Understanding a research into a new category of weapons, designated
"nonlethal" by the military services. These weapons are
also classified as "less-than-lethal" or "less-lethal"
by law enforcement agencies. National security experts consider
these weapons increasingly important in the post-Cold War era. This
type of weapon has been used throughout history, but was given new
emphasis during the Vietnam War era. Law enforcement agencies and
Army National Guard units relying upon traditional forms of politico-military
force were ineffective in countering US domestic civil unrest. As
similar types of conflict, now many magnitudes greater seem to dominate
international politics since the end of the Cold War, this type
of weapon takes on increasing importance.
»Non-Lethal Weapons are life-preserving weapons, and are
explicitly designed, developed and deployed to drive away, repel,
or incapacitate people with intended temporary and reversible effects,
or to disable equipment with minimal collateral damage and impact
on the environment.
Non-lethal options enhancing security
and stability
Conventional use of force solutions are struggling to manage the
ever-changing challenges in military, law enforcement and peacekeeping
operations. Hence there is the strong need for the adaptation
and development of new use of force options. A potential solution
to meet these new threats and challenges is through the use of
Non-Lethal Weapons (NLWs). Non-Lethal Weapons provide military
and law enforcement personnel with a tool to resolve conflict
with a proportionate, lawful, appropriate and necessary use of
force. Recent advances in non-lethal weapon technology have made
it feasible for the military and law enforcement agencies to operate
in situations and scenarios that would be unfeasible with conventional
weapons. NLWs provide flexibility to influence many situations
favourably with the reduced risk of human fatalities and collateral
damage.
Nonlethal weapons cannot be thought of in a "business as
usual" sense or, for that matter, solely as a new type of
force multiplier. It is the opinion that when nonlethal weapons
are ready for wide- scale application, this will signal a development
as significant in magnitude as the emergence of gunpowder based
firearms during the European Renaissance. Just as the firearm
gave the ability for distance-killing that destroyed a Western
ban existing since the time of the Iliad, the introduction of
nonlethals may allow for tailored employment of politico-military
force and challenge the accepted definition of warfare.
Non-Lethal weapons shall not be required to have
a zero probability of producing fatalities or permanent injuries.
However while complete avoidance of these effects is not guaranteed
or expected, when properly employed, Non-Lethal weapons should
significantly reduce them as compared with physically destroying
the same target.
Non-lethal capabilities expand the number of options
available to commanders confronting situations in which the use
of deadly force is not the preferred response. Non-lethal capabilities
provide flexibility by allowing forces to apply measured force
with reduced risk of serious non-combatant casualties, but in
a manner that provides force protection and effects compliance
- ensuring success of the mission.
The U.S. armed forces don't do much shooting anymore.
Even in Afghanistan, they engage in more advising and guiding
than gunplay. Soldiers today are asked more often to keep the
peace or defuse demonstrations, and the last thing they want in
those situations is to fire a lethal weapon. That's why the Pentagon
is spending more and more research-and-development dollars on
weapons that stun, scare, entangle or nauseate — anything
but kill.
