Wednesday, September 13, 2006

I Was Rendered Speechless for a Moment

My mouth nearly hit the floor when I read this just now. You can read the entire article here.

Air Force chief: Test weapons on testy U.S. mobs
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Nonlethal weapons such as high-power microwave devices should be used on American citizens in crowd-control situations before being used on the battlefield, the Air Force secretary said Tuesday.

The object is basically public relations. Domestic use would make it easier to avoid questions from others about possible safety considerations, said 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."

If he really feels that way, I think he and his friends should be the first guinea pigs. And why stop with non-lethal weapons? Why not just go ahead and test how effective the lethal ones are while they're at it? As bad as that sounds, I think it may come to that one day.

6 comments:

JMG said...

Justin, I just have a problem with the U.S. military deciding that a group of citizens is so unruly that it needs to be subdued with an unproven weapon. Since it's a military weapon, does that mean that the military would be brought in to disrupt the crowd, or would this be a weapon accessible to local police forces? I don't think I've heard of any mobs lately that the police could not subdue with their own resources. Why bring in the military to use untested equipment when the police can handle it? And as far as tasers go, it's not been proven that they are not lethal.

Another thing is, this guy said he wants to test these weapons out on Americans first 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." So instead of enduring the wrath of the entire world for using this unproven weapon in a war situatation, he'll test them out here, and to hell with Americans who get hurt.

JMG said...

I think you may be on to something, Justin. Our leadership doesn't seem to really care any more about us than they do "the enemy."

Tony Arnold said...

It is against our Federal laws for the military to take action on its citizens unless the President issues on order in an extreme case.

I don't think a ruly mob qualifies. Maybe the chief needs to study the rules of the military a little more carefully.

Tony

JMG said...

I wondered about that, Tony. But I wouldn't put it past our leadership to do just that, for instance if an "unruly" crowd gathered to protest, say, the war.

Streak said...

Tony, are you sure you want the same leadership who is confused as to what constitutes "torture" to examine the "rules" of the military?

The military, at least up till this AF wackjob, has proven itself more professional than its civilian leadership. Pentagon people have led the way to clarify and reduce the use of torture. Not sure what this guy is smoking.

JMG said...

I'm glad you brought that up, Streak. What's gonna happen when the "axis of evil" uses the Bush administration's definition of what is not torture?