DATE=12/2/97
TYPE=NEWSFEATURE
NUMBER=5-38272
TITLE=NON-LETHAL WEAPONS
BYLINE=MAXIM KNIAZKOV
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A NEW RESEARCH INSTITUTE AT PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
HAS BEGUN WORKING TO DEVELOP WEAPONS THAT COULD BE DESCRIBED AS
HUMANE. THAT IS BECAUSE IN CONTRAST WITH THEIR PREDECESSORS,
THESE TOOLS OF WAR ... DON'T KILL. V-O-A'S MAXIM KNIAZKOV HAS
MORE ON WHAT MAY BECOME A PROMISING NEW CHAPTER IN MILITARY
TECHNOLOGY.
TEXT: AN UNIDENTIFIED TRUCK IS HURTLING TOWARD A PEACEKEEPERS'
CHECKPOINT IN SOME CONFLICT-RIDDEN COUNTRY. IT COULD BE CARRYING
FOOD FOR A LOCAL REFUGEE CAMP -- OR IT COULD BE LOADED WITH
EXPLOSIVES TARGETED AT THE PEACEKEEPING MISSION.
NEW EQUIPMENT BEING DEVELOPED BY THE INSTITUTE OF NON-LETHAL
DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY WOULD ALLOW SOLDIERS TO STOP THE TRUCK LONG
BEFORE IT REACHES THE CHECKPOINT. AND DO SO WITHOUT FIRING A
SHOT.
INSTITUTE DIRECTOR EDWARD LISZKA EXPLAINS.
// ACT ONE LISZKA //
THIS MIGHT BE HIGH-POWERED MICROWAVES OR ELECTRONIC
MEANS TO MESS UP THE ELECTRONICS OF THE VEHICLE OR ITS
FUEL SYSTEM THAT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO BRING IT TO A STOP
WITHOUT DAMAGING ANYTHING.
// END ACT //
IF PROVEN EFFECTIVE, SUCH TECHNOLOGIES COULD REALIZE THE WILDEST
DREAMS OF MANY GENERALS. LIKE IMMOBILIZING ENEMY ARMORED COLUMNS
WITHOUT BOMBS OR ARTILLERY, OR MAKING CERTAIN AREAS OFF-LIMITS TO
VEHICLES WITHOUT ANTITANK LANDMINES.
THIS LATTER OPPORTUNITY WOULD HAVE SPECIAL APPEAL NOT ONLY TO
SCIENTISTS BUT ALSO TO POLITICIANS BECAUSE OF THE ATTENTION
ACCORDED THESE DAYS TO THE ISSUE OF LANDMINES.
U-N STATISTICS SHOW THAT MORE THAN 100 MILLION LANDMINES
SCATTERED AROUND THE WORLD KILL OVER 26-THOUSAND PEOPLE EVERY
YEAR. BUT MR. LISZKA SAYS SCIENCE MAY PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE AND
LESS DANGEROUS WAYS OF DENYING PEOPLE ACCESS TO AREAS.
// ACT TWO LISZKA //
THESE MIGHT BE IN THE FORM OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SENSORS
THAT MIGHT ACT AS TRIPWIRES THAT WOULD ALLOW FOCUSING
ATTENTION ON AN AREA. IT MIGHT INVOLVE ACOUSTIC SIGNALS
THAT WOULD MAKE IT UNPLEASANT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP
TO BE IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA, VARIOUS SUBSTANCES THAT
MIGHT BE EMITTED THAT WOULD MAKE THE INDIVIDUAL WANT TO
LEAVE THE AREA. BUT BASICALLY, THE OBJECTIVE IS TO DENY
AN AREA TO A POTENTIAL ADVERSARY WITHOUT NECESSARILY
KILLING THEM.
// END ACT //
JUST A DECADE AGO, WHEN THE WORLD SITUATION WAS DEFINED BY A
SUPERPOWER FACE-OFF, MILITARY PLANNERS PAID LITTLE ATTENTION TO
SUCH EXOTIC MILITARY TECHNOLOGIES. BUT THE END OF THE COLD WAR
AND THE PROLIFERATION OF REGIONAL AND ETHNIC CONFLICTS HAVE
SHIFTED THE FOCUS FROM DEVELOPING GIANT NUCLEAR WARHEADS TO
WEAPONRY THAT IS MORE PRECISE AND LESS DESTRUCTIVE.
THAT IS WHY THE INSTITUTE OF NON-LETHAL TECHNOLOGY, FORMALLY
INAUGURATED LAST MONTH, HAS AMONG ITS PRINCIPLE BACKERS THE U-S
MARINE CORPS. MR. LISZKA BELIEVES THE FUTURE MAY WELL BELONG TO
NON-LETHAL WEAPONS.
// ACT THREE LISZKA //
I THINK THE SITUATION THAT WE SEE AROUND THE WORLD WILL
REQUIRE IT. AS WE USE OUR MILITARY FORCES IN A
DIFFERENT SORT OF ROLE THAN THEY HAVE BEEN PREPARED FOR
IN THE PAST, WHERE THEY MAY BE GOING IN AS A PEACEKEEPER
OR AS A UNIT TO RESTORE ORDER OR PREVENT THE GROWTH OF
CONFLICT, I THINK MANY WOULD FEEL THAT THE USE OF LETHAL
WEAPONS IN THESE AREAS MIGHT IN FACT EXACERBATE THE
PROBLEMS.
// END ACT //
BUT MR. LISZKA CAUTIONED AGAINST PREMATURE EXPECTATIONS. HE SAYS
YEARS OF RESEARCH WILL BE NEEDED BEFORE SCIENTISTS ARE ABLE TO
PRODUCE RELIABLE, NON-LETHAL WEAPONS FOR WAGING WARS. (SIGNED)
NEB/MAX
02-Dec-97 3:01 PM EST (2001 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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