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

"Non-lethal weapons" may sound like an oxymoron, or something found only on Alice in Wonderland battlefields. In reality, however, they are important security tools for armies and law enforcement officials (think tasers and tear gas). Author John Alexander describes all the justifications for non-lethal weapons: they come in handy during peacekeeping operations, help combat terrorism, and head off revenge before it is sought. ("They thank you when they wake up and they're not dead," a Las Vegas cop tells Alexander.) The most fascinating parts of Future War, however, are the descriptions of cutting-edge weapons. The sticky foam gun, for example, immobilizes targets by spraying a powerful gluelike adhesive on them. Acoustic blasters issuing low-intensity pulses can cause "perceptual disorientation" among troops. One antivehicle technology called the Silver Shroud "is a ballistically deployed polymer film that literally wraps up a targeted vehicle." A set of accompanying photographs--illustrations are one of Future War's attractions--shows a car becoming enveloped in a sheet of aluminum foil. Perhaps the most bizarre non-lethal weapon in this fascinating book involves scattering pheromones (a chemical substance that evokes sexual responses in members of the same species) on an area to make it uninhabitable. Writes Alexander, "Imagine trying to sleep or work in an area that is attracting every ant, cockroach, or spider from miles around." No thanks: better to lose a battle than fight that kind of enemy. And that's exactly the point. --John J. Miller

"Future War: Non-Lethal Weapons in Twenty-First-Century Warfare combines an extremely important issue with an extremely well-informed author." --Alvin Toffler, author of War and Anti-War

"John Alexander has written an important work on non-lethal weapons that is a must-read for all those interested in the nature of future conflicts." --General Anthony Zinni, USMC, Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command

"John Alexander has provided us with a genuinely thoughtful product on this very difficult subject of non-lethal weapons and their use in modern warfare." --Admiral William A. Owens, U.S. Navy (Retired), Former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

"Future War engages the reader in considering the very broad spectrum of new missions our nation's Servicemen and women are called upon to execute." --Admiral David E. Jeremiah, U.S. Navy (Retired), Former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

"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

"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

"Future War will become the bible for those seeking answers to the role of non-lethal weapons in modern warfare." --General E. C. Meyers, U. S. Army (Retired), Former Chief of Staff

"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

"Future War, by Dr. John Alexander, makes an excellent contribution to this debate by addressing the numerous complex issues surrounding the development and use of non-lethal weapons." --Vice Admiral Norman Ray, U.S. Navy (Retired), NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Defense Support

"Future War is an exceptionally interesting book by the foremost authority on the subject of non-lethal warfare." --Lieutenant General Richard G. Trefry, U.S. Army (Retired), former Military Assistant to President Bush