Chemical Weapons

Chemical Weapons

The concerns about chemical weapons is taking a new height, particularly after the recent massacre in Syrian Soil. But, before I address these concerns, I find it necessary to briefly introduce chemical weapons and the threats it possess.

Chemical weapons, like all weapons, are a downside to scientific progress. The chemicals developed in labs are used in grenades, artilleries to kill or poison people in a large scale. So, they are called Weapons of Mass Destruction, on the same category as nuclear bombs. One chemical weapon we are all very familiar with is the tear gas, which is a very mild form of chemical weaponry. But, there are toxic chemicals far more lethal than tear gas. These poisonous gases, can turn a entire community into a death land within minutes. Some of these gases, if inhaled, directly affect your nervous system or blood. You may either die instantly or after a few minutes with terrible pain, depending upon how strong your immunity is. There are other forms, like mustard gas, which creates a burning sensation in skin, eyes and may lead to cancer and other skin illness. The most commonly and most easily produced chemical weapons are Mustard and Sarin and they are as effective in killing as any other weapons.
 

There was once a time, when armies used to poison the water sources of enemies to kill them. Then the US War Department of 1863 declared the ' poisons shall not be used in modern warfare.'. 51 years later, World War I occurred, and where 100000 people were killed by poisonous gas. In world war 2, Nazi troops used chemical weapons in gas chambers on the prisoners of concentration camps. Also, during the cold war, the production and storage of chemical weapons increased massively. Then Saddam Hussein came on stage,who used mustard gas against Iran and in 1988 used chemical weapons on hundreds of Kurds, which is noted as one of the most brutal genocides. It is estimated that about 1 million people have died since world war I due to chemical weapons.

The horrifying images of massacre in World war I outraged the whole world and they tried to seek a permanent solution to chemical weapons. In 1925, a protocol called Geneva protocol was signed. This protocol forbids the use of chemical weapons but it doesn't restrict the production and distribution. In other words it said you can't use it but it didn't say that you can't produce it either. Apparently it failed and chemical weapons were used in World War II as well. Then the world got more concerned. And after negotiating for 12 years, a treaty called Chemical Weapons Convention was signed in 1992 which calls for stringent compliance by the state parties. About 189 countries have joined the CWC representing 98% if world population.

 

The CWC entered into force in 1997 and it required that all countries submit their report on the chemical weapons they possessed. The US has about 30000 tons of weapons while Russia has the largest arsenal with 40000 tons of poisonous gas. India too, possessed about 1000 tons of chemical weapons. CWC stated that all chemicals weapons had to be destroyed within 10 years. While US, Russia and Libya have reduced their arsenal by about half, all other have supposedly destroyed their store. But what the true status is, no one has ever disclosed.

Now let me get back to Syria. Syria has not ratified the CWC and on July this year, it admitted possessing chemical weapons. Few days ago, on August 21, the rebels reported that the government used chemical weapons, mainly in a suburb of Damascus, Ghouta, where 1300 people were killed. The government says that its a conspiracy of the rebel, and the rebel blames the government. An investigation was called by UN and inspectors were sent to Syria. They too were attacked by snipers. The western countries blame Basar-Al-Assad for the massacre, and based on news reports are preparing for military intervention.

Now one may ask, why are chemical weapons creating such a panic and outcry? After call killing people using bombs in not less evil than killing with chemical poisons. It is because, chemical weapons are not contained with battlefields, the affect the water the soil and in general the lives of everyone , including the civilians. And depriving people of safe air to breathe and water to drink is against fundamental human rights and is morally deplorable. Also, chemical weapons, which affect soil affects the fertility and have many long term consequences. But, perhaps the most important thing is our willingness to search for peaceful solutions. If people start using destructive weapons like chemical weapons national issues, then within no time they 'll start using nuclear weapons for minor conflict. 

 

As always, diplomatic solutions have to be arranged. Treaties, law and agreements cannot ascertain permanent world peace unless we are willing to compromise and look for consensual solutions.

The ultimate question in this regard is Should Wars have boundaries? Or should they have a free reign just like the saying goes “Everything is fair in love and war”. But, a full fledged war, where countries are desperately trying to overpower each other, might not be controlled by any treaties or laws. There is indeed a reason they are called wars. But, we can, at least prevent or minimize the use of chemical weapons towards innocent people, who aren't involved in either side of the conflict.

For this, the CWC treaty has to make sure that all chemical arsenals are destroyed. Also, bodies like UN should play a stronger role to mediate national and international conflicts. But must importantly, humans should evolve, evolve into more peaceful beings for whom war is not the only solution

But until such dramatic evolution appears, being among the ones who neither have such weapons nor can control them, all we can do is pray that chemical weapons do not take over the world.