SONIC WEAPONS USED IN IRAQ STATIONED AT TOWNHALL FORUMS IN SAN DIEGO

[Liberty Belle]

Source: East County Magazine

A Joint Investigative Report by East County Magazine and Liberty One Radio

By Miriam Raftery

September 11, 2009 (San Diego) – “Long-range acoustic devices for crowd control can be extremely dangerous. These are used in Iraq to control insurgents. They can cause serious and lasting harm to humans…We want to know WHY our Sheriff Dept has this weapon,” Sal Magallanez of San Diego-based Liberty One Radio said in an e-mail sent to East County Magazine. The device was stationed by San Diego County Sheriff deputies at a recent town hall forum hosted by Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) in Spring Valley and at a subsequent town hall with Congressman Darrell Issa (R-San Diego). The Davis Rally drew an estimated 1,300-1,500 people, including vocal conservative and liberal protest groups.


A public records search conducted by East County Magazine has confirmed that the device is an LRAD 500-x manufactured by San Diego-based American Technology Corporation (ATC). Capable of use as an effective loudspeaker, the LRAD also has the ability to emit a deafening tone aimed at incapacitating and dispersing a crowd without use of lethal force.

LRADs were developed by ATC at the request of the U.S. Navy after the attack on the U.S.S. Cole as a means of dissuading hostile invaders. ATC founder Elwood "Woody" Norris is a pioneer in sound technology who has also been instrumental in development of ultra-sound and ground penetrating radar. Carnival Cruise ship Captain Michael Groves successfully repelled pirates off the Somali coast using non-lethal weapons including an LRAD. Groves has since filed suit against Carnival Cruise Line, claiming he suffered permanent hearing loss as a result, the BBC has reported.

ATC initially sold primarily to the U.S. military, but has since sold products internationally and domestically. The company and its representatives have not limited sales to military, maritime and law enforcement personnel, however. Local lifeguards and even Liberty One Radio are among potential customers to whom ATC’s sales force has attempted to peddle LRADs.



Read more: http://eastcountymagazine.org/?q=node/1874

---

How many other places have these devices been sold? Should there be government controls on who should be able to buy or own a sonic weapon? What if a terrorist group or criminals were to buy--or steal--one of these for less than honorable intentions? Or what if an over-zealous or under-trained law enforcement entity deployed these on a crowd?

Please visit the full link at http://eastcountymagazine.org/?q=node/1874 and post comments on this story, which I wrote.

[truthisfreedom]

1. Scary shit.

I would NOT want to be near one of these things.

[Liberty Belle]

2. Here's some irony for you--I might be in front of one Saturday!

As editor of East County Magazine, I'm co-moderating a debate among Sheriff's candidates. The other moderator is a conservative talk radio host. There are going to be a few thousand rowdy Tea Party types who are staging a rally just before the debate. It's likely the Sheriff will have one of these LRADs pointed our way -- wonder if the crowd will riot if I point that out?

I definitely intend to ask the candidates what they think about sonic weapons being used for crowd control!

[Hissyspit]

5. Well, that will be interesting. Please report back on the reaction to your question.

[Hoopla Phil]

38. Good luck, stay safe.

[babydollhead]

46. come to Pittsburgh for the g20

all sorts of anti terrorist plans are in place for dissenting voices, and bodies

[Mopar151]

52. San Diego County Sherrifs bear watching

I used to work for a company (http://www.diaphorm.com/MaxPro.html)that makes bulletproof helmets for SWAT, military, etc. One of the first big helmet orders (somewhere over 2000, IIRC) went to SDCS. What kind of army are they putting together out there?

[liberalmike27]

74. Nor would I

Predator drones, and these devices.

Welcome to the beginning of Terminator.

You know, the thing that the movie leaves out is that even if they don't take over, which I don't think they ever will become self-aware, as the movie says, they are a pretty intrusive thing within a society.

Did you ever watch Dark Angel? They had these little hover drones, that spied on everyone. And of course there was the dystopic world of the RoboCop series. If you don't see us heading in that direction, then you aren't paying attention.

With the rate of computer screw-ups, it's something we really need to try to prevent from happening, automated policing, or devices like the one mentioned, being used, or drones to spy on Americans.

[Downwinder]

3. To scare the birds off a runway, it will have to be louder than a 747. n/t

[Mnemosyne]

85. Frequency, not decibels. n/t

[Grinchie]

4. Ok we know it's scary, but what are the countermeasures?

The scary part is that if they happen you use the resonant frquency of your skull, there is potential for your brain to turn into Jelly as it rattles around inside your rapidly oscillating brain case.

Sonic energy can be extremely powerful, and it can cut like a knife when applied to physical material. If you don't believe me, just go out and find a tuning fork and play with it for a while. When set in motion that fork can impart disproportial force when placed against an object at rest.

As far as the photo is concerned, you can be assurred that the guy on the Quadrunner would be partially affected if any destructive oscillation where to be emitted, unless they have the ability to focus the beam.

Ear plug would probably be useless, but Ear Muff type hearing protectors would be better.

God I love Wiki.

RussiaToday has been a good source of info as well

http://russiatoday.ru/Top_News/2007-11-09/Georgian_police_accused_of_brutality_.html

The video shows Georgian Riot Police using LRAD. I missed this story id 2007... Looks like Bush was already preparing Georgia at that time.

[RoccoR5955]

14. tin foil hats?

Maybe there is some metal, like a metal helmet, that might reflect the sound back, or simply a mirror?

[Grinchie]

82. Good idea, tell me how that works out for you.

And I'm not being snarky, it's just that I'd rather wear a real helmet.

[elehhhhna]

87. metal helmet prolly just turns your noggin into a bell

[Eric J in MN]

6. Hoses aren't used to disperse crowds anymore, because...

...that is associated with southern sheriffs of the 1950s/60s breaking up protests by blacks.

But I would rather be hit with water than with tear gas or a sonic weapon.

[Webster Green]

68. Not true.

I've been in situations here horses were used. Not that long ago either.

[Eric J in MN]

94. I didn't know that they're still used.

What was the situation you saw?

[elehhhhna]

88. eric, you ain't been to texas, have ya?

seen it.

[Eric J in MN]

95. I haven't been to Texas in a long time.

Did you see protestors being hosed? Or just hoses being used as a threat by the police?

[Turborama]

7. K&R Wow, great story

What a very worrisome and disturbing development you've uncovered. It's very well written too.

Look forward to reading your updates, I'll register and post a comment on there shortly.

[WinkyDink]

8. I think the point is this: Military weapons ought to be banned from any and all civilian use/sales.

[zelta gaisma]

18. I think most are, but your right,war weapons shouldn't be used on non-combatants n/t

[loudsue]

57. War should be banned from the earth.

Wars don't discriminate between the innocent and the soldiers. Wars kill people. They are dangerous.

[Treo]

72. How do you propose to enforce the ban?NT

[lagavulin]

73. Exactly. This is all about setting a precedent for their use!

First they'll approve them for use in the Sheriff Dept's under this trojan-horse guise of being just a glorified "loudspeaker". Then eventually they'll get around to training officers on the use of that handy-dandy "sonic cannon" option as well. And a bit later they'll quietly begin distributing microwave and other crowd-control weapons among law enforcement because "hey, we've already been using these things for years, so what's the big deal...we're all just trying to keep the peace here...".

This is a precedent which cannot be tolerated to stand.

[tomm2thumbs]

9. 'the right to bear sonic arms' it is in the Constitution!

that and nuclear, biological, radioactive - it's all there in black and white. The right to bear arms. We need to all get us some.

(sarc)

[RoccoR5955]

13. That being the case, I want my shoulder mounted tactical nuclear device!

It's my second amendment right!
:sarcasm:

[timtom]

58. The reason that amendment exists

is to ensure a healthy respect of the citizenry by the government.

[Blandocyte]

10. So those things receive a current thru the wire running to 'em?

That's interesting. I sure hope a wire wouldn't get damaged or we'd be without a sound thingie!

[Nihil]

11. I'd think that flat objects (like riot shields) would reflect it back ...

... towards the operator and anyone in the vicinity ...

(Just saying ... :evilgrin: )

[conscious evolution]

20. Parabolic reflectors would work better.

Something shaped like a satellite dish might reflect the sound back.

[Xithras]

60. Yes, LRAD can be blocked by any sort of solid surface shield.

LRAD is only effective against crowds or unshielded people. A pair of earplugs and a solid surface shield like a piece of plywood can distort the sound enough to make it ineffective. LRAD works by focusing soundwaves on your body to vibrate it. Placing ANY solid material between the emitter and yourself blocks its ability to do harm.

The other thing about LRAD is that it's effect isn't instant. It can take 10-15 seconds for the device to really start having any effect on its target.

This is also why LRAD's are crowd control devices, and aren't usually considered combat weapons. For all intents and purposes, it's an electronic pepper spray device.

[katkat]

16. poor wire

:rofl: :rofl:

[Divine Discontent]

23. sound thingie! ha...

and, first there were clubs, then knives, then guns, then tazers, now they got SOUND THINGIES that can blow out your eardrums! nice... probably can cause neurological diseases to kick in, too...

no police force should have such crippling devices that could harm so many people at once.

[liberalmike27]

75. Yea

I was thinking they could probably be disabled fairly easily. But you wouldn't want to use a stick of dynamite, or a molatov cocktail, as you'd get put under a jail, without any rights. Some scissers to snip that little cord would work, you are right. Tires go flat too.

I'd be willing to be a creative engineer could come up with some interesting tricks.

[elehhhhna]

89. garden shears cut live cords quite well, and have wooden handles

so ya don't get electrocuted.

[RoccoR5955]

12. I think I saw a similar type thing at the RNC convention in NYC. n/t

[Old Vet]

15. They are also being used to save lives!

I have little knowledge about the Military function, But they are being used at beaches to save swimmers, collapsed buildings, And at fire scenes. I know as a first responder some of the wealthier fire companies have them.

[KoKo]

17. Could you explain more about how sonic waves save swimmers,

collapsed buildings and at fire scenes? What does emmiting a sonic sound that could disperse a crowd and cause possible hearing damage have to do with what you mention?

:shrug:

[MindPilot]

48. I suspect there may be one installed on our local police helicopter

Occasionally they circle the neighborhood announcing the description of a missing child. It is really amazing that the voice is intelligible over the noise of the helicopter.

That is probably the type of use the poster is talking about.

[LiberalFighter]

63. Saves swimmers from worrying about drowing cause they are now

thinking about the sound effecting their brain?

[elehhhhna]

90. and it yells at people in burning buildings to "get out"maybe?

oy vey

[Liberty Belle]

92. They can produce targeted sound that carries farther than megaophones --

Lifeguards here considered getting them to save swimmers by warning them around riptides, for instance.

[WinkyDink]

26. Please provide a source, if you can. I find nothing through Google.

[Ian David]

32. And they laughed at US when WE complained about it.

But now that these things (in theory) are controlled by President Obama, NOW the reich-wing will see them as a threat.

[RoccoR5955]

39. Personally, I still see them as a threat,

NO MATTER WHO IS PRESIDENT!

[Ian David]

40. Same here. But, if they're used against Republicans, maybe we can get rid of these things. n/t

[Liberty Belle]

91. Yes, they were used at the RNC convention in NY.

[Ian David]

19. We've been complaining about this sort of thing for 8 years now.

And the Republicans have been yelling at us to shut-up about it.

Maybe if they actually get used ON REPUBLICANS they'll FINALLY agree with us on this.

[Ian David]

21. You might NOT want to use counter-measures to protect yourself against such things.

I was reading a field guide somewhere that said something like:

1) Anyone seen equipped with countermeasures to crowd-control devices should be immediately assumed to have hostile intent.
2) Anyone using countermeasures, who is not effected by crowd-control devices should be immediately be subject to the next, higher level of lethality, (e.g., shoot them).


The Scientific Journal, Wikipedia says this:


<snip>

Countermeasures may include the use of passive hearing protection (earplugs, headsets), which may bring the sound down to ineffective levels. In addition, sound could be reflected from a solid surface, and redirected back to the originator.

Small spherical "point-source" acoustic devices follow the known inverse square law, which predicts the loss of 6 dB per doubling of distance from the source. Large speakers (or large arrays), such as these mentioned above or those commonly used in concert halls, etc., produce less loss with distance in the nearfield, typically 3-4 dB per doubling of distance from the source. The larger the speaker, and the higher the frequency, the longer the effective nearfield is (see Beranek). Devices like this generally have nearfields of only a few meters.

More:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Range_Acoustic_Device


So, if you use earplugs, and if they work (or help) please be sure to PRETEND to still be in pain, or else they will probably shoot you if you're pointing and laughing, or standing there fiddling with your blackberry.

[WinkyDink]

28. So now iPods are "effective counter-measures"? "A field guide somewhere"?

[Ian David]

30. I would guess that earplugs (like ones used at a firing range) are more effective than ipods.

However, IIRC, the sonic weapons are so strong that you will also feel them in your gut, and through bone vibration anyway.

[tomm2thumbs]

22. (sound) waves are a powerful thing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0Fi1VcbpAI

always worth remembering the best of engineers and 'experts' don't always know what the hell they're doing & the video of 'galloping gertie' should remind us that

[safeinOhio]

24. That company that makes them must have one hell of a

team of lawyers on staff.

[WinkyDink]

29. Not if they sell to China, among other places.

[MineralMan]

25. And you just know they're dying to try these out.

They'll be misused the first time they're used.

[Aviation Pro]

27. LRAD? At a town hall event?

I didn't know that whales and Sea Shepards were part of San Diego's constituency.

[Robb]

31. Piffle. Pshaw. And yawn.

From ATC's website:

LRAD 500X is lightweight and can be easily transported to provide military and security personnel long-range communications and a highly effective hailing and warning capability. LRAD 500X has been selected by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army as their acoustic hailing device (AHD) for small vessels and vehicles.

The superior voice intelligibility and clarity of LRAD 500X provides a highly directional audio beam that achieves maximum sound projection and penetration over distance (300 meters and beyond). LRAD 500X operators have the ability to issue clear, authoritative verbal commands, followed with powerful deterrent tones to enhance response capabilities. The extended frequency range of LRAD 500X ensures voice commands will be clearly understood.

It's a loudhailer. And yes, before you go all tinfoil hatty on my, I've read what big ones can do. Hell, ever had the tone button pressed on a megaphone before? Sucks.

But San Diego cops aren't buying "sonic weapons". They bought a portable PA system that's really loud. :eyes:

Edited to add: Unrec for foolishness.

[zonkers]

33. What next, unmanned drones?

[nashville_brook]

37. that's already happened in Florida

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3158642


i think they had to halt use of the drone b/c of problems with sharing airspace.

[zonkers]

65. A friend in Mich. told me about unmanned observation balloons on the border up there. A few

were shot down.

[nashville_brook]

86. Central Florida is ground zero for "homeland security high technology" -- Palm Bay let a local

contractor test their wares here, as i understand it. f'n creepy.

[lasttrip]

34. the japanese whaling fleet used them on the sea shepards-

it disorientated the helicopter pilot so much he had to get out of range or face a possible crash.

[sohndrsmith]

83. First thing I thought of, too. Not only are such devices disorienting, but

I believe they can cause permanent physical damage (apart from forcing an aircraft to crash because of it's disorienting assault). The doctor on the SI-SS was pretty freaked about the whole thing, if I recall. It's not "just sound" - it's dangerous stuff. Yikes. How could that be legal at a flipping rally?

As an aside, knowing that whales are very "sonic" beings... I wonder how detrimental it was to them, too.

That's just sick to use such a weapon against any peaceful protest. What the HECK are people so hateful about and so scared of???

... oh yeah. Duh.

(Hey Mrs. Obama - I know you didn't say you were not proud of your country, but I must say that I am when I read/hear about things that have been happening that are insanely shameful. I fully believe the Founders would say the same).

sigh,...

[backscatter712]

35. Gee, it'd be a fucking shame if a mob of rabid teabaggers was dispersed by these...

Geese... Ganders...

[KansDem]

44. Hmmm...Sonic weapons vs. tea baggers...

I wonder who would win?

[marshall]

36. What, no Vietnam War protest era water hoses?

I guess sonic is less messy.

[AlbertCat]

70. What, no Vietnam War protest era water hoses?

What with Global Warming....draught conditions and all....

Oh wait, I forgot. Global Warming is a secret scientific plot to keep environmentalists employed.




I'm kidding, y'know....

[gorfle]

41. Put a bullet through the face of it.

There's a reason we keep and bear arms.

[hedgehog]

43. What happens if you attempt to disperse a crowd, and instead cause a stampede?

[Moochy]

51. Yeah that Little Fascist Clown Car looks mighty tippable

[HALO141]

42. I want one. :D n/t

[KansDem]

47. Really! Get two of them and hook them up to the CD player...

I'd like to hear the first movement of Janacek's "Sinfonietta" played through these babies! :D

[valerief]

54. I think the thunder cars that drive by my house use them to play some kind of noise they call music.

[MindPilot]

45. What happens if I aim it at a car with a really loud sound system?

Would there be like an antimatter implosion?

[Brother Buzz]

79. There might be total quiet at that antimatter implosion point

You are more than welcome to bring a device over to my neighborhood and conduct experiments. There are plenty of targets subjects to practice on.

[Postman]

49. The War has come home...

[Moochy]

50. The Creative Protestor will need to upgrade to EMP weapons

[IDFbunny]

78. Military electronics are hardened for EMP

but they're not impervious to it.

The Soviets held onto vacuum tubes for a very long time, not because they couldn't make their own ICs (early on they couldn't) but because in a nuclear war robust tubes could survive.

[valerief]

53. So the message is, if you don't want to go deaf, don't exercise your right to protest.

"LRADs, when Tasers just aren't enough."

Land of the free, my ass.

[Joanne98]

55. The police state moves forward!

[OneBlueSky]

56. been watching "Whale Wars" recently, and the Japanese whalers are using LRADs . . .

to ward off the Sea Shepherd folks who are looking to disrupt their whaling operations . . . seems that these things are popping up all over the place these days . . . the weapon of choice for the new millennium? . . .

[SteveM]

59. Relax, tea-baggers, they only use that stuff against the "left." (nt)

[kestrel91316]

61. I'm sure overzealous LE officers would NEVER use one of these

inappropriately.

:sarcasm:

[MilesColtrane]

62. I'd rather have a loudspeaker pointed at me than a microwave emitter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Denial_System

[LiberalFighter]

64. What happens if someone has one of these devices and focuses

on the home of the company president?

[defendandprotect]

66. k i c k

[bobshin]

67. Interesting. I came across something similar in my search to disperse teenagers

in front of my business without bothering the police or making the situation confrontational.

It's called the Mosquito, but it apparently only affects teenagers...

http://preview.alturl.com/mj7f

[AlbertCat]

69. Should there be government controls on who should be able to buy or own a sonic weapon?

Everyone should have one! More than one. Dozens if they want. The 2nd Amendment says.....


:sarcasm:

[Blacksheep214]

71. It's designed to kill Granny!

Ohfercrissakes, listen to yourselves!

I read more than post and seldom do a majority make me shake my head.

Please take a breath and get better educated on this NON-LETHAL piece of equipment.

Bullets are not non lethal. Do you prefer the alternative?

Peace!

[JackRiddler]

81. So for crowds all the authorities can do is make them deaf, or shoot them?

What republic are you from again?

I'll note also that most every form of torture is also classed as "non-lethal."

Welcome to DU & enjoy your stay.

[notesdev]

76. Tasering one at a time isn't satisfying enough to a power-mad goon with a badge n/t

[recoveringrepublican]

77. I'm pretty deaf, was wondering if this would effect me while watching "Whale Wars" nt

[KamaAina]

80. Or what if someone flipped the "Deafening Tone Meant To Disperse Insurgents" switch by mistake?

:scared:

[lovuian]

84. I think it shows how worthless they are and they will only make

people go underground

They lost in Iraq and they will lose here

they make a serious mistake exposing themselves

they are MORONS

[Prometheus Bound]

93. If they are good enough for Iraqi crowds, why not American?

Troops In Iraq Get High Tech Noisemaker
Associated Press
March 3, 2004
NEW YORK - U.S. soldiers in Iraq have new gear for dispersing hostile crowds and warding off potential enemy combatants. It blasts earsplitting noise in a directed beam.

The equipment, called a Long Range Acoustic Device, or LRAD, is a so-called "non-lethal weapon" developed after the 2000 attack on the USS Cole off Yemen as a way to keep operators of small boats from approaching U.S. warships.

The devices have been used on some U.S. ships since last summer as part of a suite of protection measures.

Now, the Army and Marines have added this auditory barrage dispenser to their arms ensembles. Troops in Fallujah, a center of insurgency west of Baghdad, and other areas of central Iraq in particular often deal with crowds in which lethal foes intermingle with non-hostile civilians.

The developer of the LRAD, American Technology Corp. of San Diego, recently got a $1.1 million contract from the U.S. Marine Corps to buy the gadgets for units deployed to Iraq. The Army also sent LRADs to Iraq to test on vehicles.

Some of the Iraq-bound devices will be used by members of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, both recently deployed to the western province of Al Anbar, a largely barren, predominantly Sunni Muslim area.

Though not officially part of the military's Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate, the 45-pound, dish-shaped device belongs to a developing arsenal of technologies intended not to kill but to deter.

.......Carl Gruenler, vice president of military and government operations for American Technology Corp., said LRADs are "in the beginnings of being used in Baghdad," though he said he lacked "initial feedback" on how they are working.

Dubbed "The Sound of Force Protection" in a company brochure, the devices can broadcast sound files containing warning messages. Or they can be used with electronic translating devices for what amounts to "narrowcasting."

If crowds or potential foes don't respond to the verbal messages, the sonic weapon, which measures 33 inches in diameter, can direct a high-pitched, piercing tone with a tight beam. Neither the LRAD's operators or others in the immediate area are affected.

The devices "place distance between the Marine and their threat, giving him/her more time to sort out a measured and appropriate response," Lt. Col. Susan Noel, force protection officer for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, said in an ATC statement announcing the contract.

Gruenler compares the LRAD's shrill tone to that of smoke detectors, only much louder. It can be as loud as about 150 decibels; smoke detectors are in the 80 to 90 decibel range.

"Inside 100 yards, you definitely don't want to be there," said Gruenler, adding that the device is recommended for a range of 300 yards or less.

Hearing experts say sound that loud and of that high a frequency - about 2,100 to 3,100 hertz - could be dangerous if someone were exposed to it long enough.

"That's a sensitive region for developing hearing loss," said Richard Salvi, director of the Center for Hearing and Deafness at the University at Buffalo. "The longer the duration, the more serious it is."

Gruenler concedes that permanent hearing damage is possible if someone were exposed to the sound for lengthy periods.

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,FL_noise_030304,00.html?ESRC=eb.nl