US works on a 'maximum pain' bomb

As if torture and kidnapping isn't enough for the US military and intelligence agencies, now they're working on a bomb that when it doesn't kill, hurts people. Really hurts them. Look at this from an article in New Scientist:

The US military is funding development of a weapon that delivers a bout of excruciating pain from up to 2 kilometres away. Intended for use against rioters, it is meant to leave victims unharmed. But pain researchers are furious that work aimed at controlling pain has been used to develop a weapon. And they fear that the technology will be used for torture.