Details of US microwave-weapon tests revealed

Next up from the mad scientists that Dr. Seuss, in his brilliant "Butter Battle Book," called the "Back Room Boys:" Nuking humans with a 95-gigahertz microwave cannon. From the New Scientist article:

The ADS weapon's beam causes pain within 2 to 3 seconds and it becomes intolerable after less than 5 seconds. People's reflex responses to the pain is expected to force them to move out of the beam before their skin can be burnt.

But Neil Davison, co-ordinator of the non-lethal weapons research project at the University of Bradford in the UK, says controlling the amount of radiation received may not be that simple. "How do you ensure that the dose doesn't cross the threshold for permanent damage?" he asks. "What happens if someone in a crowd is unable, for whatever reason, to move away from the beam? Does the weapon cut out to prevent overexposure?"

Hmmm... like someone knocked down or otherwise disabled? Nah, that kind of thing never happens in crowds.

And where will this device be put to use? Iraq, of course. But expect to see it when the war protests start to get bigger and uglier:

A vehicle-mounted version of ADS called Sheriff could be in service in Iraq in 2006 according to the Department of Defense, and it is also being evaluated by the US Department of Energy for use in defending nuclear facilities. The US marines and police are both working on portable versions, and the US air force is building a system for controlling riots from the air.