AS MARK THOMPSON of Time magazine writes, “Every war has its wonder weapon.” And in an upcoming war against Iraq, we are told to “get ready to meet the high-power microwave.” The way Thompson describes it, the “HPM” sounds almost too good to be true: They “fry the sophisticated computers and electronic gear necessary to produce, protect, store and deliver [chemical and biological] agents. The powerful electromagnetic pulses can travel into deeply buried bunkers through ventilation shafts, plumbing and antennas. But unlike conventional explosives, they won’t spew deadly agents into the air, where they could poison Iraqi civilians or advancing U.S. troops.”

But Thompson’s brief article leaves one thirsting for a bit more. Exactly how are high-power microwaves, aka “e-bombs,” sent to targets? Who delivers them? In fact, who makes them? And even though HPMs are specifically designed to avoid collateral damage, what happens if you find yourself directly beneath the microwaves’ rays?