When one remembers the Cold War, a picture of whole nations paralyzed in fear come to mind. This fear was caused by one thing: nuclear weapons. However, if the matter is studied more thoroughly, it would be discovered that nuclear weapons should not have been the only concern of those warring nations. Use of biological weapons may have seemed like child’s play compared to the looming threat of total nuclear war, but it had more precedence during the era than one would expect. Although biological weapons are overshadowed by nuclear warfare concerns, they were and can be significant threats and assets to America’s national security.
Biological weapons are known for their inconspicuousness and effectiveness, yet their lethalness is still overlooked …show more content…
In 1942, a national offensive biological program was founded under the supervision of the War Reserve Service, or WRS (Claborn). The Army Chemical Warfare Service was responsible for the program’s endeavors (Block). Although in Europe, the German buzz bomb attacks on England raised U.S. concerns, making a biodefense program a more urgent matter in 1943 (“Biological Weapons”). It was suspected that Germany could transform their bombs into vehicles of biowarfare. Program facilities were scattered about the country in Maryland, Mississippi, Utah, and Indiana. Nevertheless, the program was dropped soon after its creation, still during the war. Not only was the program dropped for moral reasons, but it was also abandoned for ethical purposes. The agents were unpredictable and the facilities were not equipped to house such potent materials (“Biological Weapons”). Instead of the labs being destroyed, they were sold to commercial pharmaceutical companies and research was …show more content…
Nixon announced the United States was, “never to use biological weapons, including toxins, under any circumstances whatsoever.”. His statement implies that the United States could not even use biological weapons for protective measures. All biological arsenals were destroyed along with the hope of perfecting these weapons for defensive purposes (“Biological Weapons”). Nixon’s statement was in response to the instigation of a Biological Weapons Convention, or BWC, treaty by the United Nations in 1969 (Kimball and Meier). Enforced in March of 1975, it was adopted by “165 states-parties and 12 signatory states” and is still enforced today. The treaty prohibits, “The development, stockpiling, acquisition, retention, and production of: 1. Biological agents and toxins ‘of types and in quantities that have no justification for prophylactic, protective, or other peaceful purposes.’ 2. Weapons, equipment, and delivery vehicles ‘designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict.’ The transfer of or assistance with acquiring the agents, toxins, weapons, equipment, and delivery vehicles described above” (Kimball and Meier). The BWC had sound intentions in mind when introducing such a treaty, but many countries have disobeyed its efforts to promote world
Biological weapons are known for their inconspicuousness and effectiveness, yet their lethalness is still overlooked …show more content…
In 1942, a national offensive biological program was founded under the supervision of the War Reserve Service, or WRS (Claborn). The Army Chemical Warfare Service was responsible for the program’s endeavors (Block). Although in Europe, the German buzz bomb attacks on England raised U.S. concerns, making a biodefense program a more urgent matter in 1943 (“Biological Weapons”). It was suspected that Germany could transform their bombs into vehicles of biowarfare. Program facilities were scattered about the country in Maryland, Mississippi, Utah, and Indiana. Nevertheless, the program was dropped soon after its creation, still during the war. Not only was the program dropped for moral reasons, but it was also abandoned for ethical purposes. The agents were unpredictable and the facilities were not equipped to house such potent materials (“Biological Weapons”). Instead of the labs being destroyed, they were sold to commercial pharmaceutical companies and research was …show more content…
Nixon announced the United States was, “never to use biological weapons, including toxins, under any circumstances whatsoever.”. His statement implies that the United States could not even use biological weapons for protective measures. All biological arsenals were destroyed along with the hope of perfecting these weapons for defensive purposes (“Biological Weapons”). Nixon’s statement was in response to the instigation of a Biological Weapons Convention, or BWC, treaty by the United Nations in 1969 (Kimball and Meier). Enforced in March of 1975, it was adopted by “165 states-parties and 12 signatory states” and is still enforced today. The treaty prohibits, “The development, stockpiling, acquisition, retention, and production of: 1. Biological agents and toxins ‘of types and in quantities that have no justification for prophylactic, protective, or other peaceful purposes.’ 2. Weapons, equipment, and delivery vehicles ‘designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict.’ The transfer of or assistance with acquiring the agents, toxins, weapons, equipment, and delivery vehicles described above” (Kimball and Meier). The BWC had sound intentions in mind when introducing such a treaty, but many countries have disobeyed its efforts to promote world