I should point out that the current incarnation of the ADS device apparently needs *two* trucks to move around.. It’s not that useful yet.

And duh, of course you can beam lethal amounts of microwaves at someone. We already *have* things that kill people - they’re called bullets. The advantage of the ADS was that you *can* set it to nonlethal levels that nontheless keep people from going where they shouldn’t. Ideal for prisons or establishing security perimeters.

Or for cooking that cow that was COMING RIGHT AT YOU!

David B. - 01 May 2008 09:16 AM

LaMa - 01 May 2008 08:10 AM

And the kind of thing that today will bring you in front of an international war tribunal.

Well, not if you are an American, it’s the Pentagon’s motto isn’t it, “It ain’t a war crime when we do it!”?

A few years ago they threathened to use military force (i.e., invade) if ever an American soldier would be brought for the International Court of Justice in The Hague. One The Hague city councillor then proposed in the council to permanently designate a stretch of beach (The Hague is on the coast) as invasion beach and put up roadsigns in English there directing invading troops to the Peace Palace (the Int. Court of Justice housing)…

Hey, at least they’re honest about it. Haven’t they always referred to “truth, justice and the American way”?
(I.e. there’s truth and justice, and then there’s the American way.)

Slightly off-topic, but practically all “non-lethal” weapons have a nasty history of killing people. Everything from CS gas and rubber bullets to tazers have been known to kill.
It all depends on the physical condition of the victim. Myself, I have a heart condition, and if I were tazered it would no doubt be Game Over!
In real life there’s no such thing as “Set phasers to stun!”

Charybdis - 02 May 2008 06:47 AM

Or for cooking that cow that was COMING RIGHT AT YOU!

I saw the laser in modern marvels and i think future weapons. It packs a LOT of power.wish i had one of those
As something u guys should already now is pretty nice considering stopping them at their tracks and baking them at high degrees.But shouldn`t` have enough power to kill.as it spreads out and only leaves a toasty feeling on the attacker you should watch it if u don`t know it.

Charybdis - 02 May 2008 06:47 AM

Or for cooking that cow that was COMING RIGHT AT YOU!

If you had to live off ration packs for any length of time you too would be looking for cows to cook with that thing.

An interesting addendum to this thread is that, apparently, it would be perfectly legal for the US to sell these devices to China for crowd control, despite a law banning arms sales to the region.

The distinction is that, as a ‘non-lethal’ device, the ADS would not be covered by that law. This loophole has recently come to light after China bought several sound-based LRADs (long-ranged acoustic devices) from American company, ATC. By referring to systems like LRAD and ATC only as “devices”, “tools” or “options in the force continuum”, and not “weapons”, they are conveniently kept off the State Department Munitions List and so are eligible for export. This is the same munitions list that famously defined encryption as a “munition” and led to an investigation into PGP creator Phil Zimmerman for arms trafficking, later dropped.

http://www.newscientist.com/blog/technology/2008/05/loudhailer-or-weapon.html

So:

Password protection = weapon.

Device causing intense pain or injury to a person ≠ weapon.

Got it. (Not.)

So a stealth bomber loaded with water balloons wouldn’t be a lethal weapon?

Not unless they were heavy water balloons. Deuterium oxide is on the munitions list.