WMD

WMD

Introduction

Although the deliberate use of disease as a weapon, against humans, animals or plants, is totally prohibited by the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention which entered into force in 1975, the danger that biological weapons may be used by rogue States or terrorist groups is increasingly recognized as presenting the greatest danger of all weapons of mass destruction. (Brad 2009)

It is only six years since for the first time, these International Symposia on Protection against Chemical Warfare Agents expanded their name to include "and Biological Warfare Agents" yet there is growing appreciation that biological weapons present the greatest danger.

The dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction are compared and historical developments, including the Russian and Iraq biological weapons programmes, examined to show why biological weapons today present the greatest danger. They are the easiest to acquire, they have the weakest international prohibition regime and yet their effects can be comparable to those of nuclear weapons. (Brad 2009)

The counter to such attacks is through a web of reassurance -- comprising complete prohibition with a strengthened BTWC Protocol and national implementation, effective controls of the handling, use, storage and transfer of biological materials, preparedness and protective measures which should build on what exists to protect from natural outbreaks together with determined responses to prosecute and punish those who set out to utilize biological weapons. Such a web will both deter rogue States or terrorists and reassure the public. This paper will discuss the Biological weapons as a dangerous WMD.

Discussion

Weapons of mass destruction is a term used to describe a massive weapon with the capacity to kill, harm or incapacitate. The term WMD is now overly used to describe, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE), any explosive, poison gas, bomb, grenade, or rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces, missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce, mine or device similar to the above, or any weapon involving a disease organism and weapons designed to release radiation at a level dangerous to human life. So which weapon is the most dangerous? The dangers from pathogens to humans, animals or plants has long been recognised and countries have increasingly introduced national regulations and controls on the handling, use and storage of such pathogens in order to protect public health and the environment. These controls have frequently required the creation of national inspectorates who may be required to inspect facilities and give approval prior to a facility starting working with a particular pathogen or before pathogens are transferred between facilities. Such controls have been harmonized regionally -- most notably in the European Union -- as well as internationally through the WHO, OIE and FAO. (Mark 2007)

Why would anyone wish to use biological weapons? A terrorist or rogue nation with a motive for retaliation or a point to make will use biological attacks. The very strength of a superpower such as the United States is one incentive for terrorists to challenge the US ...