New report highlights ethics and policy dangers of military human enhancementsMadison Ruppert, Contributor Massive advances in technology are requiring a radical re-thinking of the future of war in other areas as well, such as weaponized hallucinations, fully automated weapons systems (also known as killer robots) and rapidly advancing drone technology opening up the realistic possibility of perpetual drone flight. Yet this type of research aimed at directly changing human body in an effort to build what some call super soldiers is in a league of its own. The militarys enhancements cover a wide range of technologies from drugs and nutrition to genetic manipulation to electroshock to robotic implants, prosthetics and more. In a new 108-page report prepared for the Greenwall Foundation by Patrick Lin, PhD, Maxwell Mehlman, JD and Keith Abney ABD, the many risks are outlined along with some of the many human enhancement projects recently or currently pursued by militaries worldwide. Insomuch as the US military is the most transparent about its research projects as well as the most heavily invested, most but not all of our examples are projects based in US, drawn from open-source or unclassified information, the researchers note. One such project is the Avatar program spearheaded by the Defense Advance Research Project Agency (DARPA) aimed at creating interfaces and algorithms to enable a soldier to effectively partner with a semi-autonomous bi-pedal machine and allow it to act as the soldiers surrogate. In addition there are efforts to increase situational awareness through better communication, data integration from different sources, threat identification, coordinated efforts, and so on. Current projects include DARPAs Cognitive Technology Threat Warning System, a visual aid that employs a computer to instantly identify threats that otherwise warfighters might only subconsciously see, given that only a fraction of our visual data is consciously registered. A similar project is DARPAs Soldier Centric Imaging via Computational Cameras, or SCENICC, which seeks to develop electronic contact lenses to accomplish similar superhuman awareness. While caffeine has long been a staple in war as an attention stimulant, the US military now uses amphetamines to increase focus although there are quite obviously possible serious side-effects. Indeed, in one case, it seems that the stimulants were at least partially responsible for the deaths of four Canadian troops in Afghanistan, as Danger Room notes. Case in point: On April 18, 2002, a pair of Air Force F-16 fighter pilots returning from a 10-hour mission over Afghanistan saw flashes on the ground 18,000 feet below them, David Axe writes. Thinking he and his wingman were under fire by insurgents, Maj. Harry Schmidt dropped a 500-pound laser-guided bomb. The flashes were actually Canadian troops conducting a live-fire training exercise and the Air Force eventually dropped criminal charges. Schmidt told Chicago magazine, I dont know what the effect was supposed to be. All I know is something [was] happening to my body and brain that could have influenced his judgment. Currently, the US and other militaries are using or exploring the use of modafinil and other drugs, which are already used illicitly to enhance academic and workplace performance, according to the report. Even memory is a target of potential manipulation with DARPAs Human Assisted Neural Devices program, aimed at strengthening and restoring memories. Other programs are focused on developing drugs and treatments capable of erasing memories. Programs are also aimed at using artificial intelligence to enhance decision-making and planning in military situations. DARPAs Deep Green, for instance, automatically infers the commanders intent and produces a plan from the commanders hand-drawn sketches to facilitate rapid option creation, and plan recognition and understanding capabilities ensure the commanders intent is fully represented in the system. DARPA is also researching enhanced learning methods with programs such as Neurotechnology for Intelligence Analysts, Accelerated Learning, Education Dominance, Augmented Cognition, and Training Superiority programs. Real-time language translation is another area of DARPA research with programs like Boundless Operational Language Translation (BOLT), Robust Automatic Translation of Speech (RATS), TRANSTAC, and other programs. Communication with military systems is also an area of increased focus with systems capable of facilitating direct communication between pilot and aircraft and projects [that] seek to enable communication through thought alone, such as the brain-computer interface workor synthetic telepathyfunded by the US Army Research Office. There are also programs focusing on specific senses such as telescoping contact lenses, DARPAs RealNose project aimed at mimicking a dogs sense of smell, a Canadian project aimed at filtering out environmental noises while enhancing verbal signals and another Canadian project seeking to develop a tactile cueing system for pilots to detect motion without visual or auditory cues. Even human metabolism is an area of military focus with DARPAs Peak Soldier Performance program aimed at boost[ing] human endurance, both physical and cognitive. Dietary supplements like quercetin are being investigated for cognitive-enhancing effects under stress as well. Relatedly, US and UK scientists are researching genetic and cellular (mitochondrial) enhancements to enable soldiers to run for long distances and to survive longer without food, e.g., as Alaskan sled dogs are able, the researchers add. DARPAs Crystalline Cellulose Conversion to Glucose (C3G) program is aimed at eventually allowing soldiers to eat otherwise indigestible materials, such as grass. Avoiding that pesky thing called sleep is another focus of military research with DARPA-funded research programs into light and magnetic therapies to safely maintain wakefulness. The list grows considerably when one considers so-called dual-use research which includes military-funded research projects in therapeutics or healing with dual-use applications as enhancements for soldiers. Areas of focus include research into stress, circulatory issues, metabolism, toxins and radiation, prosthetics, diagnostics, drug delivery systems and basic science which, oddly enough, includes DARPAs Living Foundries program. Every single area includes ethical, legal and policy considerations, all of which are likely even greater than we think since this report relies solely on publicly available information. However, as is the case with drones, this technology might and, one might argue, likely will be used extensively without any formal rules, guidelines or legal frameworks in place. Did I forget anything or miss any errors? Would you like to make me aware of a story or subject to cover? Or perhaps you want to bring your writing to a wider audience? Feel free to contact me at admin@EndtheLie.com with your concerns, tips, questions, original writings, insults or just about anything that may strike your fancy. Please support our work and help us start to pay contributors by doing your shopping through our Amazon link or check out some must-have products at our store. This article first appeared at End the Lie. Madison Ruppert is the Editor and Owner-Operator of the alternative news and analysis databaseEnd The Lie and has no affiliation with any NGO, political party, economic school, or other organization/cause. He is available for podcast and radio interviews. Madison also now has his own radio show on UCYTV Monday nights 7 PM 9 PM PT/10 PM 12 AM ET. Show page link here: http://UCY.TV/EndtheLie. If you have questions, comments, or corrections feel free to contact him at admin@EndtheLie.com linkwithin_text=Related Articles: 