Proper Perspective Towards Toxic Chemical Operations

摘要

Within the past century, numerous attempts have been made to place international restraints on the use of toxic chemicals in warfare. Agreements have been formulated but complete, effective ratification and acceptance of restraints has not been achieved. It is the purpose of this essay to formulate a proper perspective towards toxic chemical operations. A review of the attempts at international restraint has indicated that no high degree of assurance exists that states wil not employ toxic chemicals when it is to their advantage to do so. It is illogical to assume that any nation possessing a toxic chemical capability will refrain from using such a capability in order to preserve its identity as a nation. It is illogical to assign an 'inhumane' label to toxic chemical operations and to continue to accept the modern nuclear and the modern 'conventional' methods of warfare. Toxic chemicals, either lethal or nonlethal, when properly employed, can be more humane in their effects on the target complex than the accepted conventional modes of combat. A proper perspective is one which accepts the existence of toxic chemicals, prepares to defend against their use, the prepares to use them in conjunction with other weapons, or separately, as appropriate.