The effects of weapons on ecosystems is a fivechapter book that describes the destruction of environment and its various ecosystems by humans. Iraq actively researched and later employed weapons of mass destruction wmd from 1962 to 1991, when it destroyed its chemical weapons stockpile and halted its biological and nuclear weapon programs as required by the united nations security council. These conclusions about the future of wmd derive from judgments about relevant technological and geopolitical developments out to 2030. With over 500 entries arranged alphabetically, volume one covers biological and chemical weapons, while volume two focuses on nuclear weapons. Biological, chemical and nuclear absence of mycoplasma contamination in the anthrax vaccine. Todays danger comes mainly from the potential use of nuclear, biological, and chemical nbc weapons of mass destruction wmd by international terrorists or rogue states. He then proceeds to examine intelligence performance with each component of iraqi weapons of mass destruction programs nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and delivery systems. Chapters are devoted to the ecological impacts of nuclear weapons, chemical and biological weapons, and geophysical and environmental weapons. The term weapons of mass destruction wmd was first expressly defined by the united nations in 1948 as atomic explosive weapons, radioactive material weapons, lethal chemical and biological weapons, and any weapons developed in the future which have characteristics comparable in destructive effect to those of the atomic bomb or other weapons mentioned above defining. Some people think that this range should be expanded to include electromagnetic pulse weapons emp, radioactive dirty bombs or recent developments like cyberwarfare, or sophisticated information operations. The continued search in 2003 for weapons of mass destruction wmd in iraq heightened curiosity concerning the definition of wmd. The term has been in use since at least 1937, when newspapers described german bomber aircraft as weapons of mass destruction because they were being used to raze republicanheld cities during the spanish civil war. The term weapons of mass destruction wmd refers to weapons that can cause multiple deaths and severe damage to over a short period of time. Weapons of mass destruction and other strategic weapons we work to support progress in nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, addressing all aspects of the nuclear dilemma, from delivery vehicles and security policies to the benefits and risks of nuclear technology.
Cirincione talked about weapons proliferation, inspections of chemical and biological weapons programs, and the use of weapons of mass destruction. Live science points out that while chemical weapons only accounted for about one percent of the deaths in ww i, they unleashed a new form of weapon of mass destruction wmd. This is a wikipedia book, a collection of wikipedia articles that can be easily. Larsen, of abcclios encyclopedia of weapons of mass destruction. Chemical weapons work mainly through toxicity, which is a chemical action on. It begins with a history of the ancient and medieval use in warfare of biological weapons and goes on to explain how governments and terrorist factions have refined this practice to include biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons as a means of. Nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, or weapons of mass destruction. Freeing the world of nuclear, biological and chemical arms 2006, by weapons of mass destruction commission, contrib.
The united states is known to have possessed three types of weapons of mass destruction. Although chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological weapons often serve as examples of wmd, many things can be used as a wmd. Nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, or weapons of mass destruction wmd, present a serious danger in todays world. Biological weapons, like chemical weapons, radiological weapons, and nuclear weapons, are commonly referred to as weapons of mass destruction, although the. Contrary to the views of many pundits, there is an authoritative definition for wmd. Weapon of mass destruction an overview sciencedirect topics. When looking for books on the general category of weapons of mass destruction, theres not a lot of original, insightful literature. North korea has a military nuclear weapons program and, as of early 2019, is estimated to have an arsenal of approximately 2030 nuclear weapons and sufficient fissile material for an additional 3060 nuclear weapons. Chemical warfare became weapon of mass destruction in wwi. Jul 25, 2014 biological weapons, like chemical weapons, radiological weapons, and nuclear weapons, are commonly referred to as weapons of mass destruction, although the term is not truly appropriate in the. Page the ruling to kill the americans and their allies civilians and military. The book mostly covers the development of nuclear bombswarheads and their delivery systems.
Jun 01, 2014 the definition of weapons of mass destruction will remain uncertain and controversial in 2030, and its value as an analytic category will be increasingly open to question. Weapons of mass destruction international relations. Crucial information on nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons from the diseased animal carcass hurled over the wall of a besieged castle to the nuclear suitcase bomb carried by a clandestine operative, the threat of unconventional weapons has always been a feature of warfare. There is no treaty or customary international law that contains an authoritative definition. Weapons of mass destruction questia online library. Instead, international law has been used with respect to the specific categories of weapons within wmd, and not to wmd as a whole.
Tracy a phillips describes the history, dangers, and types of weapons of mass destruction, including biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons. The definition of weapons of mass destruction will remain uncertain and controversial in 2030, and its value as an analytic category will be increasingly open to question. Biological weapons of mass destruction could wipe out a. He is the author of many books, including weapons of mass destruction.
The virology bookshop biological weapons and warfare books. Freeing the world of nuclear, biological and chemical arms hans blix, weapons of mass destruction commission wmdc this digital document is an article from ploughshares monitor, published by thomson gale on december 22, 2006. A weapon of mass destruction wmd is something capable of inflicting mass casualties andor destroying or rendering highvalue assets as useless. Books specifically discussing nuclear weapons or the. This encyclopedia is the only comprehensive reference dedicated to the three types of weapons of mass destruction. The united states faces a rising danger from terrorists and rogue states seeking to use weapons of mass destruction. Weapons of mass destruction and the environment sipri. This book describes several weapons of mass destruction and examines the extent and duration of environmental damage to be expected from them. List of weapons of mass destruction treaties wikipedia. Chemical weapon weapons of mass destruction britannica. Croddy specializes in weapons of mass destruction with a focus on chemical and biological warfare. The german army initiated modern chemical warfare by launching a chlorine attack at ypres, belgium, on april 22, 1915, killing 5,000 french and algerian troops and momentarily.
The german army initiated modern chemical warfare by launching a chlorine attack at ypres, belgium, on april 22, 1915, killing 5,000 french and algerian troops and momentarily breaching their lines of defense. Nuclear weapons volume 2 of weapons of mass destruction. The term weapons of mass destruction wmd, used to encompass nuclear nw, biological bw, and chemical weapons cw, is misleading, politically dangerous, and cannot be justified on grounds of military efficiency. This had been pointed out previously by the author 1 and discussed in considerable detail in ref. They can be nuclear, chemical or biological weapons. Weapons of mass destruction an overview sciencedirect topics. In each case, they describe the pathogenic agent, the human consequences, organizational aspects of care for the victims and best practice for treatment. In 1925, in the aftermath of the first world war, during which chemical weapons were widely used, a protocol was negotiated in geneva banning the use of such weapons. The subtitle, the nononsense guide to nuclear, chemical and biological weapons today, is a bit of a misnomer. Weapons of mass destruction weapons of mass destruction wmd have three major types. Weapons of mass destruction an overview sciencedirect. United nations weapons of mass destruction nuclear, biological and chemical have plagued the human race since their invention and they still pose a threat today. This collection contains hundreds of pages of declassified defense department and state department documents concerning the secret negotiations between the u. Oct 31, 2014 united nations weapons of mass destruction nuclear, biological and chemical have plagued the human race since their invention and they still pose a threat today.
List of books and articles about weapons of mass destruction. Treaties may regulate weapons use under the customs of war hague conventions, geneva protocol, ban specific types of weapons chemical weapons convention, biological weapons convention, limit. The top secret history of americas nuclear, chemical and biological warfare programs and their deployment. This pertinent and topical volume takes a hardheaded look at the threat that india could face from these weapons. The most extensive part of his statement is a defense of the estimates judgment that iraq was seeking to reconstitute its nuclear weapons program. Weapons of mass destruction wmd is a term commonly used to refer to nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, but the precise meaning of the term is unclear. Weapons of mass destruction by facts on file, hardcover. Special operations command takes a lead role in countering weapons of mass destruction. Weapons of mass destruction include nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons plus radiological weapons and some others with potential for mass destruction fas 2001. Much of it is technically focused on describing the dangerous nature of chemical and biological warfare agents or the historical use of said weapons in the past. Weapons of mass destruction provides an objective analysis of a subject easily distorted by fear. Together with nuclear and chemical weapons, they are weapons of mass destruction weapons that can cause catastrophic effects worldwide.
Weapons of mass destruction federal public service. Although policy makers worry about the use of weapons of mass destruction against the united states, we should recognize that terrorist organizations have shown a remarkable tendency to fall back. In different sources the phrase may be seen as nbc nuclear, biological and chemical weapons or cbr chemical, bacteriological and radiological weapons. North korea and weapons of mass destruction wikipedia. Jul 29, 2019 when looking for books on the general category of weapons of mass destruction, theres not a lot of original, insightful literature. In different sources the phrase may be seen as nbc nuclear, biological and chemical weapons or cbr. A weapon of mass destruction wmd or womd is a weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans and or cause great damage to manmade structures e. Introduction ethics and weapons of mass destruction. The term has been in use since at least 1937, when newspapers described german bomber aircraft as weapons of mass destruction because they were being used to raze. The book also explains the harmful effects, both intended and unanticipated, of the production, testing, stockpiling, and use of weapons of mass destruction. The term weapon of mass destruction usually refers to nuclear, radiological, biological, or chemical weapons. Describes the history, dangers, and types of weapons of mass destruction, including biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons.
The most widely used definition of weapons of mass destruction is that of nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons nbc although there is no treaty or customary international law that contains an authoritative definition. An encyclopedia of worldwide policy, technology, and history, 2 volumes by jeff larsen, james wirtz, eric croddy abcclio 1851094954 online e book, see publisher the first accessible reference to cover the history, context, current issues, and key concepts surrounding biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons. These conclusions about the future of wmd derive from judgments about relevant technological and geopolitical developments out to. Belgium is a state party of the convention on the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of biological and toxin weapons and on their destruction, having signed the convention in 1972 and ratified it in 1979. A weapon of mass destruction wmd or womd is a weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans andor cause great damage to manmade structures e. A variety of treaties and agreements have been enacted to regulate the use, development and possession of various types of weapons of mass destruction. Covid19 shows that the biological weapons convention must.
United states and weapons of mass destruction wikipedia. Weapons of mass destruction and other strategic weapons. Nov 22, 2001 the term weapons of mass destruction wmd, used to encompass nuclear nw, biological bw, and chemical weapons cw, is misleading, politically dangerous, and cannot be justified on grounds of military efficiency. Discusses the conflicts and wars involving these weapons and their impact on nations around the worldprovided by publisher. Alternative technologies for the destruction of chemical agents and munitions. An encyclopedia of worldwide policy, technology, and history. Nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons are weapons of mass destruction because they can kill many people. Discusses the conflicts and wars involving these weapons and their. An annotated bibliography, world markets for chemical and biological warfare agent detection, and chemical and biological warfare. North korea has also stockpiled a significant quantity of chemical and biological weapons.
The term is integral to the international communitys longstanding disarmament dialogue. Chemical weapon chemical weapon weapons of mass destruction. Much of it is technically focused on describing the dangerous nature of chemical and biological warfare agents or the historical use of said. Defining weapons of mass destruction this paper rejects such arguments. Chemical weapons did not become true weapons of mass destruction wmd until they were introduced in their modern form in world war i 191418. A weapon of mass destruction wmd or womd is a nuclear, radiological, biological, chemical or other weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans or cause great damage to manmade structures e. Dec 26, 2016 biological weapons of mass destruction with the ability to spread deadly diseases like ebola and zika could wipe out up to a fifth of the worlds population, it has been claimed.
Weapon of mass destruction an overview sciencedirect. Learn about the different types and their dangers, including biological, chemical and nuclear weapons. A weapon of mass destruction is a nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological, or other device that is intended to harm a large number of people. Dec 23, 2016 special operations command takes a lead role in countering weapons of mass destruction. Biological weapons of mass destruction with the ability to spread deadly diseases like ebola and zika could wipe out up to a fifth of the worlds population, it has been claimed. This book is groundbreaking in that it concentrates more on the protection of. By convention, though not always without controversy, it has been understood to include not only nuclear weapons the weapon of mass destruction par excellence but also biological and chemical weapons. Purpura, in security and loss prevention fifth edition, 2008. Until 2017 he was a missile analyst with the defense intelligence agency. Only one chapter each is devoted to chemical and biological weapons, respectively. The term weapons of mass destruction wmd entered popular parlance some fifty years ago. The nononsense guide to nuclear, chemical and biological weapons today hutchinson, robert on.
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