### MindNet is no longer active.

#### Back to MindNet Index

    ================================================================

         MindNet Journal - Vol. 1, No. 68

    ================================================================

         V E R I C O M M / MindNet         "Quid veritas est?"

    ================================================================

    The views and opinions expressed below are not necessarily the

    views and opinions of VERICOMM, MindNet, or the editors unless

    otherwise noted.

    Permission is given to reproduce and redistribute, for

    non-commercial purposes only, provided this information and the

    copy remain intact and unedited.

    Editor: Mike Coyle

    Assistant Editor: Rick Lawler

    Research: Darrell Bross

    ================================================================

    SPECIAL OPERATIONS/LOW-INTENSITY CONFLICT

    Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense,

    Washington, D.C. 20301-2500

    July 1994

    ----------------------------------------------------------------

    21 July 1994

    MEMORANDUM FOR DISTRIBUTION

    SUBJECT: Draft Non-Lethal Weapons Policy

    Attached is a draft DoD policy for non-lethal weapons. We are

    distributing this draft broadly for information and comment.

    Comments should be forwarded by 19 August to Mr. Charles Swett,

    703-693-5208 (voice), or 703-693-0615 (fax).

    [original signed]

    Dr. Christopher Lamb

    Director, Policy Planning

    ---

    Department of Defense DIRECTIVE

    January 1, 1995

    Number xxxx.xx

    DRAFT: 21 July 1994

    SUBJECT: Policy for Non-lethal Weapons

    A. Purpose

    This Directive issues Department of Defense policies and

    procedures governing the role of non-lethal weapons in U.S.

    national security, their acquisition, and employment.

    B. Definition

    Non-lethal weapons are discriminate weapons that are explicitly

    designed and employed so as to incapacitate personnel or materiel,

    while minimizing fatalities and undesired damage to property and

    the environment.

    Unlike weapons that permanently destroy targets through blast,

    fragmentation or penetration, non-lethal weapons have relatively

    reversible effects on targets and/or are able to discriminate

    between targets and non-targets in the weapon's area of impact.

    C. Applicability

    This directive applies to all non-lethal technology research and

    development programs, non-lethal weapon procurement procedures

    programs, OSD oversight of these programs, and modes of

    employment of non-lethal weapons.

    Precision lethal weapons are outside the scope of this Directive.

    In addition, policy governing information warfare systems is

    addressed in separate channels and is not covered by this

    Directive.

    D. Policy

    1. General

    In order to allow the maximum possible flexibility in the

    employment of U.S. military forces across the spectrum of

    conflict, it is essential that additional options short of the

    use of lethal force be provided. Non-lethal weapons can make

    available significant new capabilities in some circumstances to

    achieve military objectives while minimizing human fatalities and

    undesired damage to property and the environment. At the lower

    end of the spectrum of conflict (Operations Other Than War),

    non-lethal weapons can allow us to discourage, delay, or prevent

    hostile actions by prospective opponents; limit escalation; take

    military action in situations where intervention is desirable

    but use of lethal force would be inappropriate; and better

    protect our forces once deployed. Non-lethal weapons are

    especially suited to operations such as peacekeeping,

    humanitarian missions, and other operations short of war. At the

    higher regions of the spectrum of conflict, including major

    regional conflicts, non-lethal weapons can provide an effective,

    reversible, or more humanitarian means of denying an enemy the

    use of some of his human and material assets. They also may help

    reduce the post-war economic cost of rebuilding infrastructure.

    Non-lethal weapons reinforce deterrence and expand our range of

    options. The presence of non-lethal weapons in America's arsenal

    can strengthen deterrence by making potential adversaries aware

    that the United States can thwart aggression and achieve

    humanitarian aims in ways that do not entail prohibitive

    political costs, thus enabling us to act earlier, more freely,

    and more decisively.

    A non-lethal weapons arsenal and the additional options it

    provides does not negate the fact that many situations require

    overwhelming lethal military force as the most appropriate means

    to accomplish a mission. Particularly in situations involving

    large-scale aggression by an adversary, overwhelming force may

    ultimately be the best means of minimizing fatalities and

    collateral damage by ensuring that the conflict comes to a rapid

    and uncontested conclusion. In such cases, the roles of

    non-lethal weapons are to contribute to the overall success of

    the operation while helping to limit war damage.

    It is understood that when employed, some non-lethal weapons may

    inadvertently cause fatalities, since we will not have perfect

    control over all factors. Complete avoidance of fatalities cannot

    be guaranteed and should not be expected. However, non-lethal

    weapons when properly employed dramatically reduce fatalities as

    compared with physically destroying the same intended target.

    Thus the intent is to be able to achieve military or politically

    objectives while causing the minimum possible harm to personnel,

    materiel, and the environment.

    To the extent that non-lethal weapons reduce the likelihood of

    loss of life and incidental damage to property in comparison with

    conventional systems, they are not only politically and

    operationally attractive options, but they are also consistent

    with international law and further the professional military

    responsibility to employ force proportionally and discriminately.

    It is not envisioned that non-lethal weapons will supplant or

    replace other classes of weapons, consume disproportionate

    amounts of resources, or cause a major shift in the way wars are

    fought. Rather, the intention is to allow the Department of

    Defense to cost-effectively exploit non-lethal technologies in

    order to provide the United States with significant strategic,

    political, and operational advantages in conducting existing

    missions.

    2. Acquisition

    A wide variety of non-lethal technologies have been suggested,

    spanning a broad range of anti-personnel and anti-materiel

    effects. In order to be most useful as instruments of national

    policy, the highest priority should be placed on developing and

    acquiring systems to support the following tasks (in descending

    order of importance):

    * Neutralize combatants intermingled with non-combatants

    * Control crowds

    * Disable or disrupt military logistics

    * Disable or disrupt elements of, or the entirety of, a regional

      civil/military communications, transportation, and energy

      infrastructure.

    * Disable or destroy weapons or weapon development/production

      processes, including suspected weapons of mass destruction

    These tasks may arise at virtually any level of the full spectrum

    of operations. This list will be reviewed and modified as

    necessary by the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy.

    In addition to the priorities listed above, only those non-lethal

    weapon programs that satisfy the general requirements for

    technical feasibility, operational utility, and policy

    acceptability will be considered for support. Specifically, in

    order for any non-lethal weapon program to receive funding, it

    must be explicitly found by the Non-Lethal Weapons Steering

    Committee to satisfy the following criteria:

    * Contribute to the accomplishment of a task or tasks that may be

      assigned to U.S. military forces

    * Be consistent with established U.S. policies including arms

      control agreements or other international legal commitments

      that the U.S. is committed to observe

    * Be technologically and operationally feasible

    * Be affordable

    * Have an acceptably low probability of being fatal or inflicting

      permanent disablement on personnel, and causing undesired

      damage to property and the environment

    * Could not be easily defeated by enemy countermeasures once

      known; or if they could, the benefits of a single opportunity

      to use them in a given context would be so great as to outweigh

      that disadvantage

    * Can achieve an effect that is worth the cost of the

      intelligence support they require

    All other things being equal, non-lethal weapons that show

    significant promise of dual-use by U.S. law enforcement agencies

    as well as by the military Services will receive higher priority

    than those that do not.

    Oversight authority over all non-lethal weapon development and

    acquisition programs will be exercised by a Non-Lethal Weapons

    Steering Committee. This committee will be co-chaired by the

    Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and

    Technology (Deputy Director, Tactical Warfare Programs), and the

    Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special

    Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict (Deputy Assistant Secretary

    for Policy and Missions), and will consist of senior officials

    from the following organizations:

    * Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and

      Technology

    - Office of Munitions

    - Office of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering

    - Office of the Deputy Under Secretary for Advanced Technology

    * Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy

    - Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for

      Strategy

      (Strategy and Requirements)

    - Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for

      Policy and Missions

      (Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict)

    - Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for

      Counterproliferation

      (International Security Policy)

    * Office of the Comptroller of the Department of Defense

    * The Joint Staff

    * The Military Services

    * Defense Nuclear Agency

    * Other Defense agencies (as determined by the co-chairs)

    In addition, representatives of other U.S. Government departments

    or agencies may be invited to participate in Steering Committee

    discussions. These organizations may include, but are not

    necessarily limited to, the Department of Justice, the Department

    of Energy, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Environmental

    Protection Agency.

    The Non-Lethal Weapons Steering Committee will conduct an annual

    review, phased appropriately with respect to the POM cycle, of

    all non-lethal weapon programs, in order to provide oversight and

    guidance. This committee will have the authority to initiate,

    direct changes in, or terminate these programs, in order to

    ensure that the priorities and criteria listed above are

    enforced. In so doing, any validated military requirements

    presented to the committee will be duly considered. The

    Comptroller of the Department of Defense will issue Program

    Budget Decisions implementing the decisions of the committee. The

    committee will also have the authority to task the Services to

    undertake such studies and analyses as are needed to support its

    deliberations.

    The Non-Lethal Weapons Steering Committee will adopt terms of

    reference, issue an annual Non-Lethal Weapons Master Plan, and

    issue security and classification guidance for non-lethal weapon

    programs.

    A Non-Lethal Weapons Working Group will assist the Non-Lethal

    Weapons Steering Committee. This group will consist of officials

    from the organizations represented on the Steering Committee, and

    will undertake activities as directed by that committee. The

    Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and

    Technology will assure that funding is available to support these

    bodies, and that all members of both bodies are cleared in a

    timely manner into any and all non-lethal weapon development and

    acquisition programs.

    The Joint Program Office will support the Non-Lethal Weapons

    Steering Committee, by providing studies, analyses, and

    recommendations as directed by that committee. Its charter will

    be modified as necessary to provide for this role. The Non-Lethal

    Weapons Steering Committee will ensure that the costs of

    necessary support provided by the Joint Program Office and other

    sources are met.

    The Military Services will develop and acquire weapons specific

    to their particular mission area or expertise, and will develop

    and implement doctrine, employment concepts, tactics, training,

    and logistic support for fielded non-lethal weapon systems.

    3. Employment

    In developing policy for specific cases of current or planned

    military operations, officials from the Office of the

    Undersecretary of Defense for Policy will ensure that options for

    use of applicable non-lethal weapons are given due consideration.

    This will include making the President aware of such options, as

    appropriate.

    Any direction given regarding the conduct of U.S. military

    operations to employ non-lethal weapons will not restrict

    self-defense measures by our forces to non-lethal means. Although

    our forces might be allowed to employ only non-lethal weapons to

    achieve mission objectives in some cases, they will in all cases

    be allowed to use necessary lethal force to protect themselves

    from deadly threats.

    In order to improve the military effectiveness and deterrent

    value of non-lethal weapon employment, full consideration will be

    given to appropriate psychological operations before, during or

    after that employment.

    Non-lethal weapons can be employed either alone or in conjunction

    with lethal weapons.

    When a plan to employ non-lethal weapons in a specific case is

    submitted for approval, it must be explicitly stated to all

    concerned that some fatalities might inadvertently result.

    Non-lethal weapons may be employed to achieve a variety of

    objectives, including, but not necessarily limited to, the

    following:

    * Neutralization - to make an adversary's assets useless

    * Denial - to deny an adversary the attainment of his ends

    * Control - to eliminate an adversary's ability to control his

      assets, and/or to seize control of them ourselves

    * Limit escalation - prevent an increase in the scale or

      intensity of a conflict

    * Enticement - to help persuade an adversary to act in a way

      that is congruent with U.S. interests

    * Demonstration - to display U.S. resolve or concern, but

      without crossing the threshold of lethal force or significant

      destruction

    * Countermobilization - to retard or frustrate mobilization of an

      adversary's military forces in order to provide more time for

      diplomatic actions or for deployment of U.S. or allied military

      reinforcements to the area in question

    * Interdiction in ambiguous situations - were we suspect that

      activity inimical to U.S. interests is underway and would like

      to take steps to frustrate it but where we may not have

      convincing intelligence confirming our suspicions

    * Highly specific attack - where the target is proximate to a

      significant non-military asset that must not be damaged under

      any circumstances, such as a religious, cultural, or

      historical symbol

    * Synergism - to accelerate and intensify the effects of lethal

      measures, used in conjunction with non-lethal systems weapons

    The term "adversary" is used above in it broadest sense,

    including those who are not declared enemies but who are engaged

    in activities we wish to stop. This policy does not preclude

    legally authorized domestic use of non-lethal weapons by U.S.

    military forces in support of law enforcement.

    Commanders of combat organizations will incorporate options for

    use for fielded non-lethal weapon systems into their contingency

    plans as appropriate.

    4. Additional Policy Guidance

    Requests for policy guidance on non-lethal weapons matters not

    addressed in this Directive should be forwarded to the Office of

    the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and

    Low-Intensity Conflict (Deputy Assistant for Policy and

    Missions).

    E. Public Affairs Guidance

    Information provided to the public and the media should be in

    keeping with the policies put forth in Section D.1 of this

    Directive. Authorization for release of specifics about the types

    of non-lethal weapons in our arsenal or under development, or the

    circumstances in which they would be used, will be considered on

    a case-by-case basis by OUSD(P) or by the Non-Lethal Weapons

    Steering Committee, as appropriate.

    Public affairs statements should emphasize that although the use

    of non-lethal weapons us intended to avoid fatalities and

    collateral damage in the course of achieving mission objectives,

    some fatalities or collateral damage could inadvertently result.

    It is important that the public understand that just as lethal

    weapons do not achieve perfect lethality, neither will

    "non-lethal" weapons always be capable of precluding fatalities

    and undesired collateral damage.

    F. Effective Date

    This Directive will become effective upon signature.

    William J. Perry, Secretary of Defense

    Comments on this draft should be forwarded to Mr. Charles Swett,

    OASD(SO/LIC) 703-693-5208 (voice) 703-693-0615 (fax)

    ----------------------------------------------------------------

    MindNet Journal Archive Filename: [mn168.txt]

    ================================================================

    To receive the MindNet Journal via email:

    Send message: [subscribe mindnet] to: .

    To unsubscribe:

    Send message: [unsubscribe mindnet] to: .

    Back issues of the MindNet Journal are available at our

    FTP Archive site:

     [/pub/users/vericomm/mindnet/]

    MindNet Journal Publication Index: [mnindex.txt]

    Submission of articles for publication within the MindNet

    Journal on the subjects of mind control, directed-energy

    weapons, non-lethal weapons, ritual abuse, UFO abductions,

    bioelectromagnetics, hypnosis, and other related topics

    will be accepted with the author's statement of permission

    to publish. The editor reserves the right to accept or

    reject for publication. The publisher disclaims all

    responsibility to return unsolicited matter. Send articles

    for submission to:

    , or VERICOMM BBS 510.891.0303, or VERICOMM,

    POB 32314, Oakland, CA 94604-2314 USA.

    VERICOMM / MindNet and its agents disclaim any and all

    responsibility or liability for any and all claims and/or

    guarantees, express or implied, and delivery of products,

    merchandise, and/or services offered for sale by

    advertisers and/or authors within the MindNet Journal.

    The MindNet mailing list is owned and maintained by Mike Coyle,

    , VERICOMM / MindNet, POB 32314 Oakland, CA

    94604-2314 USA.

    The MindNet Journal is published by VERICOMM / MindNet in

    cooperation with the Freedom Of Thought Foundation, POB 35072,

    Tucson, AZ 85740-5072 USA.

    ================================================================

    ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

    ||||  ||||  |      |       |  |      |      |   |   |   |   ||||

    |||||  ||  ||  |||||  |||  |  |  |||||  ||  |  | |  |  | |  ||||

    ||||||    |||  ,,,,|      ||  |  |||||  ||  |  |||  |  |||  ||||

    |||||||  ||||      |  |||  |  |      |      |  |||  |  |||  sm||

    ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

    ||||||||||||  VERICOMM / MindNet : MindNet@c2.org  |||||||||||||

    ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||