Depending on who you talk to, HAARP  -- the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program --- is either an ionosphere-boiling superweapon, a giant mind control facility, a pork project par excellence, or some kind of defense against nukes in space.  But no matter what the project does, one thing is clear: DARPA, the Pentagon's R&D arm, absolutely loves it.   At last week's DARPATech conference, HAARP's main contractor was first on the list to receive an award from the agency:

Everybody has a theory about why HAARP gets so much government love.  Arms Control Wonk has pointed to possible financial interests. And then, well, there's the whole weather control theory. I've got no idea, so I'm just going to hope they announce a "public day" soon so I can check it out for myself.