Cross-posted on DailyKos
From the UK's Telegraph.  

American commanders in Iraq are urging Pentagon chiefs to authorise the deployment of newly-developed heat wave guns to disperse angry crowds or violent rioters.

Here's how the gun works:

The heatwave weapon can, by contrast, target troublemakers from 750 metres. It works by dispatching high-powered radio waves from a vehicle antenna, similar to a satellite television dish, causing the molecules in a target's skin to vibrate violently, creating a burning sensation.

"We are pretty good at shouting and intimidating people and we have been perfecting the art of lethal warfare since Cain and Abel," he said. "But in places like Iraq we are re-learning that we need a response in the spectrum between shouting and shooting. The ADS [Active Denial System]provides this."

There are also pictures and more information here along with this quote:

"It would be very useful technology in the field in Iraq," said Airman Hudspeth, who has witnessed the need for better ways to control angry and threatening crowds during two tours there.

I think this is a great idea.   Not only would this device be useful in Iraq, but imagine how effective it could be in controlling unruly crowds here.  Remember the WTO protests or George Bush's inauguration? George Bush would have seemed much more popular to these people when the alternative would have been having uncontrollably vibrating skin molecules, just as Democracy will seem much more popular to the people in Iraq when this is the alternative.  

And hopefully a smaller version hand-held version could be developed as well for police to use against suspects and teachers to discipline unrully students.