Chemical and biological weapons: a study of proliferation

'...his previous forays into this subject have made him the Chemical Biological Weapons professionals' author and this book does nothing to diminish this view. It is also timely.' - British Army Review An analysis of the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons which examines the attractions and utility of these weapons for some developing states, the difficulties encountered in trying to control their spread, and the lessons from the Rabta controversy and the Gulf War. It reviews the evolution of American chemical weapons policy under the Bush administration, the implications of the Chemical Weapons Convention, and the problems posed by the inherently dynamic nature of these weapons and their tactical flexibility. The use of chemical weapons in the Iran-Iraq War, followed by the Rabta controversy in Libya and the threat of chemical and biological attack during the Gulf War, dramatised the consequences of the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons. Although the use of these weapons has been banned by the Geneva Protocol (1925), they still have attractions for some states and pose risks to regional neighbours or intervention forces. In this work the risks and attractions are evaluated, the difficulties of curbing their spread examined, and the reaction to the Rabta revelations assessed. The Gulf War is analysed in depth, including the allied response to the Iraqi threat, the non-use of chemical and biological weapons during the war, and the lessons of the conflict. Finally, the evolution of American chemical weapons policy and the likely impact of the Chemical Weapons Convention is considered in light of the inherently dynamic nature of the weaponry and the flexibility of its use.