Chemical Warfare

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Recommended: Chemical warfare throughout the wars

The images are haunting: men in gas masks rapid firing through dusky vapors, people contorted with a pain that comes from within. It is a common held belief that chemical warfare is a form of modern warfare and the First World War is recognised for introducing this type of combat. Recent archaeological finds show that this may not be the case. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, chemical warfare is “tactical warfare using incendiary mixtures, smokes, or irritant, burning, poisonous, or asphyxiating gasses.” (Chemical warfare, 2011) It is a temptingly appealing way to dispose of one’s enemies without drawing a sword or lifting a gun. Chemical weapon agents, or CWAs as they are more commonly referred, are classified in five main groups: riot control agents, nerve agents, blister agents, blood agents, and choking agents. Each is devastating on those caught in their paths and, for decades, scientists have worked on creating easier to wield, more lethal types. Today, there are eight countries known to possess chemical weapons (OPCW) but, according to new archaeological discoveries, this may not only be a cause for concern prevalent in the modern world. Contrary to the popular belief that it was the Germans who introduced CWAs to modern warfare during the First World War, the use of chemical weapons has existed since ancient times. Historians consider the use of poison on arrowheads as the beginning of humanity’s foray into this type of tactical warfare. (WIFA. 2005) Toxic substances became the predominant form of chemical warfare in the ancient world, and it was common for attacking armies to poison the water supply of besieged cities or use other poison methods to silently dispose of their enemies. Look up examples of poiso... ... middle of paper ... ...(2005). Chemical weapons. Reaching Critical Will, Retrieved from http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/legal/cw/cwindex.html Arnold, J. (2005). Chemical warfare. emedicinehealth, Retrieved from http://www.emedicinehealth.com/chemical_warfare/article_em.htm OPCW. (n.d.). About chemical weapons. Retrieved from http://www.opcw.org/about-chemical weapons/what-is-a-chemical-weapon Mayor, A. (2009). Greek fire, poison arrows & scorpion bombs:biological and chemical warfare in the ancient wor ld . (2 ed., pp. 1-14). New York, NY: Overlook Press. Retrieved from http://www.stanford.edu/dept/HPS/GreekFire.pdf CDC. (2006). Facts about phosgene. Centers for Desease Control and Prevention, Retrieved from http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/phosgene/basics/facts.asp Goebel, G. (2010, July 01). A history of chemical warfare. Retrieved from http://www.vectorsite.net/twgas_1.html

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