I’m not quite sure how to judge this piece:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Nonlethal weapons such as high-power microwave devices should be used on American citizens in crowd-control situations before being used on the battlefield, the Air Force secretary said Tuesday.

The object is basically public relations. Domestic use would make it easier to avoid questions from others about possible safety considerations, said Secretary Michael Wynne.

"If we're not willing to use it here against our fellow citizens, then we should not be willing to use it in a wartime situation," said Wynne. "(Because) if I hit somebody with a nonlethal weapon and they claim that it injured them in a way that was not intended, I think that I would be vilified in the world press."

The Air Force has paid for research into nonlethal weapons, but he said the service is unlikely to spend more money on development until injury problems are reviewed by medical experts and resolved.

Nonlethal weapons generally can weaken people if they are hit with the beam. Some of the weapons can emit short, intense energy pulses that also can be effective in disabling some electronic devices.

Is he saying this sort of crowd control weapon is just the ticket in case someday Americans get so disgusted with an evil, illegal regime that they rise up in judicious anger and go to the streets?

Is he saying he wouldn’t use these weapons on Iraqis who’ve (obviously) had more than enough of Mr Bu$h’s foreign policy?

Is this a veiled statement that they've achieved a level of useful employment with this sort of weapon?

Is he not aware that he (and by extension, you and I, readers,) have already been vilified in the world press for irresponsible overuse of lethal weapons?

Actually, those NRA folks who are so obsessed with their phallic symbols should be very concerned about this. I can’t remember ever reading a news piece by any administration discussing using military weapons on the American populace. Doesn’t that work right in with their blather about fearing any government that fears the private citizen’s personal weapons?