http://www.optics.org/articles/ole/10/3/4/1

Article here

I hate to see the weaponizing of beautiful creations of pure science, but I am enough of a realist to know it is inevitable. I agree that CURRENT technology limits lasers to a defensive role on the battlefield. Large essentially stationary installations that can shoot down incoming shells have been demonstrated and tested. Humvee mounted lasers capable of detonating landmines at a distance have been developed.

The laser I worked on at my last job was a monster built by Cutting Edge Optronics (The company mentioned in the article, it used to be owned by TRW until Northrup bought out TRW). The laser was the only laser I have worked with that genuinely terrified me. It put out 3 beams with 500 Watts per beam, its wavelength was 1.064 microns- what I consider a very dangerous wavelength- it is invisible, yet it can still do retinal damage. It was hardly what you would call 'portable'. It would not be appropriate as a weapon, defensive or otherwise. Solid state lasers are not yet a viable weapon, but I have no doubt that that day is coming. Chemical lasers have many drawbacks, but are capable of delivering power at a level that can make them a weapon. Personally, chemical lasers are about the only type of lasers I have never worked with, I hope it stays that way. The chemicals used are very nasty and the claims to the contrary in the article are questionable in my opinion.

If lasers are used in any way in war, people will be blinded- use of blinding weapons is forbidden by the Geneva Convention...