Production of Biological Weapons
Tavaski Gordon
December 12, 2013
HS 251
Unit 9 Paper
Biological Weapons Production
Biological weapons are deadly materials manufactured from pathogenic organisms (viruses and bacteria) or synthetic deadly substances that are used to deliberately affect the organic procedures of a host i.e. human or animal body. These substances primary function is to kill or injure the host. Biological weapons can be used to harm vulnerable organisms such as humans, animals or vegetation (Biological Threats, 2013). They can also be employed to contaminate inorganic elements such as air, water and soil. There’s an array of microorganisms that can be utilized as biological weapons, some are more reliable based of their availability and effectiveness. The substances that are commonly chosen for biological weapons are highly toxic, cheap to produce and obtain, easy to disseminate, can be very discrete in many forms, or have no known vaccine (Dire, 2013). All these advantages rank biological weapons as some of the most dangerous weapons of mass destruction (WMD). A Weapon of Mass Destruction can be manufactured by Nations or by terrorist organizations; whoever constructs these weapons does so for specific reasons, primarily to kill, injure or contaminate people, livestock and military forces through acts of conflict such as bioterrorism or bio-warfare. It’s been made clear that the production, development, and stockpiling of biological and toxic weapons are prohibited; through the Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention (BTWC).
The BTWC is a multilateral disarmament treaty, which forbids the production of an entire category of Weapons of Mass Destruction, and promotes their destruction. However, the Geneva Protocol (the treaty prohibiting the use of chemical and biological weapons in international armed conflicts), prohibits the use of BTW’s, but not the possession or development of them. Many countries signed the treaty while some didn’t. Regardless of who signed the treaty
December 12, 2013
HS 251
Unit 9 Paper
Biological Weapons Production
Biological weapons are deadly materials manufactured from pathogenic organisms (viruses and bacteria) or synthetic deadly substances that are used to deliberately affect the organic procedures of a host i.e. human or animal body. These substances primary function is to kill or injure the host. Biological weapons can be used to harm vulnerable organisms such as humans, animals or vegetation (Biological Threats, 2013). They can also be employed to contaminate inorganic elements such as air, water and soil. There’s an array of microorganisms that can be utilized as biological weapons, some are more reliable based of their availability and effectiveness. The substances that are commonly chosen for biological weapons are highly toxic, cheap to produce and obtain, easy to disseminate, can be very discrete in many forms, or have no known vaccine (Dire, 2013). All these advantages rank biological weapons as some of the most dangerous weapons of mass destruction (WMD). A Weapon of Mass Destruction can be manufactured by Nations or by terrorist organizations; whoever constructs these weapons does so for specific reasons, primarily to kill, injure or contaminate people, livestock and military forces through acts of conflict such as bioterrorism or bio-warfare. It’s been made clear that the production, development, and stockpiling of biological and toxic weapons are prohibited; through the Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention (BTWC).
The BTWC is a multilateral disarmament treaty, which forbids the production of an entire category of Weapons of Mass Destruction, and promotes their destruction. However, the Geneva Protocol (the treaty prohibiting the use of chemical and biological weapons in international armed conflicts), prohibits the use of BTW’s, but not the possession or development of them. Many countries signed the treaty while some didn’t. Regardless of who signed the treaty