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NON LETHAL DEATH

By David Guyatt

Today’s “Less Than Lethal” concept of “Low Intensity Warfare” stomps with a crack and a fizzle around the corridors of military power. The Pentagon’s crew-cut communication commandos will tell you that Non Lethal Defence weapons won’t kill you.  Maybe.  What they don’t tell you is that their new-age, high-tech, gizmo-logical armoury has been secretly honed to mind-numbing efficiency.  Specifically, it is your mind that has been scheduled for numbing and, if necessary, erased altogether.

 Your future shot of non-lethal Novocain may take the form of an electromagnetic field that will cocoon your every thought.  Flowing from this invisible field will be an inaudible “command” message - a sort of “stealth e-mail” - that will infiltrate directly into your unconscious.  The whole caboodle has been lovingly designed to re-programme the way you think - and even what you think.  Alternatively, at the mere flip of a switch you might simply be turned off altogether. 

The fact is that thought can be controlled - remotely.  There’s no need to attach wires or electrodes.  Nowadays, the spooks of Langley, Fort George C. Meade and elsewhere, can hack straight into the grey cells of your most precious organ.  To many, this scenario may appear to be the rabid fantasising of an “X Files” fruit-cake.  Not so.  The truth may be out there, but so is the technology and the will to use it. 

 RE-EXPERIENCING AN “EXPERIENCE SET”

 “New World Vistas” was a major undertaking by the US Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, to examine future developments in weapons.  Published in 1996, it totalled 14 volumes of studies.  The fifteenth “ancillary” volume contained some hair-raising insights into the future “coupling” of man and machine.  Tucked away on page 89 is a section dealing with “Biological Process Control.”  The author speaks of an “explosion” of knowledge in the field of neuroscience.  He then proceeds to his main point “One can envision the development of electromagnetic energy sources, the output of which can be pulsed, shaped, and focused, that can couple with the human body in a fashion that will allow one to prevent voluntary muscular movements, control emotions (and thus actions), produce sleep, transmit suggestions, interfere with both short-term and long-term memory, produce an experience set, and delete an experience set.” [i]  Translating the words “experience set” from military jargon into plain English, this simply means your entire life’s “memories” can be erased and a new, fictitious memory implanted.

 There is a lot of debate whether these mind-weapons are already in “low profile” service.  Arguably they are.  By projecting such “developments” into the future, the authors of “New Vistas” may have hitched on to an old trick - anaesthetising the public to camouflage present day abilities.  In another US Military publication, a similar futuristic scenario was adopted.  Published by the US Army War College in 1994, “The Revolution in Military Affairs and Conflict Short of War” contains many references to mind manipulation.  Authors Steven Metz and James Kievit observe ,for example “Behaviour modification is a key component of peace enforcement.” [ii]  They go on to note that “The advantage of [using] directed energy systems is deniability.”[iii]  Savvy individuals the authors then ask “Against whom is such deniability aimed?”[iv]  The answer simply is “deniability must be aimed at the American people.”[v]  So much for “open government” in the brave new world’s brave new age.

 Setting Buck Rogers to the forefront, the writers proceed to layout a futuristic scenario set in the year 2010, that utilises “perception moulding” and “advanced psychotechnologies” to avoid irksome public protest.  But that is just the beginning.  The major problem they believe is that “traditional American ethics [are] a major hindrance…”  and thus, sadly “old-fashioned notions of personal privacy and national sovereignty [are to be] changed.” [vi]  Individual citizens unwilling to go along with the revolutionary changes are “identified using Comprehensive interagency integrated Database.”  They are then “catergorized” and subjected to “sophisticated computerized personality simulations used to develop, tailor and focus psychological campaigns for [against] each.”[vii] 

 Other techniques are to be used in association with these new mind weapons.  These include “morphing” - a present day ability that distorts TV images and presents them in a wholly believably way.  In other words “computer inventions.”[viii]  If you are one of those citizens lucky enough not to have their brains electronically scrambled - or erased -  it won’t really matter.  The electronic media will manipulate the news especially for you, by presenting convincing near-real-life visual images through your combined TV set cum Internet interface.  In this brave new revolutionary world, seeing will be believing, even though it is entirely false.  The only real difference between Orwell’s bleak vision of 1984, and the aims of today’s military mandarins, is that you’ll be watching your TV set - it won’t be watching you.  Orwell can be forgiven for his oversight.  In his day it was unimaginable that mankind would voluntarily submit itself to brain-washing.

 Whilst these new-age Da Vinci’s continue to create their speckled visions of our future, we should be prepared to ask some hard questions now.  Specifically, the major question to pose is whether this technology is really futuristic, or whether it is present day?  To answer this we need to look at history.  As we do this, we should bear in mind that security classification acts as a brake on time.  What happens in the Pentagon today often takes as many as twenty years to filter out to the public.  Technology is advancing at such a fantastic rate that it is redundant as soon as it leaves the drawing board.  Computers, for example are doubling in power, and reducing in size by a half, every eighteen months. 

 THE MIND-FESTERING HISTORY OF THOUGH CONTROL

 As far back as WW11 research was being conducted into thought manipulation.  The earliest extant reference - to my knowledge - was contained in the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific Survey, Military Analysis Division, Volume 63) which reviewed Japanese WW11 research and development efforts on a “Death Ray”.  Whilst not reaching the stage of practical application, research was considered to be sufficiently promising to warrant the expenditure of Yen 2 million during the years 1940-1945.  Summarising Japanese efforts at the war’s conclusion, allied scientists believed that a ray apparatus might be developed that could kill unshielded human beings at a distance of 5 to 10 miles.  Studies demonstrated that, for example, automobile engines could be stopped by tuned waves as early as 1943.[ix]  Research on living organisms (mice and ground hogs) showed that waves from 2 meters to 60 centimetres in length caused haemorrhage of lungs, whereas waves shorter than two meters destroyed brain cells.

 Experiments in these areas have a grisly past.  Nazi doctors at Dachau concentration camp conducted involuntary experiments with hypnosis and narco-hypnosis - using the drug mescaline - on inmates.  Additional research was conducted at Aushwitz, using a range of chemicals including various barbiturates and morphine derivatives.  Many of these experiments proved fatal.  Following the conclusion of the war the U.S. Navy was tasked with obtaining industrial and scientific secrets that had been developed by the Third Reich.  Following a lengthy report the Navy instigated Project CHATTER in 1947. 

Many of the Nazi scientists and medical doctors who conducted hideous wartime experiments were later recruited by the U.S. Army and worked out of Heidelberg, Germany.  Later they were secretly relocated to the United States under the top secret programme “Project PAPERCLIP.”  Under the leadership of Dr. Hubertus Strughold, 34 ex Nazi scientists accepted “Paperclip” contracts, authorised by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and were put to work at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.  By 1953 the CIA, US Navy and the US Army Chemical Corps - mirroring their pet Nazi’s methods - commenced their own narco-hypnosis experiments on involuntary victims.  These included prisoners, mental patients, foreigners, ethnic minorities and those classified as sexual deviants.[x]

The secrecy surrounding these experiments was so tight that it lasted almost thirty years.  During the middle 1970’s the US public learned, for the first time, of a series of secret programmes that had been conducted by the military and intelligence community.[xi]  Primarily focusing on narco-hypnosis these covert programmes were extensive and were assigned project titles: MKULTRA, MKDELTA, MKNAOMI, MKSEARCH (MK being understood to stand for Mind Kontrol), BLUEBIRD, ARTICHOKE and CHATTER.   The principal aim of these  and associated programmes was the development of a reliable “programmable” assassin.  Secondary aims were the development of a method of citizen control.[xii] 

Particularly relevant was Dr. Jose Delgado’s secret work directed towards the creation of a “psycho-civilised” society by use of a “stimoceiver.”[xiii]   Delgado’s work was seminal and his experiments on human and animals, demonstrated that electronic stimulation can excite extreme emotions including rage, lust, fatigue etc.  In his paper “Intracerebral Radio Stimulation and Recording in Completely Free Patients” , Delgado observed that: “Radio Stimulation on different points in the amygdala and hippocampus in the four patients produced a variety of effect, including pleasant sensations, elation, deep thoughtful concentration, odd feelings, super relaxation [an essential precursor for deep hypnosis]” [xiv]) coloured visions, and other responses.”  The “coloured visions” citation, probably referred to hallucinations - an effect that a number of so called “victims” allude to.[xv] 

As far back as 1969, Delgado predicted the day would soon arrive when a computer would be able to establish two-way radio communication with the brain, an event that first occurred in 1974.  Lawrence Pinneo, a neurophysiologist and electronic engineer working for Stanford Research Institute (a leading military contractor), “developed a computer system capable of reading a person’s mind.  It correlated brain waves on an electroencephalograph with specific commands.  Twenty years ago the computer responded with a dot on a TV screen.  Nowadays it could be the input to a stimulator (ESB) in advanced stages using radio frequencies” [xvi] 

In the event, narco-hypnosis was found to be less than reliable, although some writers and observers dispute this.[xvii]  Additional studies conducted by Dr. Ewen Cameron, and funded by the CIA, were directed towards erasing memory and imposing new personalities on unwilling patients.  Cameron discovered that electroshock treatment caused amnesia.  He set about a programme that he called “de-patterning” which had the effect of erasing the memory of selected patients.  Further work revealed that subjects could be transformed into a virtual blank machine (Tabula Rasa) and then be re-programmed with a technique which he termed “psychic driving”.  Such was the bitter public outrage, once his work was revealed (as a result of FOIA searches) that Cameron was forced to retire in disgrace.

 Of interest too is Dr. John C. Lilly[xviii] who was asked by the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to brief the CIA, FBI, NSA and other military intelligence services on his work using electrodes to stimulate, directly, the pleasure and pain centres of the brain.  According to Lilly he refused.  However, as revealed in his book he continued to do “useful” work for the national security apparatus. Lilley’s work took place in 1953.  Another scientists, Eldon Byrd, - who worked for Naval Surface Weapons Office - was commissioned in 1981 to develop electromagnetic devices for purposes including “riot control”, clandestine operations and hostage removal.[xix] 

 From 1965 through to 1970, Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency (DARPA), with up to 70-80% funding provided by the military, set in motion operation PANDORA.  This project was to study the health and psychological effects of low intensity microwaves with regard to the so called “Moscow signal” - an episode when the US embassy Moscow was bombarded by Soviet microwaves..  Pandora research included (under US Navy funding) studies demonstrating how to: induce heart seizures, create leaks in the blood brain barrier, and the production of auditory hallucinations.  Despite attempts to render the Pandora programme invisible to scrutiny, FOIA filings revealed memoranda of Richard Cesaro, Director, DARPA, which confirmed that the programme’s initial goal was to “discover whether a carefully controlled microwave signal could control the mind.”  Cesaro urged that these studies be made “for potential weapons applications.”[xx]

 WORLD OPINION IS NOT READY FOR THIS

 Following immense public outcry, Congress forbade further research and demanded that these projects be terminated across the board.  But as Victor Marchetti, a former CIA agent later revealed, the programmes merely became more secret and built-in a high element of “deniability.”[xxi]  Despite the fact that many of these projects revolved around the use of narcotics and hallucogenics, projects ARTICHOKE, PANDORA and CHATTER clearly demonstrated that “psychoelectronics” were a high priority.  Indeed, an anonymous informer (humorously known as “Deep Trance”) told author John Marks; that beginning in 1963 mind control research strongly emphasised electronics. 

 During 1989, CNN aired a programme on electromagnetic weapons and showed a US government document that outlined a contingency plan to use EM weapons against “terrorists”.  Prior to the show a DoD medical engineer sourced a story claiming that in the context of conditioning, microwaves and other modalities had regularly been used against Palestinians.  During 1993 Defense News, the prestigious US weekly announced that Russian government was discussing with American counterparts the transfer of technical information and equipment known as “Acoustic Psycho-correction”.  The Russians claimed that this device involves “the transmission of specific commands via static or white noise bands into the human subconscious without upsetting other intellectual functions.”  Experts said that demonstrations of this equipment have shown “encouraging” results “after exposure of less than one minute,” and  has produced “the ability to alter behaviour on willing and unwilling subjects.” 

 The article goes on to explain that combined “software and hardware associated with the (sic) psycho-correction programme could be procured for as little as US$80,000.  The Russians went on to observe that “World opinion is not ready for dealing appropriately with the problems coming from the possibility of direct access to the human mind.”  Acoustic psycho-correction dates back to the mid 1970’s and can be used to “suppress riots, control dissidents, demoralise or disable opposing forces and enhance the performance of friendly special operations teams.[xxii]”  One US concern in relation to this device, was aired by Janet Morris of the Global Strategy Council, a Washington based think tank established by former CIA deputy director, Ray Cline, who noted that “Ground troops risk exposure to bone-conducting sound that cannot be offset by earplugs or other protective gear.”

 Dr. Ross Adey, in his pioneering work determined that that emotional states and behaviour can be remotely influenced merely by placing a subject in an electromagnetic field.  By directing a carrier frequency to stimulate the brain and using amplitude modulation to shape the wave to mimic a desired EEG frequency he was able to impose a 4.5 CPS theta rhythm on his subjects.  Drs Joseph Sharp and Allen Frey experimented with microwaves seeking to transmit spoken words directly into the audio cortex via a pulsed-microwave analog of the speaker’s sound vibration.  Indeed, Frey’s work in this field, dating back to 1960 gave rise to the so called “Frey effect” which is now more commonly referred to as “microwave hearing.”[xxiii]  Within the Pentagon this ability is now known as “Artificial Telepathy”.[xxiv]  Adey and others have compiled an entire library of frequencies and pulsation rates which can effect the mind and nervous system.

 During the siege of Waco, Texas, FBI agents discussed with Russian counterparts the use of Acoustic psycho-correction on David Koresh and the Branch Davidians.  In the event it is understood that this contingency did not proceed.  However, some unusual EM weapons were deployed at Waco.  BBC World News, and additional FBI film-footage (in the possession of this writer) show both the Russian equipment being demonstrated, as well as previously unseen noise generator and an unusual low frequency strobe array in use at Waco. 

 SLEEPING BEAUTY MEETS HIDDEN AGENDA

 Have weapons of this nature been developed and field tested?  Judged by the number of individuals and groups coming forward with complaints of harassment the answer, appears, to be yes.  Kim Besley, of the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp[xxv], has compiled a fairly extensive catalogue of effects that have resulted from low frequency signals emanating from the US Greenham Common base, and, apparently, targeted upon the women protesters.  These include: vertigo, retinal bleeding, burnt face (even at night), nausea, sleep disturbances, palpitations, loss of concentration, loss of memory, disorientation, severe headaches, temporary paralysis, faulty speech co-ordination, irritability and a sense of panic in non-panic situations.  Identical and similar effects have been reported elsewhere and appear to be fairly common-place amongst so called “victims”.  Many of these symptoms have been associated in medical literature with exposure to microwaves and especially through low intensity or non thermal exposures.[xxvi]  These have been reviewed by Dr. Robert Becker, twice nominated for the Noebel Prize, and specialist in EM effects.  His report confirms that the symptoms mirror those he would expect to see, had Microwave weapons been deployed.

 The Scientific American dated April 1994 carried an article entitled “Bang! You’re Alive” which briefly described some of the known arsenal of Less Than Lethal weapons presently available.  These include Laser Rifles, low frequency “”infrasound” generators powerful enough to trigger nausea or diarrhoea.  Steve Aftergood of the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) noted that Non-Lethal weapons have been linked to “mind control” devices and that three of the most prominent advocates of non lethality share an interest in psychic phenomena[xxvii]  Current Projects include SLEEPING BEAUTY, directed towards the battlefield use of mind-altering electromagnetic weapons.  This project is headed by Jack Verona, a highly placed Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) officer. 

Defense Secretary, William J Perry, issued a memorandum on Non lethal Weapons dated 21 July 1994.  This was of interest in that it outlined a tasking priority list for use of these technologies.  Second on the list was “crowd control”.  Coming in at a poor fifth was “Disable or destroy weapons or weapon development/production processes, including suspected weapons of mass destruction.”  It is therefore clear that Non Lethality is fundamentally seen as anti-personnel rather than anti-material.  In July 1995, Spotlight, a rightist and widely circulated US newspaper reported that well placed DoD sources have confirmed a classified Pentagon contract for the development of “high-power electromagnetic generators that interfere with human brain waves.”  The article cited the memorandum of understanding dated 1994 between Attorney General, Janet Reno, and Defense Secretary, William Perry for transfer of LTL weapons to the law enforcement sector.  A budget of under $50 million has been made available for funding associated “black” programmes.  Dr. Emery Horvath, a professor of physics at Harvard University has stated in connection to the generator that interferes with human brain waves that “These electronic ‘skull-zappers’ are designed to invade the mind and short circuit its synapses...in the hands of government technicians, it may be used to disorient entire crowds, or to manipulate individuals into self destructive acts.  It’s a terrifying weapon.”[xxviii]

 In a 1993 US Air Command and Staff College paper entitled “Non Lethal Technology and Air Power, authors Maj. Jonathan W. Klaaren (USAF) and Maj. Ronald S. Mitchell (USAF) outlined selected NLT weapons.  These included “Acoustic” (pulsed/attenuated high-intensity sound, infrasound (very low frequency) and Polysound (high volume, distracting) as well as High-power microwaves (HPM) that possessed the capability of “deters/incapacitates people…  These and other classified weapons are being passed to domestic law enforcement agencies as shown by the 1995 ONDCP (Office of National Drug Control Policy) International Technology Symposium “Counter-Drug Law Enforcement: Applied Technology for Improved Operational Effectiveness” that outlined the “Transition of advanced military technologies to the civil law enforcement environment”   There are some observers who fear that the burgeoning narcotics industry is an ideal “cover” in which to “transit” Non Lethal Technologies to domestic political tasks.  Whether this is merely a misplaced “Orwellian” fear remains to be seen.  However, organised crime is so globally “organised” that experts now believe it is impossible to eradicate or even effectively combat.[xxix]

 Major Edward Dames, formerly with the Pentagon’s Defence Intelligence Agency until 1992, was a long serving member of the highly classified operation GRILL-FLAME, a programme that focused on some of the more bizarre possibilities of intelligence gathering and remote interrogation.  Known as “remote viewers” GRILL-FLAME personnel possessed a marked psychic ability that was put to use “penetrating” designated targets and gathering important intelligence on significant figures.  The programme operated with two teams; one working out of the top secret NSA facility at Fort George Meade in Maryland, and the other at SRI.  Results are said to have been exemplary.  Following the Oliver North debacle the Secretary of Defense officially terminated GRILL-FLAME fearing bad publicity were the programme to  become known to the public.  The leading members of the project - including Dames - immediately relocated to the privately owned and newly formed Psi-Tech, operating under government contract.   In the course of his work, Dames was (and remains) close to many the leading figures and proponents Anti-Personnel Electromagnetic Weapons especially those that operate in the neurological field.  During NBC’s “The Other Side” programme, Dames stated that “The US Government has an electronic device which could implant thoughts in people.”  He refused to comment further.[xxx]  The programme was broadcast during April 1995. 

 In an age where the threat of global warfare has diminished as a result of the easing of tension between east and west, it can be anticipated that some form of introspection will occur in the developed western nations.  Societies that have been generationally and economically honed for warfare do not, on the whole, assume “for peace” production with such vigour and ability.  Unable to so readily project the “shadow” outwards on to another nation, the enemy without soon distils to become the enemy within?[xxxi]  In the United States, for example, there is a rapidly developing trend of co-operation between the military and law enforcement agencies in LTL weaponry.  Whilst it is clear that this is driven to some extent by budgetary considerations, there remain legitimate concerns regarding the longer term effect on democracy. 

 The reality of an increasingly (and increasing number of) impoverished lower class as a result of “swords to shears” economics, is certain to result in growing civil unrest, disobedience, strife, inner city turmoil and quite possibly much worse[xxxii].  Rather that seeking to resolve the underlying causes of these tensions, it is feared that governments will increasingly resort to more durable measures to quell domestic dissent.  Western industrial nations are especially prone to these developments for a variety of reasons.  As we have seen in the years following Vietnam, dead US soldiers engaged in overseas “adventures” (universally hailed as “peace-keeping” when the West conducts such operations, but dubbed “criminal” or “terrorist” when other States engage in similar activities) are no longer politically acceptable.  Paradoxically, death on the streets in a domestic context - as a result of growing crime - is politically OK.  Political careers often rest on tough-anti-crime sentiments.  Despite this, history clearly demonstrates that crime continues to spiral upwards.  For example, the much publicised capture and death of Pablo Escobar - Colombia’s most notorious cocaine baron - was immediately followed by an increase in the quantity and quality of cocaine shipments to the US.  A mite odd one might conclude?

 Less Than Lethal Anti Personnel weapons[xxxiii] are seen in some influential quarters as being the ideal remedy for future domestic disturbances that clearly result from poverty and despair[xxxiv]. The danger with this is that western democracy may begin to fail, or suffer such severe set-backs in its traditional democratic forms that it will become increasingly repressive and oligarchic.[xxxv] Armed with innovative technological weapons that do not necessarily kill, but which render disenfranchised segments of society physically inactive, emotionally stupefied and incapable of meaningful thought is a goal of those who favour a “psycho-civilised society”   This is a frightening and all too realistic scenario.  Whether by design or by default such an outcome is nothing short of a dictatorship.

 If, like many, you doubt that what has been portrayed above can or will happen, you are denying the facts and closing your eyes to history.  In the last analysis global planners don’t see you as a unique individual, but only as an “experience set.”  Worse, perhaps, than meekly allowing this to happen, you are also paying for it via the tax take.  No wonder the faceless ones are laughing.

 ENDS