Group warns military: Prepare now for risks of ‘mutant soldier’ future

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Raw Story

Group warns military: Prepare now for risks of ‘mutant soldier’ future
By David Ferguson
Monday, December 31, 2012 17:26 EST


Researchers at California Polytechnic State University warn that the U.S. military is working to create and implement technologies that will give soldiers “mutant powers” without fully thinking through the consequences. According to Wired magazine’s “Danger Room” blog, the scientists warn that if the military fails to prepare properly, these advancements, including enhanced strength and endurance, superior cognition and a lack of fear, the technology could do more harm than good.

Patrick Lin and his colleagues Maxwell Mehlman and Keith Abney have produced a report for the Greenwall Foundation (.pdf), a foundation dedicated to rewarding excellence in the arts and humanities as well as in the growing field of bioethics. The report, “Enhanced Fighters: Risk, Ethics and Policy” warns that “military human enhancements” could pose a decided risk to enlisted personnel. The means used to produce the enhancements, including drugs, special nutrition, electroshock, gene therapy and robotic implants, are all only dimly understood. The consequences of utilizing these techniques with anything but exquisite care could be devastating.

“With military enhancements and other technologies, the genie’s already out of the bottle: the benefits are too irresistible, and the military-industrial complex still has too much momentum,” wrote Lin in an email to Wired. “The best we can do now is to help develop policies in advance to prepare for these new technologies, not post hoc or after the fact (as we’re seeing with drones and cyberweapons).”

Unintended consequences of “mutant fighter” technology, the report said, could include maimed and killed soldiers from technologies gone awry, spurring costly lawsuits. Tweaked and modified soldiers could be found in violation of international law, spawning a fresh international crisis every time U.S. troops are deployed. Worse, the new technologies could kick off a frantic arms race between the U.S. and its enemies.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/12/31/group-warns-military-prepare-now-for-dangers-of-mutant-soldier-future/

[tblue]

1. That's The Terminator!

It is! Who knew that movie wasn't science fiction?

[AAO]

21. I hope they don't have the liquid metal!

[Hayabusa]

25. I was thinking more among the lines of

Warhammer 40ks Space Marines. For the Emperor!

[RKP5637]

2. No surprises here, the future leads right off a cliff given human

ingenuity to kill and maim each other and other living creatures, and the knack to even destroy inanimate objects. Given that, earth will eventually cleanse itself and mankind will be extinct. For decades I was never a pessimist, always an eternal optimist ... but anymore I've concluded we are truly fucked in the long run.

[Downwinder]

3. Ryder Hook, The Boosted Man

[JohnnyRingo]

4. "At which time the Pentagon..."

began flying an remote controlled armed drone over the meeting trailing a banner that read: 'Better bring a lot of mutant body bags' behind it".

Certainly is something to consider though, and another good reason to keep my grandkids away from the miltary. It could confirm my suspicions that there's something wrong with those kids.

[agent46]

5. Since HG Wells

Last edited Mon Dec 31, 2012, 09:12 PM - Edit history (1)

Since HG Wells and even well before, "Science Fiction" has depicted trajectories and trends that have often come true either literally or allegorically. I'm pretty sure we're at the point in our civilization where anything that's been imagined will be attempted somewhere by someone with the right amount of cash.

Human cloning Check
Cyborg enhancement Check
Cross-species genetic chimeras Check
Super soldiers Check
Warp drive Check
Brain programming Check
Thought image recording Check
Cross species communication Check
Brainwashing; Behavior modification Check
Social engineering Check
Religion as science; Science as religion Check
Soylent shit Check
Geo-engineering Check
Total surveillance society Check
Artificial Intelligence Check
Cognitive enhancement through Neuro-science Check

Make up your own Sci-Fi list. How it all turns out depends on who gets there first. The race is on. We're living in interesting times.

[pasto76]

7. 'warp drive' huh

so we have vehicles that travel magnitudes beyond the speed of light.

this 'warning' about 'mutant soldiers' is pretty close...to the fringe of science. so far 'enhanced endurance' means issuing chocolate covered coffee beans

[AtheistCrusader]

13. No, we don't.

http://gizmodo.com/5942634/nasa-starts-development-of-real-life-star-trek-warp-drive

I consider that inclusive of 'attempted'.

[agent46]

16. Yes. I said attempted. n/t

[AtheistCrusader]

26. And we've already got the air force popping amphetamines (go pills).

So, who knows what's classified, and already in some stage of testing on the 'super soldier' stuff.

[agent46]

30. In the early 90's

I was in a (then) classified Army SF unit in the Pacific Rim. We had access to technology not yet available or even known to the public. There was experimentation going on with use of steroids, stimulants and blood doping. In 1992 the Pentagon was already preparing for America's next great war push -- the war against "terrorism." An interesting book published around that time was War and Anti-War by Alvin and Heidi Toffler, futurists who consulted for the Pentagon under Bush and later, Clinton.

http://tinyurl.com/a6sj2dl

This book mentions the unit I was in as a pilot program for the Neocon's coming push for "America's New War on Terror." The plan as I understood it then, was to eventually build a new model for units across the Army based on SF counter-terrorism operations and strategies.

The military at the time was at least a decade and a half ahead of the public on all of this. I was just a grunt. That's all I know from observation. It was a long time ago now.

[leveymg]

20. May I suggest that the human condition hasn't changed in 30,000 years, and won't

until we take the next step in evolution in becoming truly human and sapient creatures. Until the, the narrative stays the same: wars, more wars, and wars to end all wars.

[RKP5637]

24. As usual, kill first, peace later, well maybe, 'till kill = more $$$$, then more wars. Ain't it just

great!

[obamamyprez]

31. No UFOs yet

[malz]

6. So, we have a Choice

Between



or



???

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. Be optimistic:

[AtheistCrusader]

14. A guy who forgets how to fly a plane? Or how to bail out?

He bailed out earlier in the movie. Onto hard ground. What happened to that skill?

[cstanleytech]

10. The bottom one already exists.

You know them as "Republicans" and they all follow orders and march in lock step when it comes to orders, sadly some think we (us democrats) should follow in those same footsteps of following orders.

[agent46]

18. Don't forget this sad story

[obamamyprez]

32. That borg doesn't look too scary

He kind of looks like a high school music teacher. Or maybe "it" looks like a high school music teacher as I believe Borg are genderless. What is the proper pronoun for a borg? They?

[IrishAle]

9. It's fine as long as...

It'll be fine. As long as our Corporations, Guns, fetus' and Corporate Overlords are safe.. thats all that matters.

[Locrian]

11. X-Files

I remember an episode where they were developing a mutant warrior type that would be immune to the plague. Seemed like back then is was just science fiction....

[obamamyprez]

33. Super soldiers are the latest woo woo

being promoted by conspiracy theory / esoteric bullshit artists on the internet. That and time traveller. The alien abductee is so yesterday, now they are all psychic, remote viewing, super soldier, time travelers. I kid you not.

Check out this character:

http://anyaisachannel.blogspot.com/2012/06/bases-15-anya-briggs-full.html

The words, snake oil, huckster and grifter all come to mind. She's either completely lost her mental capacity or she's lying her ass off.

[L0oniX]

12. Another bad movie ...LMAO n/t

[meow2u3]

15. Someone has been reading too many comic books like this

[RKP5637]

17. The MIC is already licking its chops for more $$$$$! n/t

[leveymg]

19. Nothing that comes out of the Pentagon involves "enhanced cognition."

Must be a reference to an episode from "Next Generation," when such things seemed possible and potentially benign.

[AAO]

22. Attention all potential military enlistees!

Get a lawyer to look at the contract before you sign it. If there is anything about "human-animal hybrids", DO NOT SIGN!!

What the hell is happening to our world?

[undeterred]

23. How are we going to keep them from shooting up schoolchildren?

[cbrer]

27. Waht could go worng

Oops.

[Kennah]

28. Break out the Ketracel-white

Remember, victory is life.

[Ashgrey77]

29. And remember to never question the Founders, for they are Gods. n/t

[jrandom421]

34. First comes

"Obedience brings victory!" Then "victory is life!"