Biological weapons definition

As Steve Bowman stated in his article "Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) The Terrorist Threat," the term weapons of mass destruction is a former Soviet military term which was euphemistically used to denote nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. It is now widely used despite debate over its appropriateness, and its definition has broadened to include radiological weapons. For some, particularly in the wake of the World Trade Center airliner attacks, the term WMD has come to include any means capable of inflicting mass casualties."... 

This book is divided into three major parts. In Part I, Gas, Bugs, and Common Sense, there is a brief introduction to and definition of CBW (Chapter 1), including descriptions of why and how nation-states and sub-states (for example, terrorist organizations) develop chemical and biological weapons. Chapter 2 then lists, in a fairly straightforward manner, the nations that have CBW capabilities, along with brief descriptions of the particular agents they possess. In Chapter 3, we take a look at some of the threats we re likely and unlikely to face. 

Underlying these issues is the crucial historical context which has done so much to shape perceptions about CBW. The first part of this book is therefore concerned with the history of chemical warfare up to the present day. The second part discusses contemporary problems - the threat, modernisation of the US CW capability and arms control. My primary concern is with chemical rather than biological weapons, but because of the close relationship between the two -despite their many differences - the subject of BW is also touched upon. The remainder of this chapter attempts to provide some basic but essential definitions and facts about CBW. This material is included here in the first chapter because it is fundamental to a proper analysis of the subject and an appreciation of the issues. 

The publicity drive Operation Blue Skies" - a somewhat cynical misappropriation of a popular song title - was launched in 1959. It was later described by the Chief of the Chemical Corps, General Stubbs, as a definite programme to provide the public with as much information as possible , with the intention of reversing the trend towards views about chemical and biological weapons .Articles were published in newspapers and non-specialist journals drawing attention to the threat of CBW. The Chemical Corps mounted travelling exhibitions around the country with the same theme. 

In the early to mid-1960s - the period of growing chemical use in Vietnam - the Army conducted a major ongoing review of its CBW policy. This study, codenamed Mandrake Root, was the most comprehensive study ever made to assess the potential value of chemical and biological weapons in support of land combat and to establish definitive requirements for weapons and protective equipment .Few details about the study have been published. It appears to have been an inter-agency study, comprehensive in scope, but somewhat uncoordinated with no clear sense of direction. This may in part explain the apparent confusion in the Vietnam War, over the extent to which authorisation of the use of riot control agents was delegated (see above). The study led to alterations to the R D requirement . ... 

Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) includes infectious microorganisms and toxins in its definition of a biological weapon. Infectious, non-contagious (or essentially noncontagious) agents are generally preferable in the context of a traditional military conflict between states in that such agents are usually more predictable in their effects. This is because they will not cause uncontrolled secondary infections. 

However, unlike the BTWC which prohibits all uses of biological or toxin weapons for hostile purposes or in armed conflict, the CWC has a different treatment in regard to riot control agents where each State Party undertakes not to use riot control agents as a method of warfare. This is further amplified by the definition in Article II of the CWC of the words purposes not prohibited under this Convention as follows ... 

The CWC contains a general purpose criterion (GPC) that bans the production and use of all toxic chemicals except where they are to be used for peaceful purposes, such as would be the case for a commercial pesticide. The GPC is the principal mechanism by which technological and scientific developments can be taken into account by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the organization that implements the CWC. The definition in the CWC is phrased to ensure that bulk CW storage containers and binary chemical weapon or other multicomponent systems are covered by the convention. See also BIOLOGICAL... 

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