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      Weapons Of Mass Destruction: A Briefing

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      The theory behind chemical weapons is that it's the toxic nature of the compound that reacts with the target. In most cases, there's no explosive involved; it's simply the use of chemical products in an aggressive manner. For example, if you were to release a stink bomb in a roomful of people, that could be considered a chemical attack.

      Chemical weapons first appeared in warfare during World War I. Artillery shells were loaded with chlorine gas, phosgene, or mustard gas. While the former two were both asphyxiants, the latter was especially popular during the conflict and was the most dreaded of all chemical weapons. It would cause the skin to blister and irritate the lung tissues; enough exposure could cause death. In 1925, a treaty was signed (The Geneva Protocol) to prohibit the use of weapons of this nature.

      But that didn't stop its usage. The Italians used them in their war against Ethiopia and the Japanese later did so in China and Manchuria. It also caused damage in the Iran-Iraq conflict in the '80s. The toxins can be delivered through the air or in a food or water supply. Depending on the chemical employed, these weapons' effects can range from annoying to incapacitating to downright lethal.

      More dangerous chemical weapons were invented. Sarin was developed before World War II, but only recently has it been utilized; in 1995, the Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo released this neurotoxin in the Tokyo subway killing 12 people and wounding thousands. One milligram is all that's needed to kill a human. An even more powerful nerve agent was later concocted: VX gas. The main difference is that this product doesn't need to be inhaled; a mere drop on the skin will prevent the brain from communicating with the rest of the body, causing almost instant death. This gas has never been used in combat (but it was featured in the film The Rock ).


      The principle behind biological weapons is similar to chemical warfare, only harm comes from a bacteria or virus. With the number of diseases that medical experts are at a loss to explain, like AIDS and Ebola, it's definitely one of the most feared forms of weapons of mass destruction. With genetic modifications and a controlled spreading method, the entire population could be annihilated.

      Aside from the anthrax mailing cases that made waves on the East Coast in 2001, which can be considered attacks of this type, the use of biological weapons dates back to 1346, during the siege of Kaffa, a Genoese port on the Crimean peninsula in the Black Sea.

      But one of the most famous uses of biological warfare was in 18th century North America. Looking to deal with the "Indian problem," blankets infected with smallpox were sent to Native Americans in both Canada and the United States. Since these tribes had never been in contact with such a disease, they were very susceptible and the casualty rate was high. It is believed that certain governments are presently holding smallpox samples — a virus that is considered extinct — and could deploy it as a biological weapon.

      why is it searched?

      Of the countries that are believed to hold one form of WMD or another, the areas of concentration are North Africa and the Middle East, Eastern Europe and former Soviet Republics, and Asia. Of course, world leaders like France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States have them too.

      As of the publishing of this article, Iraq could be on the brink of attack if proof of weapons of mass destruction is found. Of course, most of the world is thinking about the repercussions of a war in which weapons of mass destruction are used.

      length of public interest?

      While most countries possessing such weapons claim they do so in order to retaliate in the event of an attack, any country that acquires weapons of mass destruction raises suspicion within the international community.

      Also, such destructive armament has always been popular in the entertainment world. They are the bread and butter of authors like Tom Clancy and have made movies such as The Rock, Outbreak, and The Sum of All Fears blockbusters. Weapons of mass destruction nurture fear and panic, and they will be a part of pop culture for as long as they remain a military reality.'s Analysis
      Of The Longevity Of This Term's Popularity - 10/10


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