future shock: evidence of plans to torture demonstrators

Remember this story from last week? "The Air Force secretary says nonlethal weapons such as high-power microwave devices should be used on American citizens in crowd-control situations before they are used on the battlefield." It's worse than we heard ... much worse. These weapons, which cause "intolerable pain" and have been condemned by scientists as mass torture devices, may be coming soon to a demonstration near you. And there are stranger and more lethal weapons where these came from.

The Secretary, Michael Wynne, is a longtime exec at defense contractor General Dynamics - a fox now in charge of the henhouse. The weapon he was describing is "intended to cause heating and intolerable pain in less than five seconds," as described in this Australian newspaper account. 

And guess which company is one of the world's leaders in military microwave technology? General Dynamics. So you can rest assured that Wynne's very knowledgeable about this technology's intended use here and abroad, both by the military and other agencies.

Microwave beam devices are just one of a number of new weapons under development that could be used against US crowds. This article in Defense Update magazine describes the variety of anti-personnel energy weapons being developed by the Department of Defense. These include the Laser Induced Plasma Channel (LIPC) pictured above, which can "work like 'artificial lightning' to disable human targets" and "can be adjusted for non-lethal or lethal use."

Other weapons being developed include the "Pulsed Energy Projectile" (PEP) device which, as New Scientist explains, "delivers a bout of excruciating pain from up to 2 kilometres away." New Scientist observes that "pain researchers are furious that (medical research) aimed at controlling pain has been used to develop a weapon," adding that "they fear that the technology will be used for torture."

The Wynne story came and went so quickly that radio journalist Charles Goyette from KFNX in Phoenix tried to follow up. An interview was scheduled with the Air Force Secretary's spokesman, USAF Major Aaron Burgstein, to get elaboration on the Secretary's remarks. But Burgstein cancelled at the last minute without explanation.

Burgstein's email to Goyette added that "SECAR (Wynne) is not advocating using non-lethal weapons on the American public," just that they be "fully tested first before they're employed overseas" because our enemy "uses any and all opportunities to wage a propaganda war."

Sounds benign enough.  Unfortunately, it directly contradicts what Wynne actually said. "If we're not willing to use it here against our fellow citizens," said Wynne, "then we should not be willing to use it in a wartime situation."

"If they are used in the US," Burgstein wrote Goyette, "it would be by the police, not the military." Burgstein equates these energy beams to tasers, perhaps unaware of the controversy surrounding a number of taser injuries and deaths.

Wynne, a major defense contractor turned Pentagon insider, tipped his hand. Pentagon planners intend to use high-tech weapons on Americans before turning them on Iraqis, either directly or by making the technology available to police and other agencies. And that's not a new story, either. ABC News reported in 2004 that there were active discussions to use sonic weaponry against demonstrators during the Republican National Convention in New York. When in "weapon" mode, the "LRAD" (long range acoustic device) "blasts a tightly controlled stream of caustic sound that can be turned up to high enough levels to trigger nausea or possibly fainting."

Sounds like waterboarding, doesn't it? It too would pass the Gonzales test of not "duplicating the pain associated with major organ failure" (assuming anyone has done a study comparing the two levels of pain.) As it turned out, there were no reports of LRADs being used against demonstrators in 2004, although many citizens were illegally detained during a temporary suspension of civil liberties on the streets of New York. (The city was eventually fined for mass violations of due process.)

As for the microwave beam, New Scientist reported that when it was tested, "experimenters banned glasses and contact lenses to prevent possible eye damage to the subjects, and in the second and third tests removed any metallic objects such as coins and keys to stop hot spots being created on the skin. They also checked the volunteers' clothes for certain seams, buttons and zips which might also cause hot spots."

In other words, this beam doesn't only inflict agony on its targets. If you can't move out of the way quickly enough it can cause serious burns and potentially even fuse contact lenses onto their wearers' eyeballs.

Goyette stayed on this story long enough for me to realize that I had missed its real significance. He's understandably struck by how quickly the Secretary's remarks seem to have been forgotten. I am, too, but I think I understand. This government is dismantling the world as we know it at an unprecendented rate. The suspension of civil liberties and the codifying of torture into law are only two examples. It's becoming increasingly difficult for many people to keep up with the pace of change while its happening, either psychologically or cognitively.

These revelations about mass "torture technology," and the Secretary's remarks, need to be viewed in the context of our collective "future shock." This Administration - which illegally uses the military to spy on Quaker peace demonstrators, violates laws and the Constitution with impunity, and degrades its country through torture - is literally capable of anything.

The idea of subjecting demonstrating Americans to group torture may seem unthinkable today. Yet a few years ago we couldn't have imagined that our government woul ban public demonstrations by forcing protesters into "Free Speech Zones" behind fences, miles away from other Americans. The unimaginable has now become real. This is only the next logical step, and it could happen soon.

Welcome to the Brave New America.  Be careful out there.

Comments

[Scott]

The government already mass tortures people in the USA in its prison system. While in federal custody I witnessed and was exposed to the collective punishment of everyone in custody (hundreds of people) because a few jerks were misbehaving. Federal agents came into the holding cells (25-30 people per cell)dressed in full combat gear and lined everyone up, then proceeded to pepper spray all of us! They went through every cell in the prison and did this. The overwhelming majority of inmates had done nothing wrong, but everyone got pepper sprayed. I have seen the satanic cowards that work for the federal government and they have no apathy whatsoever. Our government is a criminal organization with no concern for us, only themselves. Only ONE thing will work, as Timothy Leary knew, we must completely destroy the American empire of evil. That's why a federal judge declared Dr. Leary "the most dangerous man in America." When these terds go bankrupt, we will remember the federal agents and their collective torture of inmates. We will also remember the judges, DA's and the drug warriors-all are cowards that are destroying America. Once these people are eliminated, we can live in peace.

[Julie Gates]

There is more going on with NLW and DEW testing/torture than you are aware of! As a TI (Targeted Individual) I am part of an International Coalition to stop the Covert use of Electronic Weaponry on unsuspecting citizens, the World over!

The Hon. Cynthia McKinney attempted to re-open the investigation of COINTELPRO tactics still in use today. These include the illegal use of E-Weapons on those who are targeted e.g. Dissidents, Activists, and others deemed undesirable by the government.
We are writing to members of Congress and the Senate to encourage this investigation.
Lynn Surgalla, former VP of the Psychotronic Division, is also a very vocal supporter of this action.

As you say often in your post, it may sound unbelievable. Yet, it is a very harsh reality for many of us! I have become completely disabled and am unable to engage in meaningful and gainful employment. I am a nurse, and have been a TI for many, many years due to occurrences in my past. Along with my current Activism and Anti-Government stance: I strongly oppose the Bush/Cheney Regime.

If you are interested in learing more about our activities, I can provide numerous links for your perusal. This is not Science Fiction, nor the delusional rantings of a Paranoid! It is documented fact. And I can prove it, if you care to know.

Sincerely,
Jewels

[Lynn Surgalla]

Lynn A Surgalla, Former Vice-President
United States Psychotronics Association
PO Box 2
Monmouth Beach, NJ 07750
3/28/05

To the Court:

As Former Vice-President of the United States Psychotronics Association, I assure the Court that the illegal testing, development and use of Psychotronic, Microwave, Laser and other forms of Electromagnetic Directed Energy Weaponry is a matter of grave concern to both the US and International Communities. These weapons are ALL potentially LETHAL, although sublethal injuries may also be inflicted as with the use of any other lethal weapon such as a gun, knife or chemical poison. Assault and Battery and/or torture/murder with any form of Directed Energy Weapon IS Assault and Battery and/or torture/murder with a LETHAL WEAPON. Despite claims to the contrary by criminal elements in our own government, there is NO SUCH THING as a NONLETHAL WEAPON (even those currently in vogue for “Slow Kill” torture-interrogation by war criminals worldwide).

In 2001, HR2977, The Space Preservation Act (2001) was introduced into Congress to BAN ALL Directed Energy Weapons. Its passage has thusfar been blocked. In 2002, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) formally listed a NEW CATEGORY of WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION (Psychotronic Mind Control and other Electromagnetic Resonance Weapons) in their 2002 Media Guide to Disarmament. In 2003, the State of Michigan passed into Law House Bills 4513 and 4514 BANNING the use of ALL FORMS of ELECTROMAGNETIC WEAPONS against Human Beings in the State of Michigan. In 1999, the European Union Parliament passed Resolution A4-0005/1999 Section 27 which “Calls for an International Convention introducing a GLOBAL BAN on all developments and deployments of weapons which might enable any forms of manipulation of Human Beings.” (PSYCHOTRONIC WEAPONS).

Any person’s claim of being assaulted with some form of DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPON is to be taken very seriously. If the criminal assailants are found to be law enforcement personnel or government employees, then the crime is an EVEN MORE SERIOUS OFFENSE with grave political implications. If the crime is found to be racially or religiously-motivated torture-assault, then the bias-crime laws also apply.

I assure you that similar cases are being addressed all over the world and that Ms Taylor’s case is not unique. Please give this case your closest attention. The INTERNATIONAL HUMAN-RIGHTS COMMUNITYis deeply interested in the outcome and concerned that justice be served in all cases of Directed Energy Weapons assault.

Attached to this letter is a copy of my resume and relevant pages from HR2977 which lists the forms of Electromagnetic Directed Energy Weaponry currently in use.
Sincerely,

Lynn A. Surgalla
Former Vice-President
United States Psychotronics Association

[concerned citizen]

This is a serious problem in the northern Va. area. I have been gangstalked for reporting drug activity in our neighborhood.
I have had a bomb exploded in my mailbox, people trying to run me off the road, and electronic weapons used on me and my family.
The local police ignore the problem. This type of equipment has been authorized by Homeland security for local governments to purchase ( I.e millimeter wave) so it is being manufactured and is available in the U.S. Any crimminal with enough money can purchase it off the internet and modify equipment to silently torure people. Someone needs to protect ordinary citizens against this type of torture.

[2529 W Cactus Phoenix]

It appears that government agencies are using american citizens as test dummies for perfecting remote torture techniques that lead to the death of victims by overloading the natural stress responses of the human body. It includes the use of through-the-wall infrasound and microwave based weapons along with psychological techniques designed to isolate the victim and compromise his sanity. It appears that these tests have the support of trained military and National Guard units who provide surveillance and engage in harassment tactics. The victims typically live in lower income apartment complexes, allowing testers to rent adjoining apartments and to be on the staff of the apartment complex.