[allmost]

millimeter-wave electromagnetic energy

I guess it's better PR than calling them microwaves. Much more pleasant imagery.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Exactly

[HiTech RedNeck]

It is a very short wavelength microwave. The common 2450 MHz kitchen microwave oven generates microwaves of about 12 centimeters, or a little less than 5 inches in length. Penetrating power into water-rich bodies is roughly proportional to the wavelength. If beamed at humans, the energy from a kitchen microwave oven would cause serious heating of internal organs. The microwaves from the weapon are a small fraction of an inch in length and cannot penetrate far. It would feel like the heat radiated from a fire or a glowing hot surface.