Weapons of opportunity

There are essentially millions of chemical compounds known to humanity, but only a limited number are weaponized by conventional militaries. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the 184-member watchdog agency enforcing the guidelines of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), has identified 55 chemical agents and their precursors that can be used as weapons (OPCW, 2005). Although some of the chemicals are well known (e.g. sarin, soman, VX, mustard), other less obvious choices for chemical terrorism include industrial chemicals such as chlorine and toxic precursors, which are considered weapons of opportunity . 

Carbamates and OPs are chemicals that are often used as fungicides, insecticides, or pesticides and possess actions similar to nerve agents. These compounds are considered weapons of opportunity since their primary use is not by conventional militaries. In the USA, toxicity from these compounds is fairly rare. In 2006, there were approximately 1,200 cases of carbamate exposures and 1,500 organophosphate exposures documented for children 19 years old and younger (Bronstein et al, 2007). Although there were a few fatalities reported in 2006 from these substances, these fatalities occurred only in older individuals. 

Being able to throw a knife Is Impressive, especially to someone whds tried it a couple of times without success.It s a great way to win a few beers and It may save your ass someday.I ve never regretted having taken the trouble to acquire the skill. But at no time should you allow yourself to forget the limitations of this in practical applications. While It is definitely worthwhile to be able to throw any blade which presents itself as a weapon of opportunity. If there is a serious intent to your practlce,knife selection becomes critical. 

In this chapter, the CWAs and "weapons of opportunity" most likely to be used by terrorists to inflict casualties will be examined, along with a brief historical accoxmt and discussion of the unique challenges of managing pediatric chemical casualties. The sections focusing on each chemical agent will highlight the pediatric-relevant... 

Robert McNamara, the secretary of defense, and few policymakers in London cotdd have remained unaware of the concept of opportunity cost when considering the long-range resource implications of new projects for weapons systems. Opportunity cost, represented by alternative uses to which resources employed in research and development, or production, or strategic deployment, could be put, and cost-effectiveness of weapons systems and strategies, provide the conceptual bases of this book. 

Before the demise of the Soviet Union, the proliferation of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons was considered in the context of superpower relations. The breakup of the Soviet Union and the subsequent events have had many consequences. Regional conflicts, once constrained, are now increasingly likely to result in the use of weapons of mass destruction. Opportunities to acquire key technologies and components have expanded through the dual stimuli of underutilized technical expertise and difficult economic circumstances. Simultaneously, development and availability of applicable technologies have expanded. 

First, a carrier should list the materials it handles, and identify those materials with the potential to be used as weapons of mass destruction or targets of opportunity. 

The analysis of the media articles show that terrorism has changed liom rational political violence to a description of terrorists as an irrational, catastrophic societal risk that would, if they had the opportunity, use weapons of mass destruction. This is a risk that is unacceptable for the society. Consequently the implications of the terrorism-discourse raise pubhc fear and powerlessness. The public must thenrely on the authorities ability to give correct assessments and implement appropriate measures. 

Lehman, Statement included in Hearings...of 1990 Bilateral Chemical Weapons Agreement, p.5 B. Sauerwein, Chemical Weapons Window of Opportunity Slipping IDR, vol.24, no.9 (1991), pp.921-2. 

Enemy armies had mechanized flame throwers, but used them infrequently. Indeed, there is no record of Italians or Japanese using flame tanks against United States troops. The Italians had had tank mounted weapons since the Ethiopian War, 1935-1936. The tank was quite light and mounted the flame gun coaxially with a machine gun. Fuel was carried in a trailer with a capacity of one hundred gallons. The range was rather low, from thirty to forty-five yards. The reasons why the Italians did not employ their tanks are not known. Among them may have been the lack of opportunity, unfamiliarity with flame thrower tactics, and conservatism of tank commanders. ... 

Countries and groups that lack access to nuclear weapons may still have opportunities to obtain radioactive materials such as spent nuclear fuel. A bomb in which a conventional explosive charge causes dispersal of radioactive material is known as a dirty bomb. Such a device could result in psychological effects exceeding the physical damage it caused. Once again, new techniques are needed for detection (of both the explosive and radioactive material), and decontamination procedures would be essential if such a device were used. 

There can be no doubt that, if given the opportunity, terrorist groups such as al Qaeda would not hesitate to use disease as a weapon against the unprotected to spread chemical agents to inflict pain and death on the innocent or to send suicide-bound adherents armed with radiological explosives on missions of murder [10]. 

The effort required to make a British atomic bomb had an opportunity cost in terms of the development of other weapons systems. Tizard,... 

In technology opportunity assessment, product is the king P of the four P s. Technology is used as a weapon to differentiate your product from other offerings, and it can be critical to have distinguishing features that customers will pay for. 

---