From: Henryindivideo@webtv.net   
      
   Causes intolerable pain and heat but is --Less Lethal----????? yah   
    MSNBC.com   
   Scientists worry about Pentagon™s new ray gun   
   Lenses, pocket change could intensify effect of less lethal weapon   
   Reuters   
   Updated: 1:10 p.m. ET July 20, 2005   
   LONDON - Scientists are questioning the safety of a "Star Wars"-style   
   ray gun due to be deployed in Iraq for riot control next year.   
   The Active Denial System weapon, classified as less lethal� by the   
   Pentagon, fires a 95-gigahertz microwave beam at rioters to cause   
   heating and intolerable pain in less than five seconds.   
   The idea is that people caught in the beam will rapidly try to move out   
   of it and therefore break up the crowd.   
   But New Scientist magazine reported Wednesday that during tests carried   
   out at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, participants playing the   
   part of rioters were told to remove glasses and contact lenses to   
   protect their eyes.   
   In another test, they were also told to remove metal objects like coins   
   from their clothing to avoid local hot spots developing on their skin.   
   â€œWhat happens if someone in a crowd is unable for whatever   
   reason to move away from the beam,â€� asked Neil Davison,   
   coordinator of the non-lethal weapons research project at   
   Britain’s Bradford University. “How do you ensure that   
   the dose doesn’t cross the threshold for permanent damage? Does   
   the weapon cut out to prevent overexposure?â€�   
   The magazine said a vehicle-mounted version of the weapon named Sheriff   
   was scheduled for service in Iraq in 2006, and that U.S. Marines and   
   police were both working on portable versions.   
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   Â© 2005 MSNBC.com   
   URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8644374/   
      
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