an enemy and, to me, how I destroy him is my objective.
How long have we, the United States been trying to appease these Muslim Slime country's? It just isn't going to happen.
The left thinks talking to appease these people will stop them from wanting to kill us, bull s@it.
That's gonna happen anyway, you pansy.
If we are at war..on the battlefield, then a concern that the enemy might be hurt in an unintended manner, or fear the "media" won't like it, is just plain wrong headed.
Our Government seems to be moving towards the tyranny our Forefathers foresaw.
The first subject of LTL weapons are always the ones who will be using it. Before a single taser/pepperball is fired, cops and soldiers test them out first on each other.
This guy is an idiot. The internationals might not like us? What a PC, illogical, head up his arse military person. Oh, but it's ok to "experiment" on Americans?
I'd have said it myself, but there really is no need.
The 2nd is kind of like the person who knows karate: he has no need to fight every insult.
and will he be first in line for testing? yeah right
"Honest Leadership?" Let's be real honest, shall we:
Unfreaking real. I suspose lethal weapons should be tested on American citizens also? Then I suggest that idiot for starters.
Many here don't understand the purpose of LTL weapons. They are not to be used on Taliban columns or in Fallujah. They are for pacifying a restless/agitated population without the use of force. PErfect for the looters in Baghdad or to quell a riot because the people are jobless and have no power.
I'm glad we have an alternative to shooting at anyone who looks at us cross-eyed becuase he's having a bad day.
The General doesn't seem to know that we already test it on US citizens (servicemen to be exact) but then again, LTL isn't exactly the domain of the USAF.
FReepers think that LTL is for mollycoddling terrorists. Nothing could be further from the truth. Imagine if there was a riot at food distributions centers because people were starving. Should we just mow them down with machine guns or actually subdue them with LTL?
W...T...F?
Indeed, you have captured the essence of any sane reaction to this statement.
Test 'em on Wynne.
Bump. Words mean things, to quote the Maha Rushie.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.