Chemical Weapons - Weapons of Mass Destruction Essay

Chemical Weapons - Weapons of Mass Destruction Chemical weapons and their use is one of the most important issues facing the world today. Not only is the use of such weapons highly controversial, but also the very idea of such weapons of mass destruction being in the hands of dangerous leaders. Next to nuclear weapons they are the most feared, and the prospect of these weapons not only concerns people, but also frightens them. As a result of these fears, America has entered a new war that could bring devastating effects upon our world. It is a very sensitive topic among many countries, and is out of hand primarily because of the introduction of chemical weapons to the world in the First World War. Many people have the same feelings†¦show more content†¦One example is how they were used on our campus in 1999 and this year. These types of chemicals are not the problem though. Chemical weapons such as mustard gas, sarin, and anthrax are becoming increasingly feared. During the first major use of chemical weapons in World Wa r I, there was a death toll of 1.3 million. These deaths were caused single handedly by chemical weapons, and primarily by mustard gas. Tim Cook stated if the war had continued for yet another year it would have indeed been called the First Chemical War (A Short History of Chemical Weapons 21). Before such weapons, soldiers had a better chance of staying alive if they were skilled enough. Following the war, most countries decided that these types of weapons would only be used in special circumstances and not as a main stream military weapon. World War II was a prime example when hardly any chemical weapons were used at all. Although that was the case, both sides still had the ability to release very large amounts of many different chemical weapons. After World War II, the use of chemical weapons by our military was dropped. Most chemical weapons lead to tragedies, not only to humans but also the natural environment. Chemical weapons do not only affect human population but they also effect animals and plants. They can also lead to contamination of water and crops in and around the areas of their use. In some respects they are quite similar toShow MoreRelatedChemical Weapons: Weapons of Mass Destruction Essay1669 Words   |  7 PagesChemical Warfare is not the same as nuclear warfare, or the same as biological warfare. Chemical warfare involves using the deadly properties of chemical substances as weapons.Most weapons used in chemical warfare are considered to beâ€Å"weapons of mass destruction† or, WMDs, and are not considered to be conventional weapons. Chemical warfare does not depend upon explosive force to neutralize targets; it depends on the chemical properties of a chemical agent weaponized. 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