Should The United States Use Chemical Weapons In Syria

Poison Gas/Chemical Warfare usage, while not harming physical structures preventing the collateral damage of homes and buildings, causes a high casualty rate in all living things. It is indescriminate and robs life equally be they related or not to a target of military or strategic importance. Gas usage has been widely considered uncivilized, but the French resorted to its usage in August, 1914 during the first World War in an attempt to rout the Germans. Unfortunately, the Germans were the first to give gas warfare serious development and it became used extensively before the war was over. On the battlefield it prooved effective in eliminating hostile threats in an inhumane way, but this does not make it morally acceptable. In more recent times ISIS has been reported to using Poison Gas in Syria against both military and civilians in an indescriminate manner. This sort of attack ignores international laws as well as inhumanely cause widespread harm. In this day and age, this sort of attack is unnecessary and is why it was outlawed in the first place even back during the first World War.

The Germans marked an epoch with chemical warfare during World War I. The horror that opposing countries experienced when being exposed to the merciless gas forced them to begin to concoct their own weapons, so they could compete with the Germans and their allies. David Cook, author of Chemical Warfare: World War I, explains the purpose of chemical weapons during the war was to cause enemy casualties, enfeeble the opposing troops’ ability to retaliate, briefly block the land that they are no longer able to defend in order to escape, and create chaos in the enemy’s lines. Chemical warfare allowed attackers using this weapon to have a major advantage over their enemies, resulting in the successful execution of missions and casualties with its toxicity. The strength and versatility was not the only cause of chaos during the introduction of chemical weapons by the Germans during World War I; twenty-six countries had made an agreement previous to the war to prohibit the use of asphyxiating or deleterious gases (“Hague Peace Conferences (1899 and

Chemical attacks conducted by Aum Shinrikyo in 1995 and the Iraqi government against the Kurdish people in the late 1980s have not had a significant impact on counterterrorism preparedness against chemical weapons in the United States. Even though Aum Shinrikyo had a level of expertise with chemical agents and the ability to produce them, it was proven that attacks of this nature are easy to carry out but difficult to gain the desired effect from. Initially, Aum thought their attack would kill thousands if not more however the generally poor quality of the sarin gas coupled with the inadequate dispersal devices degraded the attack’s effectiveness significantly (A case study on the Aum Shinrikyo, 1995, Sect 5, Para 3). Since this was the most effective chemical attack conducted by a non-state actor, one can readily see the difficulties involved in effectively dispersing gas, even in a relatively enclosed area. It is exactly these difficulties experienced by the Japanese terrorists that have led America into a relative calm over a threat of chemical terrorism as it would likely prove relatively ineffective in the absence of direct assistance from another nation.

On April 22, in the Second Battle of Ypres, in World War 1 (WWI), the first chemical weapon was used. After over 101 years of this dilemma, the world has yet to find a solution for the pressing issue of chemical weapons as a threat to international security. Chemical weapons are highly toxic and are made to expose radiation and consequently kill living organisms. There are many types of these deadly gases, hence many different effects on people. These include brain damage, skin rashes/damage, and asphyxiation. After WWI, the Geneva Protocol was created in 1925; this banned the use of chemical weapons in any conflict. It was signed by most of the countries with the resources to create such weapons, but not all countries signed it. Later, in 1993, the Chemical Weapon Convention (CWC), also called the Convention on the

Recently, in August of 2013, the Sarin gas was used yet again by the Syrian government.

Two month old babies gasp for air, while tears run down their faces from the mustard gas that was used on the Syrian citizens. Reports and videos have shown shells falling from helicopters containing chemical weapons, but only the Syrian government has access to helicopters. The United States has to step in and fight to protect the Syrian people against their own government because chemical weapons have been banned from being used worldwide, chemical weapons cause casualties that are not needed, and if higher powered nations like the U.S. do not intervene in Syria’s use of chemical weapons, more nations will see it as an opportunity to use chemical weapons in the future.

The fact that we cannot use chemical weapons is a very bad thing. We could have used these weapons in the Vietnam War. With all the tall grass and dense forests, our soldiers were not prepared for the close up combat. If we had used the chemical agents in that forest, we could have eliminated hidden enemy forces and we would have saved many American soldiers’ lives.

Did you know that biological weapons contain such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms(ncwiseowl.com). Chemicals weapons is a specialized munition that uses chemicals formulated to inflict death or harm on humans(ncwiseowl.com). When biological weapons are in use about 500 million people could die and when chemical weapons are in use anyone in the area could get hurt/sick(ncwiseowl.com). So the military should not use during war time.

From the 100 years since chemical weapons were used for the first time, 5 chemicals really stand out from the

Chemical weapons have been used in warfare for years and years. From both world wars to more recent wars, chemical weapons have been developed and used. For the purpose of this writing, we will specifically be looking at the chemical weapons used in World War I and the Massacre at Halabja during the Iran/Iraq War of 1988. We will take a look at the weapons used in these wars, the number of casualties from these weapons and lessons learned. We will also discuss the potential use of these agents by terrorists and how emergency management officials can help a county or state prepare for this type of attack.

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

The chemical weapons non-proliferation regime boasts a strong treaty in the form of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), but as Libya is not a party to this treaty, its restrictions have no bearing on Libyan chemical weapons production. Libya, therefore, presents a problem in that its chemical weapons production constitutes a world threat, but its actions are fully legal. The Geneva Protocol of 1925 merely prohibits the use of chemical weapons, not their production, stockpiling, or possession. Thus, though U.S. policy options are constrained by its agreements and security assurances, the United States must seek out legal and effective means of ending Libyan production of chemical weapons.

As of recent, there is an ongoing debate over the response of the Obama administration related to the events occurring in Syria and the potential violation by the Syrian government of customary international law and relevant treaties and conventions in the use of chemical weapons against its own people. The conflict itself has history which is required to be thoroughly examined before conclusions can be placed and actions are to be carried out. The Syrian Civil War has not only affected the lives of Syria’s citizens but has becoming a pressing issue in direct international relations between countries like Russia and the United States. Obama’s administration has their own response to the crisis at hand and believes that a military strike is a fully legal move to make given the situation present at hand. According to the evidence, it would seem possible that a violation has not occurred and that the threat by Obama’s administration to use force in the Syrian crisis stands on illegitimate grounds because the proceedings are done by Syrian government on their own grounds. However the atrocious actions committed by the Assad regime could in fact provide legality to military intervention by the United States. Finally, the focus will be to determine whether chemical weapons are in fact the sole factor for international intervention.

Chemical weapons are toxic gases, which use in the wars such as World War 1. Chemical weapons used in First World War and they killed a lot of people even children. In addition, chemical weapons are unless color, so people can’t see them. Also, most of people who died through the First World War were civilians. Therefore, who were responsible about them? In addition, people who survived had dangerous and permanent diseases such as cancer, asthma … etc. Even people’s genes effected by these toxic gases and they cause a lot of genetic problems that appeared in a second generation. Even soldiers who were pushed to this war. Then, they died or effected who were responsible about their families. In addition chemical weapons burned a lot of trees and they changed plant characteristics. Also, these gases can react with others to change air and weather characteristics. Therefore, chemical weapons effect on our

There has been war since man has been on Earth. Over time, war tactics, weapon, armor, and even the soldier has changed. The main weapon that has changed the battlefield has been the use of chemicals to stun, immobilize, or cause death. Chemical warfare isn’t a new form of fighting; it has been around since 400 B.C., but even a powerful and versatile weapon has its disadvantages. Nature always finds a way to fight in a battle too. The threat of a chemical attack haunts every country today. The extreme tension in the Middle East leaves the United States crippled because of their supply of chemical weapons and nervous about what the future will hold. The advancements in chemistry has altered the war front since its introduction during