General & Miscellaneous Engineering

Future War: Non-Lethal Weapons in Twenty-First Century Warfare

Name: Future War: Non-Lethal Weapons in Twenty-First Century Warfare
Author: John B. Alexander
ISBN: 9781429970105

by John B. Alexander

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Overview

The nature of warfare has changed! Like it or not, terrorism has established a firm foothold worldwide. Economics and environmental issues are inextricably entwined on a global basis and tied directly to national regional security. Although traditional threats remain, new, shadowy, and mercurial adversaries are emerging, and identifying and locating them is difficult. Future War, based on the hard-learned lessons of Bosnia, Haiti, Somalia, Panama, and many other trouble spots, provides part of the solution.

Non-lethal weapons are a pragmatic application of force, not a peace movement. Ranging from old rubber bullets and tear gas to exotic advanced systems that can paralyze a country, they are essential for the preservation of peace and stability. Future War explains exactly how non-lethal electromagnetic and pulsed-power weapons, the laser and tazer, chemical systems, computer viruses, ultrasound and infrasound, and even biological entities will be used to stop enemies. These are the weapons of the future.

Synopsis

A retired U.S. Army Special Forces colonel examines how non-lethal weapons can be used to subdue enemies in our uncertain future. "Adroitly blending fictional action scenarios with real-world geopolitics, Future War captures our imaginations and sweeps us into an innovative new kind of future conflict." —David Morrell, author of Double Image and First Blood The nature of warfare has changed! Like it or not, terrorism has established a firm foothold worldwide. Economics and environmental issues are inextricably entwined on a global basis and tied directly to national regional security. Although traditional threats remain, new, shadowy, and mercurial adversaries are emerging, and identifying and locating them is difficult. Future War, based on the hard-learned lessons of Bosnia, Haiti, Somalia, Panama, and many other trouble spots, provides part of the solution. Non-lethal weapons are a pragmatic application of force, not a peace movement. Ranging from old rubber bullets and tear gas to exotic advanced systems that can paralyze a country, they are essential for the preservation of peace and stability. Future War explains exactly how non-lethal electromagnetic and pulsed-power weapons, the laser and tazer, chemical systems, computer viruses, ultrasound and infrasound, and even biological entities will be used to stop enemies. These are the weapons of the future. "Like it or not, non-lethal weapons will become a dynamic in war and in peacekeeping during the twenty-first century. Alexander gives a comprehensive view of both the technologies and the potential applications. Highly readable." —Clifford Beal, editor of Jane's Defense Weekly "Alexander makes a compelling case about how the new non-lethal technologies are changing the shape of war and the use of force. This is a fascinating account of an important subject." —Joseph Nye, Dean of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

About the Author, John B. Alexander

Colonel John B. Alexander's concepts have appeared in Michael Crichton's The Lost World, Tom Clancy's Debt of Honor, and other books. Future War is the first comprehensive book written by an expert in the field of non-lethal armaments. Colonel Alexander participated in the landmark Council on Foreign Relations study of non-lethal weapons and chaired the first major conferences on the topic. His extensive military experience includes commanding Green Berets in Vietnam as well as conducting research and development in advanced weapons. For five years, he was a deputy sheriff in Dade County, Florida. He developed the concept of Non-Lethal Defense at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and his work has brought him into contact with the Director of Central Intelligence and members of Congress, White House, and National Security Council staff. As NATO became interested, he served as a US representative on three international studies. He is currently the science director for a private research organization in Las Vegas and a consultant to the US government.