Chemical Warfare Argumentative Analysis
When a bomb struck Marea, a small town located in Syria, the true extent of the catastrophe was not immediately apparent. As the New York Times explains, residents living in Marea had experienced bombings many times before. When the alarm began to sound signaling an incoming round of bombs heading towards Marea, Abu Anas and his family remained inside of their home bracing for the attack. However, this time, instead of being struck by a bomb, they were struck by a chemical warfare agent (CWA) known as sulfur mustard, which destroyed their home, murdered their newborn child, and resulted in weeks of intense medical care. The use of chemical weapons during World War One revolutionized chemical warfare. Since WW1, chemical weapons have grown in popularity. The experience with chemical weapons (CW) in WW1, the Northern Yemeni War, and Syria demonstrates why the production and distribution of CWA’s should be internationally prohibited because if one does not die after being exposed to CW agents he/she will have ongoing health issues. This paper will examine the work of authors who have written about chemical warfare. In a reflection on the use of chemical warfare in WW1, Mangerich and Esser argue that the use of chemical agents in WW1 led to the ban of CWA’s however, because CWA’s are easy to
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produce, there is no way to ensure that these weapons will not be used in the future. On the other hand, when one examines the work of Vaish et al. , who writes about the effects of accidental exposure to phosgene gas, one may find it relevant to the use of phosgene and mustard gas on civilians and northern Yemeni militia during the Yemeni Civil War. Ganesan et al. , article on chemical warfare agents, which focuses on decontamination and preventative methods in regards to chemical warfare agents, this is useful when discussing the recent use of mustard gas on Syrian civilians. The First World War occurred during the years of 1914-1918 and is infamously known as one of the bloodiest wars in history. The war resulted in the death of over 16-million people. It was also the first time when chemical warfare (CW) agents were successful used as weapons of mass destruction (Mangerich & Esser, 2014). Although WW1 was truly a global war, the United States, France, Italy, Russia, Germany, and Great Britain were the major “big powers” (Mangerich & Esser, 2014). According to Mangerich and Esser (2014), these powers were the first to use chemical weapons during the war. During the course of the war, over 125,000 tons of CW agents were produced, resulting in over one million casualties (p. 1909). Mustard gas was one of the CW’s created and used during WW1. Mild exposure to mustard gas will cause spasmodic blinking, vomiting, nosebleeds, and perspiration. The symptoms of exposure to mustard gas become more severe as the exposure to the gas increases (“Sulfur Mustard,”2015). After witnessing the debilitating effects of chemical warfare, the countries involved in WW1 signed the Geneva Protocol in 1925. This protocol banned the use of chemical weapons during warfare. However, the production and distribution of CW’s were still permitted. As a result, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) was added to the Geneva Protocol in 1992 (“Egypt,”2015). The CWC prohibits the accumulation, distribution, and use of chemical weapons (“Egypt,”2015). With the exception of Israel, North Korea, South Sudan, and Egypt, “98% of the global population, has joined the CWC”(“Egypt,”2015). The North Yemen Civil War was a conflict between North Yemen and Egypt, which began in 1963. During the War, Egyptian forces used bombs and Artillery shells filled with phosgene and mustard gas on North Yemeni military and civilians. According to Vaish et al. , phosgene is an industrial chemical that can be used as a chemical weapon when heated to room temperature. Phosgene gained notoriety from WW1 after being used in chemical warfare (p.271). Since WW1, Egypt is one of the few nations known to use CW against its enemies (“Egypt,”2015). Despite acceding the Geneva protocol, Egypt openly opposes the CWC and has continued to not only produce chemical weapons, but also protective and decontamination equipment for domestic use and export (“Egypt,”2015). Compared to other man made weapons of destruction, chemical weapons are the most dangerous man made weapons because they are “inexpensive and relatively easy to produce, even by small terrorist groups, to create mass casualties with small quantities” (Ganesan, Raza, & Vijayaraghavan, 2010, p. 1). The use of CW’s on Syrian civilians left the world in shock. In fact, reports about the use of CW were conflicting until soil and clothing samples from the bombings showed evidence of sulfur mustard (Chivers, 2015, p. 1). According to the NewYorkTimes, the residents living in Marea have suffered a great deal, surviving crackdowns, infantry attacks, cluster munitions, and now, chemical attacks by the regime (2015). Since spring, there have been two conformed chemical attacks on Syrian civilians. Most of the residents living in Marea have fled the town, forced to live in refugee camps because a vast majority of the town is covered in hazardous waste (Chivers, 2015, p. 2) Abu Anas and Nada were able to escape their home with their two young daughters, Sidra (five days old) and Shahad (three years old) without any physical harm. As a result, after the bombing, they returned to their home several times to salvage their belongings (Chivers, 2015, p. 2). They did not display any early symptoms of exposure. In fact, the symptoms began to appear gradually and were mild until his newborn, Sidra, began to develop giant blisters all over her body (Chivers, 2015, p. 3). After spending some time in a local hospital, Abu Anas and his family were sent to another hospital where they were told that they had been exposed to chemical weapons. In order to be treated, the family had to travel to a hospital in Turkey for decontamination.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2015) describes the steps for decontamination of victims exposed to chemical weapons: The decontamination process generally includes these six steps: (1) Removal of patient/victim into the decontamination corridor.
(2) Remove all clothing (at least down to their undergarments) and place the clothing in a labeled durable 6-mil polyethylene bag. (3) Thoroughly wash and rinse (using cold or warm water) the contaminated skin of the patient/victim using a soap and water solution. (4) Be careful not to break the patient/victim’s skin during the decontamination process, and cover all open wounds. (5) Cover the patient/victim to prevent shock and loss of body heat. (6) Move the patient/victim to an area where emergency medical treatment can be provided
(p.1).
Unfortunately, for this family, the doctors at the hospital in Turkey did not follow protocol. Upon arrival to the hospital the family was split up, stripped, and hosed down several times (Chivers, 2015, p. 3). Although is too soon to see the long term effects that the blister agent had on Abu Anas and his family, because of the repeated use of chemical weapons, there is enough evidence that supports the idea that this family will have health related complications for the rest of their lives. When things go wrong, we take measures to prevent ourselves from making the same mistakes. But as time goes by and things resurface, we forget how terrible these things were and are tempted to try them again. Despite the fact that a majority of the world is banned from using chemical weapons, the recent example in Syria should serve as a reminder as to why this ban should continue.
produce, there is no way to ensure that these weapons will not be used in the future. On the other hand, when one examines the work of Vaish et al. , who writes about the effects of accidental exposure to phosgene gas, one may find it relevant to the use of phosgene and mustard gas on civilians and northern Yemeni militia during the Yemeni Civil War. Ganesan et al. , article on chemical warfare agents, which focuses on decontamination and preventative methods in regards to chemical warfare agents, this is useful when discussing the recent use of mustard gas on Syrian civilians. The First World War occurred during the years of 1914-1918 and is infamously known as one of the bloodiest wars in history. The war resulted in the death of over 16-million people. It was also the first time when chemical warfare (CW) agents were successful used as weapons of mass destruction (Mangerich & Esser, 2014). Although WW1 was truly a global war, the United States, France, Italy, Russia, Germany, and Great Britain were the major “big powers” (Mangerich & Esser, 2014). According to Mangerich and Esser (2014), these powers were the first to use chemical weapons during the war. During the course of the war, over 125,000 tons of CW agents were produced, resulting in over one million casualties (p. 1909). Mustard gas was one of the CW’s created and used during WW1. Mild exposure to mustard gas will cause spasmodic blinking, vomiting, nosebleeds, and perspiration. The symptoms of exposure to mustard gas become more severe as the exposure to the gas increases (“Sulfur Mustard,”2015). After witnessing the debilitating effects of chemical warfare, the countries involved in WW1 signed the Geneva Protocol in 1925. This protocol banned the use of chemical weapons during warfare. However, the production and distribution of CW’s were still permitted. As a result, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) was added to the Geneva Protocol in 1992 (“Egypt,”2015). The CWC prohibits the accumulation, distribution, and use of chemical weapons (“Egypt,”2015). With the exception of Israel, North Korea, South Sudan, and Egypt, “98% of the global population, has joined the CWC”(“Egypt,”2015). The North Yemen Civil War was a conflict between North Yemen and Egypt, which began in 1963. During the War, Egyptian forces used bombs and Artillery shells filled with phosgene and mustard gas on North Yemeni military and civilians. According to Vaish et al. , phosgene is an industrial chemical that can be used as a chemical weapon when heated to room temperature. Phosgene gained notoriety from WW1 after being used in chemical warfare (p.271). Since WW1, Egypt is one of the few nations known to use CW against its enemies (“Egypt,”2015). Despite acceding the Geneva protocol, Egypt openly opposes the CWC and has continued to not only produce chemical weapons, but also protective and decontamination equipment for domestic use and export (“Egypt,”2015). Compared to other man made weapons of destruction, chemical weapons are the most dangerous man made weapons because they are “inexpensive and relatively easy to produce, even by small terrorist groups, to create mass casualties with small quantities” (Ganesan, Raza, & Vijayaraghavan, 2010, p. 1). The use of CW’s on Syrian civilians left the world in shock. In fact, reports about the use of CW were conflicting until soil and clothing samples from the bombings showed evidence of sulfur mustard (Chivers, 2015, p. 1). According to the NewYorkTimes, the residents living in Marea have suffered a great deal, surviving crackdowns, infantry attacks, cluster munitions, and now, chemical attacks by the regime (2015). Since spring, there have been two conformed chemical attacks on Syrian civilians. Most of the residents living in Marea have fled the town, forced to live in refugee camps because a vast majority of the town is covered in hazardous waste (Chivers, 2015, p. 2) Abu Anas and Nada were able to escape their home with their two young daughters, Sidra (five days old) and Shahad (three years old) without any physical harm. As a result, after the bombing, they returned to their home several times to salvage their belongings (Chivers, 2015, p. 2). They did not display any early symptoms of exposure. In fact, the symptoms began to appear gradually and were mild until his newborn, Sidra, began to develop giant blisters all over her body (Chivers, 2015, p. 3). After spending some time in a local hospital, Abu Anas and his family were sent to another hospital where they were told that they had been exposed to chemical weapons. In order to be treated, the family had to travel to a hospital in Turkey for decontamination.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2015) describes the steps for decontamination of victims exposed to chemical weapons: The decontamination process generally includes these six steps: (1) Removal of patient/victim into the decontamination corridor.
(2) Remove all clothing (at least down to their undergarments) and place the clothing in a labeled durable 6-mil polyethylene bag. (3) Thoroughly wash and rinse (using cold or warm water) the contaminated skin of the patient/victim using a soap and water solution. (4) Be careful not to break the patient/victim’s skin during the decontamination process, and cover all open wounds. (5) Cover the patient/victim to prevent shock and loss of body heat. (6) Move the patient/victim to an area where emergency medical treatment can be provided
(p.1).
Unfortunately, for this family, the doctors at the hospital in Turkey did not follow protocol. Upon arrival to the hospital the family was split up, stripped, and hosed down several times (Chivers, 2015, p. 3). Although is too soon to see the long term effects that the blister agent had on Abu Anas and his family, because of the repeated use of chemical weapons, there is enough evidence that supports the idea that this family will have health related complications for the rest of their lives. When things go wrong, we take measures to prevent ourselves from making the same mistakes. But as time goes by and things resurface, we forget how terrible these things were and are tempted to try them again. Despite the fact that a majority of the world is banned from using chemical weapons, the recent example in Syria should serve as a reminder as to why this ban should continue.