Bio-Chemical Weapons
Tavaski Gordon
December 17, 2013
HS 251
Unit 14 Paper
Bio-Chemical Weapons
The use of biological and chemical weapons has been practiced for many centuries. It started from the late 400s BC up to the twenty first century, and is still currently being practiced today. Ever since these weapons were introduced, they have been used by individuals, groups, or countries to advance certain agendas. These agendas are often for military purposes (war) to gain a tactical advantage over an opposition; or for means of promoting and imposing terrorism on a group or country. Whatever the agenda may be, the application of bio-chemical weapons can result in mass casualties and/or severe health and safety issues for the public and environment. A bio-chemical attack usually involves dispersing agents into the air. This can be accomplished in numerous ways, such as shooting artillery rounds that explodes in mid-air, or using airplanes to disseminate the agents over an area. When dispersed outdoors, these types of weapons can be affected by different weather conditions i.e. rain and windy conditions; which can result in rain reducing the effectiveness of the agents, and wind spreading agents in unpredicted directions. Since bio-chemical weapons are seen as haphazard, dangerous, and mostly inhumane when employed, they have rarely been used compared to traditional weapons. However, bio-chemical weapons have been used a number of times and there’s a bit of history to show it.
The German Army first used chlorine gas cylinders and sulfur fumes during the First World War in April 1915 against the French Army at Ypres (Chlorine Gas, 1915). During that moment in history, the use of chemical weapons was non-existent, but the German Army had perfectly planned their attack to break down the French resistance with a big surprise. The German Army dispersed the chlorine gas in a fashion similar to a tactical grenade i.e. a smoke grenade, to condition the mindset of the French soldiers to
December 17, 2013
HS 251
Unit 14 Paper
Bio-Chemical Weapons
The use of biological and chemical weapons has been practiced for many centuries. It started from the late 400s BC up to the twenty first century, and is still currently being practiced today. Ever since these weapons were introduced, they have been used by individuals, groups, or countries to advance certain agendas. These agendas are often for military purposes (war) to gain a tactical advantage over an opposition; or for means of promoting and imposing terrorism on a group or country. Whatever the agenda may be, the application of bio-chemical weapons can result in mass casualties and/or severe health and safety issues for the public and environment. A bio-chemical attack usually involves dispersing agents into the air. This can be accomplished in numerous ways, such as shooting artillery rounds that explodes in mid-air, or using airplanes to disseminate the agents over an area. When dispersed outdoors, these types of weapons can be affected by different weather conditions i.e. rain and windy conditions; which can result in rain reducing the effectiveness of the agents, and wind spreading agents in unpredicted directions. Since bio-chemical weapons are seen as haphazard, dangerous, and mostly inhumane when employed, they have rarely been used compared to traditional weapons. However, bio-chemical weapons have been used a number of times and there’s a bit of history to show it.
The German Army first used chlorine gas cylinders and sulfur fumes during the First World War in April 1915 against the French Army at Ypres (Chlorine Gas, 1915). During that moment in history, the use of chemical weapons was non-existent, but the German Army had perfectly planned their attack to break down the French resistance with a big surprise. The German Army dispersed the chlorine gas in a fashion similar to a tactical grenade i.e. a smoke grenade, to condition the mindset of the French soldiers to