		Background Information By D. P. Goldstein and J. E. Davis
Background Agent Orange & Anthrax Questions Raised Works Cited Home		Biological and chemical warfare is a dangerous perversion of science. What often starts out as a benefit to mankind, can become a powerful tool of destruction. We have seen this destruction in World Wars I and II, Vietnam and even the latest war in Kuwait with Suddam Hussein of Iraq. These events show first hand that biology and chemistry can be misused and turned into deadly weapons. Through studies and research, it has been found that there are over 100 possible biological warfare agents. It wouldn't be practical to have 100 plus vaccines produced and administered to the people of the United States. Consequently the United States doesn't have large amounts of vaccines and antibiotics against biological attacks (Taylor 55). Chemical warfare may not always have the primary objective as killing or maiming the enemy, but as acting as a way to "slow down" the enemy. Wearing bulky, protective gear and performing the necessary safety and decontamination measures required during such an attack, cuts down on a soldier's performance in the field by as much as 50 percent, according to the army (Taylor 90-91). Chemical and biological warfare can only bring the worst, whether through war or through terrorism. This disaster can be prevented by the cooperation of countries around the world; however reducing the risk will be a long task. This page was created by D. P. Goldstein and J. E. Davis on 3/17/99 for History and Thought of Western Man, Rich East High School, Park Forest, Illinois. Return to Index

Background Information

By D. P. Goldstein and J. E. Davis

Background

Biological and chemical warfare is a dangerous perversion of science. What often starts out as a benefit to mankind, can become a powerful tool of destruction. We have seen this destruction in World Wars I and II, Vietnam and even the latest war in Kuwait with Suddam Hussein of Iraq. These events show first hand that biology and chemistry can be misused and turned into deadly weapons.

Through studies and research, it has been found that there are over 100 possible biological warfare agents. It wouldn't be practical to have 100 plus vaccines produced and administered to the people of the United States. Consequently the United States doesn't have large amounts of vaccines and antibiotics against biological attacks (Taylor 55).

Chemical warfare may not always have the primary objective as killing or maiming the enemy, but as acting as a way to "slow down" the enemy. Wearing bulky, protective gear and performing the necessary safety and decontamination measures required during such an attack, cuts down on a soldier's performance in the field by as much as 50 percent, according to the army (Taylor 90-91).

Chemical and biological warfare can only bring the worst, whether through war or through terrorism. This disaster can be prevented by the cooperation of countries around the world; however reducing the risk will be a long task.

This page was created by D. P. Goldstein and J. E. Davis on 3/17/99 for History and Thought of Western Man, Rich East High School, Park Forest, Illinois.

Return to Index