Since the late 1980s, the United States has been pursuing an extension of traditional weapons technology to what are known as non-lethal weapons. Since 1990, these have been part of the NATO doctrine as well. Future civil and military conflicts make more intelligent weapons necessary, d to defend law enforcement personnel and soldiers against guerrilla attacks. Such weapons were tested increasingly in the first Gulf War and the shock of September 11 has given this trend greater impetus. Civil rights activists, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Amnesty International have criticised these largely covert developments, some of which appear to undermine the ban on biological weapons, the Geneva Conventions and other aspects of international law. Techniques include the use of psychotronics (or mind control), electroshock pepper spray, microwaves, stink bombs, pulsed energy weapons, sticky foam, an...(read more)