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02/08/2005: "Coming to a protest near you..."

I like to exercise my right to protest. It keeps our leaders accountable. The military and the public lobby our public officials for their own agendas. Since the dawn of the bill of rights, however, the defense industry has gone out of it's way to use technology to discourage grassroots organizing in public places. A number of people have been seriously injured by rubber bullets, pepper spray and tasers protesting the Bush administration's wars. Last year plasma taser guns were introduced to control "riots". The oversized water gun shoots a plasma liquid on the public which acts as a conductor for electricity. Now they've moved on to microwaves...

"The United States has developed a non-lethal microwave weapon for use in Iraq.

"The Active Denial System uses millimeter-wave electromagnetic energy that can be directed at targets at a range of 1 kilometer.

"Officials said the vehicle, termed Sheriff, would contain the Active Denial System. The system uses millimeter-wave electromagnetic energy that can be directed at targets at a range of 1 kilometer, Middle East Newsline reported.

"The ADS system would be downgraded for Iraqi deployment in urban areas, officials said. The modified weapon causes a burning sensation on the skin, causing the people to run away.

"The Pentagon eventually plans to install the non-lethal, high-powered microwave weapon on a military vehicle. The deployment of the first platforms in Iraq would take place in September 2005.

" The project is designed to give U.S. troops options to battle hostile crowds without the use of lethal weapons. Officials said in many cases Sunni insurgents fire weapons and rocket-propelled grenades from crowds to prevent U.S. retaliation."