Non-lethal Weapons

Is it possible to engage in a war where only few or none gets killed?

The concept of non-lethal weapons is to take out enemy soldiers without killing them and disabling fighting equipment without it being destroyed.

Nonlethal weapons has long been in existence more than some 2,000 years. But on recent decades, as the military prepares for modern warfare, many are in favor of intergrating the use of nonlethal weapons into that arena. The research and development of nonlethal weapons has sharply increased during the last decade.

Some of the new weapons being researched, developed and/or deployed:

Foam-"Sticky foam" to bog down soldiers or equipment and a lubricant to end enemy vehicles spinning. These are called "stick-ems" and "slick-ems."

Calmative Agents-Chemical substances designed to temporarily incapacitate people.

Malodorants-Chemicals that mimic the most revolting smells (rotting food and human waste) and can disperse enemies like a skunk.

Supercaustic-Acids that corrode and degrade structural materials.

12-gauge shotgun shell filled with rubber pellets.

Stun grenades.

Disposable hand and ankle cuffs,

Pepper spray. (my favorite)

However, there are downsize and risks with the use of nonlethal weapons.

1. Time it take for it to affect.........Opponents can do major damages in that time.

2. The elderly, small children, and persons w/certain illness can be injuried severly or killed.

3. What about these two fatal incidences?

a) Last year when 700 hostages were seized in Moscow, an opiate gas was used to clear the way for them to be rescued. As a result, 117 of the hostages were killed by chemical agent used.

b) Seven years ago, another seizure took place in Moscow. Again an opiate gas was used and with same result. This time over 100 hostages and their capitors were killed.

The leading experts in arms control have argued that, "There is no known way in medical science how to put a large number of people to sleep without killing
a sizeable amount of them."

Non-lethal weapons are only optional to lethal weapons, and not be considered a replace for the lethal weapons.