Preventing a Manmade Apocalypse Essays

Weapons of mass destruction are ‘weapons that can devastate large areas and kill huge numbers of people’. There are 3 types of WMD’s; Nuclear Weapons, Biological Weapons and Chemical Weapons. In the world there are only 8 counties that own nuclear weapons and these include USA, Russia, UK, China, France, India and Pakistan and unofficially Israel. In this essay I will be looking at whether or not Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD’s) can be justified, we can link this to the just war theory. I will also be looking at the 1945 Atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima and whether or not it can be justified.

There are three major types of weapons of mass destruction and those are nuclear weapons, biological warfare agents, and chemical warfare agents. These weapons share their potential for large-scale destruction and the indiscriminate nature of their effects, notably against civilians. WMD’s challenges our peace and security here in the United States. There is a strategy for dealing with weapons of mass destructions, and it is the three pillars, which are counter proliferation, nonproliferation, and WMD consequence management. The United States has tried to stop other countries; however, it has gotten to a point that if the United States is attacked with nuclear weapons, then the U.S. will use WMD as a response to the attack. When it comes to weapons of mass destruction in the possession of hostile countries and even terrorists, it is one of the greatest security challenges facing the United States. The first strategy to combat WMD is counter proliferation to combat WMD use, counter proliferations are fully integrated into the basic doctrines, in trainings, and even equipping of all forces, since it is important for the U.S military and appropriate agencies to be prepared to deter and defend against any possible WMD event. With strengthened nonproliferation to combat WMD proliferation, in order to prevent states from acquiring WMD and missiles, we must enhance diplomacy, arms control, multilateral agreements, threat reduction assistance, and export controls. That is to slow and make it more costly to access sensitive technologies, materials, and expertise.

In 1945, the United States of America utilized breakthrough physics research to construct nuclear bombs which were then dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki; this event was the beginning of weaponizing modern technologies for Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs). Since the bombing of Japan during World War I, the use of bombs as the main means of terrorism has been the corner-stone in anti-terrorism preparedness and response. However, the use of commercial jetliners in the September 11th attacks in the United States ushered in an era of counter-terrorism where conventional WMDs were not the only resources that could be utilized in an attack. The use of modern technology for weapons of mass destruction has prompted the creation of

The modern use of chemical weapons has been used since World War I. By using poisonous gas to inflict suffering and significant casualties. For example, chlorine, phosgene, and mustard gas were used to inflict burns on the skin or as a choking agent. Since the time of World War I, chemical weapons have impacted more than a million deaths. But, there are weapons of mass destruction in place used by terrorists. Weapons of mass destruction include Nuclear, biological, radiological, and explosives. One weapon of mass destruction can destroy a whole city, killing millions and clearing all future generations by using a Nuclear weapon; the most dangerous weapon on earth. Even though, nuclear weapons have been only used twice in warfare of Hiroshima

Biological/Chemical weapons are the type of weapons that should not be used in a time of war. When using these weapons there capable of killing most of the people that are in the area where the weapon has been used. These weapons are capable of killing thousand possible millions, in other word any living organism that is in the area. There also the possibility of killing people that aren't even in the war they might just be in the area.

Chemical Weapons (CW) are classified as Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) as CW’s can cause significant damage or death to large numbers of humans. Like all weapons of mass destruction CW’s are indiscriminate, they kill both intended targets and anything else in there range. CW’s are particularly

To further show the ineffectiveness of biological weapons, the most toxic biological substance on earth is used on humans to reduce wrinkles. That's not to say that things such ricin, botox, and anthrax are not dangerous because they are and they will kill you in very small does. The point is they are and never will be as dangerous as a nuclear bomb. With that said there is one case in which biological weapons could potentially be very devastating. The most effective biological weapon would be a contagious one such as the plague. This way if you use it, it will spread itself causing an outbreak that could potentially kill a lot of people. This has happened in once in modern times by a group named Unit 731 led by a man named Shiro Ishii. Ishii and his group successfully killed over 500,000 people using biological weapons, proving that it is quite possible for bioweapons to be an effective killing

Weapons of mass destruction are “devices, biological organisms, or chemical substances that can cause mass casualties when successfully detonated (Henry & King, 2004). The term has been defined in many ways. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA. 2001), defines WMDS as “any weapons that can cause serious bodily harm or death through the release of toxic chemical; disease organisms; radiation; or exposure” (Henry & King, 2004). The definition goes on to point out that WMD are completely different from other terrorists tool because it difficult to tell when they are presence which makes it hard to determine when and where they are released and what danger is present for first responder and medical personnel (Henry & King,

One of the most dangerous and threatening groups in the world, ISIS has now obtained illegal chemical weapons, which is drawing much concern. In the recent article “U.S. Officials Believe ISIS Likely Used Chemical Weapons in Iraq This Week”, Elliot Hannon describes the ordeal with ISIS and their obtainment of deadly chemical weapons. It was not up until the recent attack in Iraq where chemical weapons were used, and their supply of such weapons is very alarming. This is information about ISIS is new to everyone, and their advanced capabilities is unnerving. The author exposed the concern of ISIS holds especially now, in a quote from the Wall Street Journal which states, "The use of mustard agent would mark an upgrade in Islamic State’s

When it comes to weapons of mass destruction (WMD), whether by a terrorist group, an individual, or an unfriendly nation, presents a potentially severe threat to the United States. Weapons of mass destruction consist of several things that are employed with the intention of causing death or severe physical injuries to a considerable number of people by means of release of toxic chemicals, radioactive material or any type of other threat. The biggest concern is that a WMD may possibly be seized by the terrorists or perhaps the terrorists can develop their own WMD.

Clearly, the potential for chemical weapon attacks is very real, as the assessibility is evident. The symtoms that victims had were consistent with that of a nerve agent; shortness of breath, disorientation, runny nose, eye irritation, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, general weakness, and eventual loss of consciousness (BBC.Com, 2013).

As gas or fluid, mustard agents strike the skin, eyes, lungs and gastro-intestinal tract. Inside organs may be hurt as a delayed consequence of mustard agents being taken in through the skin or lungs and travel on into the body. The postponed impact is a normal for mustard agents. Mustard agents give no prompt side effects upon contact and thus a postponement of somewhere around two and twenty-four hours may happen in advance of agony is felt and the casualty gets to be aware of what has happened. By then cell harm has as of now been created. Intense mortality emerging from introduction to mustard agents is low. The dosage expected to specifically kill a man upon inward breath speaks the truth 50 times more than the measurement mortality by harming somebody with the nerve agent soman. People who kick the bucket after contact to mustard agents routinely do as such following a couple of days up to one or more weeks. While the most thorough wounds are brought about after contact with fluid mustard agents. Skin inflammation first appears as a difficult irritation. Contingent upon the caliber of exposure, the damage may form into pigmentation, which flakes off around two weeks, minor surface blister or profound fluid filled blisters may form resulting in skin rot. In astonishing cases, the skin rot may be so extensive to the point that no blisters appear. Skin wounds are more

In the current conflict in Syria, chemical weapons have claimed almost 1500 lives.1 Chemical weapons are not new to the art of war. When the British found the United States, they dealt with native americans using a type of chemical warfare. The British gave the native blankets that were infested with smallpox, a disease that they had never seen before and for which they did not have a remedy. The 20th century simply brought about the golden age of chemical warfare. Between world war 1 and world war 2, it was clear that something needed to be done to regulate and deter the use of chemical weapons and thus the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) came into effect in 1997.2 One agent of particular interest to the CWC is sulfur mustard gas. Sulfur based weapons are especially difficult to regulate because typical methods of detection do not

The objective of this study is to provide a detailed assessment of how a significant terrorist WMD attack might be conducted. This work in writing will indicate the materials that might be used, the potential targets, and probable forms of attack. For the purpose of this study the scenario undertaken will be one in which a 'dirty bomb' comprised of radiological components was brought into the six leading ports in the United States handling containers. There would be enough radiological material to contaminate any large city, as well as the surrounding area for 10 square miles. This would shut down the five major ports, contaminate the area for months to come, injure, or kill hundreds and devastate the economy of the United States for months to come. Let alone the fear and panic it would instill in the public at large. All of these dirty bombs would exploded simultaneously this would be an all-out effort by Al Qaeda. The five busiest container ports in the US are those stated as follows with accompanying population totals for each port:

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is one of the foremost threats challenging global security today. The United States should take an offensive strategy and re-emphasize its nuclear program due to the current affairs around the globe and the growing threat of the use of weapons of mass destruction against our citizens, allies and vital interests.  The existing arms control agreements, such as the 1968 Non-Proliferation Treaty and the prohibition of biological weapons of 1972, have not been able to address the issues of weapons of mass