Controlling Chemical and Biological Weapons Essay -- Exploratory Essay

Controlling chemical and Biological Weapons History and IntroductionChemical and biological weapons (CBWs) withstand been utilise over the ages as an effective means of strugglefare. The earliest incident of biological weapons (BWs) occurred in the third century B.C., when the Carthaginian leader Hannibal filled up pots with venomous snakes and threw them onto oppositeness ships. (Cirincione, 48) Since then, biological weapons have been utilise very in often. This is in general due to enormous cost required to create and handle BWs (many of the groups who have attempted to create such weapons have ended up infecting themselves more(prenominal) than often then their intended targets). (Henderson, 25) In contrast, chemical weapons have been used fairly frequently in warfare. The earliest example of chemical weapons comes from the fifth column War when the Greeks mixed sulfur and pitch resin to engulf enemy troops in toxic fumes. (Cirincione, 51) More recently the Germans and the Allies of population War I utilized the capabilities of chlorine gas in revisal to asphyxiate their enemies.(Slotten, 478) These weapons are thought to have been employed more frequently because they are more humane than biological or traditional weapons of war. Explains Capt. Alfred T Mahan of the U.S. Army after the Germans deployed chlorine gas during WWI, the use of gases might guide war more humane, instead of dying an agonizing death from august wounds, soldiers might be incapacitated by gas and then be humanely carted off to prisoner of war camps where they could quickly recuperate with no ill effects.(Slotten, 478) Though Mahans rationale may be a dwarfish nave, one send packing see why after the war there were many advocates for chemical weapons. Since their application in WWI by both the... ... the intelligence of the authorities in developed nations, who in turn can put political pressure on the nations building CBWs. Intelligence is the key. The more we know, the easier it is to stop terrorist groups and nations from using these weapons of mass destruction.SourcesCirincione, Joseph, with Jon B. Wolfsthal and Miriam Rajkumar, Deadly Arsenals Tracking Weapons of Mass Destruction. The Brooking founding Press, Washington, D.C. 2002.Henderson, Harry, Global Terrorism The Complete Reference Guide. Checkmark Boook, 2001. New York, N.Y.Moodie, Michael.Agents of Death. Forum for apply Research and Public Policy, Spring 2000. v15 i1 p6.Slotten, Hugh R. Humane Chemistry or scientific Barbarism? American Responses to World War I Poison Gas, 1915-1930. The ledger of American History, Volume 77, Issue 2. September, 1990. p. 476-498.