Associate Director at Los Alamos National Lab, Doug Beason offered analysis of the North Korea nuclear testand discussed directed energy weapons and how they may change the way we fight wars. Directed energy weapons, such as airborne lasers, could actually be used to shoot down nuclear missiles, he noted. The laser has the advantage of being able to travel at the speed of light, and can be deflected off mirrors in space, to target any point on Earth.
Half a billion dollars is being spent to develop these laser systems, said Beason, who added that they are inherently not an offensive weapon, but rather a defensive one with the ability to use a narrow focus.
He also touched on microwave weapons, which like lasers can travel at the speed of light. They can envelop large areas like a battlefield, and perhaps knock out all the enemies' electronics, he reported.
N. Korea Test
First hour guest, nuclear engineer and U.S. Navy veteran Kenneth Sewell reacted to the probable nuclear test conducted by N. Korea. He advocated blockading the entire country until they open up major inspections of their nuclear program. He also pointed out that while North Korea may have had success with this test, they might not have developed nuclear material in a "weaponized" manner.