As early as 9 february 1989, president george bush claimed that the spread and even use of sophisticated weaponry threatens global security as. Chapters are devoted to the ecological impacts of nuclear weapons, chemical and biological weapons, and geophysical and environmental weapons. Lee lerner brian hoyle weapons of mass destruction are weapons that cause a high loss of life within a short time span. With the united states poised to attack iraq to disarm it of its weapons of mass destruction wmd, the nuclear program at nrdc natural resources defense council thought it was time for a clear. Nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons fit this definition.
It also contains additional footage and background materials about biological, chemical and. The direct use of infectious agents and poisons against enemy personnel is an ancient. Chemical weapons work mainly through toxicity, which is a chemical action on. For patriots like billy sinclair, the iraq war started o.
They can be nuclear, chemical or biological weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from nuclear warfare and chemical warfare, which together with biological warfare make up nbc, the military initialism for nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare using weapons of mass destruction wmds. This site promotes the united nations film weapons of mass destruction. The case of weapons of mass destruction at the outset of. Most biological agents are difficult to grow and maintain. 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. Hence, weapons of mass destruction are the most effective way to neutralize, immobilize, and terrify your enemy into instant submission. A weapon of mass destruction wmd is a nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological, or any other weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to numerous humans or cause great damage to humanmade structures e. And terrorists like bin laden are trying to get their hands on them too. Learn weapons mass destruction with free interactive flashcards. But libya, iraq, iran and north korea and others are building weapons of mass destruction, nuclear, biological and chemical. Nuclear weapons are the archetypal weapons of mass destruction wmds. The term nbcs was coined in reference to terrorist weapons of mass destruction, i. In different sources the phrase may be seen as nbc nuclear, biological and chemical weapons or cbr chemical, bacteriological and radiological weapons.
Nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, or weapons of mass destruction wmd, present a serious danger in todays world. Wikipedia books can also be tagged by the banners of any relevant wikiprojects with classbook. Weapons of mass destruction and the environment sipri. The 2 bombs dropped on nagasaki and hiroshima, japan, during. Weapons of mass destruction weapon of mass destruction wmd is a term used to describe a munition with the capacity to indiscriminately kill large numbers of living beings.
Fundamental research to counter weapons of mass destruction cwmd original posting date. The scope and usage of the term has evolved and been disputed, often signifying more politically than technically. The nononsense guide to nuclear, chemical and biological weapons today. The common african defense and security policy cadsp, adopted by the second extraordinary session of the assembly of the union, held in sirte, libya, on 28 february 2004, identifies wmd as a common threat facing all member states and should be. A weapon of mass destruction is a nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological, or other device that is intended to harm a large number of people. Made infamous during world war ii and by movies such as the sum of all fears paramount pictures, 2002, these weapons explode above or on the ground, causing damage arising from contact with displaced objects, followed by a fireball, concussion, and fallout. This pertinent and topical volume takes a hardheaded look at the threat that india could face from these weapons. The potential effects of wmd proliferation on nato allies are one of the greatest threats nato.
Multiple diverse functional and dysfunctional aggressors utilize weapons of mass destruction. Radiological, chemical, and biological as want to read. Biological, chemical and nuclear absence of mycoplasma contamination in the anthrax vaccine. The case of weapons of mass destruction at the outset of the iraq war david c. There are three types of weapons of mass destruction. Encyclopedia of espionage, intelligence, and security dictionary. Until now, terrorist attacks involving weapons of mass d estruction have been considered as unlikely for two reasons. The effects of weapons on ecosystems is a fivechapter book that describes the destruction of environment and its various ecosystems by humans. Chemicalbiological weapons problems chemical weapons largely ineffective biological weapons cant be stored protection against both is relatively easy on the battlefield both are really weapons of terror against citizens or weapons of intimidation against soldiers rather than 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. It has been accepted for inclusion in this collection by an authorized administrator.
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. According to a pertinent article at wikipedia, a weapon of mass destruction wmd is a weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans and other life forms andor cause great damage to manmade structures e. Though biological warfare is different from chemical warfare, there has always been the tendency to discuss one in terms of the other, or both together. Wikipedia books are maintained by the wikipedia community, particularly wikiproject wikipedia books. The weapons of mass destruction branch provides substantive support for the activities of the united nations in the area of weapons of mass destruction nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. The nononsense guide to nuclear, chemical and biological weapons today hutchinson, robert on. Powells presentation to the united nations security council yesterday, it is hard to imagine how anyone could doubt that iraq possesses weapons of. Beginning in the mid1930s, japan conducted numerous attempts to acquire and develop weapons of mass destruction. The currently accepted acronym is cbrne which includes chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive weapons. Examples include nuclear warheads, missiles designed to deliver biological agents such as anthrax, and shells carrying mustard gas or sarin.
Source for information on weapons of mass destruction, detection. 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. Choose from 3 different sets of weapons mass destruction flashcards on quizlet. The continent has long expressed its commitment to a world free of the abhorrent and indiscriminate biological, chemical and nuclear weapons wmd. Weapons of mass destruction wmds constitute a class of weaponry with the potential to, in a single moment, kill millions of civilians, jeopardize the natural environment, and fundamentally alter the world and the lives of future generations through their catastrophic effects. Nuclear, biological and chemical nbc weapons have been elevated as a major issue of international concern in the postcold war era.
Entomological insect warfare is also considered a type of biological weapon. The importance of the psychological aspects of weapons of mass destruction wmd increasingly has been recognized. Book this book does not require a rating on the quality scale. Weapons of mass destruction questia online library. The department of homeland security works every day to prevent terrorists and other threat actors from using these. The fbis weapons of mass destruction wmd directorate uses a cohesive and coordinated approach to incidents involving nuclear, radiological, biological, or chemical weaponswith an overriding. A weapon of mass destruction or wmd is a weapon that has the ability to kill or harm huge numbers of people. During the next decade, proliferation will remain most acute in some of the worlds most volatile regions. An encyclopedia of worldwide policy, technology, and history, 2 volumes by jeff larsen, james wirtz, eric croddy abcclio 1851094954 online ebook, see publisher the first accessible reference to cover the history, context, current issues, and key concepts surrounding biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons.
The united states faces a rising danger from terrorists and rogue states seeking to use weapons of mass destruction. Biological weapon, any of a number of diseaseproducing agentssuch as bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, fungi, toxins, or other biological agentsthat may be utilized as weapons against humans, animals, or plants. Specifically, i class nuclear, biological, and cyber weapons as wmd, relegating chemical, highexplosive, and incendiary weapons to a lesser category. The three basic groups of biological agents that would likely be used as weapons are bacteria, viruses, and toxins. The proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction wmd, and their delivery systems, could have incalculable consequences for national, regional and global security. Psychological effects of weapons of mass disruption. Biological agents are organisms or toxins that can kill or incapacitate people, livestock, and crops. Chemical, biological, and radiological weapons 2010 sm 10202010 11. They are sometimes referred to as chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear cbrn or atomic, biological and. Weapons of mass destruction provides an objective analysis of a subject easily distorted by fear. Acquiring the means of mass destruction, including biological, chemical and nuclear weapons, would thus be the next step. This book describes several weapons of mass destruction and examines the extent and duration of environmental damage to be expected from them.
Modern weapons of mass destruction are either nuclear, biological. Weapons of mass destruction wmds are devices capable of inflicting deaths several orders of magnitude greater than conventional ordnance. Biological warfare, bioterrorism, biodefence and the. This had been pointed out previously by the author 1 and discussed in considerable detail in ref. Start by marking introduction to weapons of mass destruction. This is a war being waged for reasons obscure to many of its potential victims. Biological, chemical and nuclear weapons possess the common property of wreaking mass destruction. The book also explains the harmful effects, both intended and unanticipated, of the production, testing, stockpiling, and use of weapons of mass destruction.
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