Vietnam War

I have chosen to skip the Korean War and proceed to the Vietnam war. The reason being is that there is no concrete evidence to support the use of chemical and biological weapons by the United States. There have been allegations by the Chinese government that United States used biological weapons, but with no substantial evidence.

The Vietnam War saw the use of massive amounts of chemical anti-plant agents and anti-personnel gas. This is the last known war that the United States military used chemical weapons. The anti-plant agents used were 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4,D), n-butyl 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4,5-T), iso-butyl trichlorophenoxyacetate and cacodylic acid. These compounds are more commonly known as agent orange, agent white, agent purple, agent pink, agent green and agent blue. Over the course of the war, more that seventy million liters were sprayed on Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. These agents caused thirteen different disabilities in those who came in direct contact with the agents, ranging from type two diabetes and Hodgkin’s disease to leukemia and cancer. Those who were in contact with the agents and had children after the war, some children were born with severe birth defects. These defects included spina bifida, which is the only birth defect acknowledged by the government caused by anti-plant agents. Thirteen other birth defects have been accused to being the result of being in contact with agent orange but the United States government does not agree with these claims. The United States government does offer disability pay for those affected by the use of anti-plant agents; this includes soldiers and children. This does not include those in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

 Like previous wars, the Vietnam War was a time of testing new chemical and biological weapons. The newest one was an incapacitating agent called BZ. This agent was tested on American soldiers along with over two hundred and fifty other types of chemicals. By the end of the experiments, over six thousand soldiers had been involved in these trials.

Ways People Have and are Adressing the Issue of Chemical and Biological Weapons

Much concern has been raised about the disposal of stockpiled chemical and biological weapons. From the beginning of World War I, stockpiles of weapons that had never seen use have piled up. Many of these weapons were stockpiled during and after World War I, World War II and Vietnam War. The reasons for stockpiling weapons was the idea held by the American government and other nations that in the event of an attack with chemical or biological weapons, the attacked government could strike back with equal or greater force. While this idea has been seen in other areas, such as nuclear stockpiles, it still raises the question of how to dispose of outdated technology.

Like I had mentioned in previous post that during World War II Germany had amassed seventy-eight thousand tons of chemical agents. Of these, eleven thousand tons were disposed of by dumping into the Baltic sea, resulting in the poisoning of the water, sea floor and making many species at risk and inedible for human consumption. The dangers are escalating as more and more of these weapons are corroding at the bottom of the sea causing larger amounts of the chemicals to leak out. Over seven hundred of the weapons have been brought to the surface by fishermen’s nets causing weapons to leak onto the fisherman, resulting in chemical injury.

Questions have been raised of how to dispose of the weapons that remain on the sea floor. This is still an ongoing debate within European nations involved. Most of the other weapons were released into the air during routine dismantlement of rockets, bombs and artillery. Others were dumped into pits in the ground followed by a covering of bleach powder decontamination. Still other portions of chemical weapons seized during the war were taken by Allied forces and added to their own stockpiles. Other areas though, where biological weapons had been tested remained an issue. The testing of anthrax weapons on the Gruinard Island by the British during World War II had resulted in the contamination of the island for decades. The island was finally decontaminated by the British government in 1986 after much protest.

During the late sixties growing discontent about the use, stockpiling and testing of chemical and biological weapons resulted in the dismantling of American chemical weapons. These weapons were encased in concrete that were loaded into boats, after which were then sunk to the bottom of the ocean floor. These chemicals weapons consisted of mustard agents, sarin and anti-plant agents. After the disposal, many questions were raised about the safety of this process. This resulted in the prohibition of chemical weapons sea dumping. To this day the debate continues as more and more research is done in the contaminated areas.

 In 1972 the United States dismantled its biological weapons program and signed the treaty to end the stockpiling, creation and production of biological and toxic weapons. This was followed in 1975 by the signing of the treaty of the 1925 Geneva protocol prohibiting the use of chemical weapons. Lastly in 1997 the United States signed the chemical weapons convention treaty. This has resulted in the destruction of seventy percent of the known stockpiles of chemical weapons as of 2011.

Many countries continue to produce chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction. This has resulted in many UN conferences and inspections of such countries. While the methods of the American military and other nations are brought into question because of the use of force to stop terrorist or factions, it is one of the few options available.

Conclusion

I would like begin this by stating that some information that has been left out about other conflicts regarding chemical and biological warfare. The use of these weapons is so numerous that it would take volumes to explain all the atrocities that have taken place. Much of which is still being denied, evidence destroyed, firsthand knowledge is gone and much of the government records have still not been fully disclosed. I highly suggest that if you are interested in the subject, to continue researching the topic.

While I have chosen to only include wars that the United States and its allies used or tested chemical and biological weapons, this is not where the story ends unfortunately. Many terrorist groups still use the methods of chemical and biological weapons. It is said that all that is needed to start a biological weapons facility is ten thousand dollars and a space the size of a two car garage. With this setup small amounts of bio weapons can be produced. As more information is easily accessed the threat becomes larger. While this is a large concern, I believe that more and more countries are heading in a safer direction.

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