Image adapted from http://www.mitretek.org/mission/envene/chemical/chem_back.html; http://www.himvoiska.narod.ru/ ;
http://www.seanet.com/~gtate/cwequip.htm
A U.S. Government agency has noted
that, “unlike nuclear weapons, which require a large, specialised, and costly
scientific-industrial base, CW agents can be made with commercial equipment
generally available to any country. Indeed, few military technologies have
evolved as little as chemical weapons over the past half-century.”
EFFECTS
Chemical weapons release toxic gases or liquids that attack the body’s nerves,
blood, skin or lungs. They may produce surface effects such as tears,
blistering, or vomiting, or cause hallucinations or loss of nervous control.
Chemical attacks can contaminate an area for between several hours and several
days, compromising equipment and forcing troops to wear highly restrictive
protective clothing (reducing their efficiency) and / or take chemical antidotes
whose side effects remain largely unknown. Chemical attacks cause widespread
panic amongst both military and civilian populations, and their terror effects
on civilians are potent. The large number of potential casualties places burdens
on medical facilities and can overwhelm stretched military resources.
The intimidatory nature of chemical weapons is such that a chemical attack or
the threat of a chemical attack can cause wholesale disruption or paralysis of
civil and economic activity in the affected area. The psychological effect on a
civilian population is likely to cause panic or terror.
Chemical weapons may significantly compromise the operational effectiveness of
military forces by requiring widespread protective measures and decontamination
which drain human and physical resources.
METHODS OF DELIVERY
Chemical weapons can be delivered by a wide range of weapons systems, including
ballistic and cruise missiles, combat aircraft-delivered bombs, artillery shells
and land mines. According to the U.S. General Accounting Office, during the
Iran-Iraq war, Iraq delivered mustard gas and tabun with artillery shells,
aerial bombs, missiles, rockets, grenades, and bursting smoke munitions.
The
Soviet-made Scud-B and FROG-7 can deliver warheads bulk-filled with chemical
agent and Iraq developed, deployed, but did not use, chemical warheads on its
modified Scud missiles during the Gulf War. North Korea is also believed to have
developed chemical warheads for its Scud B and Scud C ballistic missiles.
POTENTIAL TARGETS
The potential targets of chemical weapons include: troop concentrations;
dispersal areas; logistics centres; command and control centres; air bases;
ports; key infrastructure installations (oil and power facilities, desalination
plants, etc); civilian population centres.
EXAMPLES
Lethal chemical agents include vesicants such as sulphur mustard and
lewisite, which burn and blister the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; choking
agents such as phosgene and chlorine, which irritate the eyes and
respiratory tract; blood agents such as hydrogen cyanide, which starve
the tissues of oxygen; and nerve agents such as sarin and VX, which
interfere with the transmission of nerve impulses, causing convulsions and death
by respiratory paralysis.
(SOURCE www.cdiss.org/cw.htm)
North Atlantic Assembly Draft
General Report
Lord LYELL (United Kingdom)
General Rapporteur
International Secretariat
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