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)

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Source: Voice of America

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