The Pentagon’s New Ray Gun

Ron Davis (if he really exists) over at Chatter has a post about the Army's first semi-automatic .50 Cal sniper weapon system. But I've got a post about a weapon straight out of Star Trek.

It might just turn those it's used on into cripy critters (or would that be Post Toasties?). From Reuters:

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....

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.

So, you think Al Qaeda might gain some recruits the first time the military uses this for "riot control" Iraq? Police are working on a portable version?