Challenges for the 1990s for Arms Control and International Security (1989) / Chapter Skim
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6. Prospects for a Chemical Weapons Disarmament Treaty
6. Prospects for a Chemical Weapons Disarmament Treaty
Pages 57-63
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From page 57... ...
Antichemical protective activities and equipment, such as gas masks, are permitted. Three categories of chemical warfare agents are stocked by the United States and the USSR: the highly lethal organophosphorus nerve agents, first produced but not used by Germany during World War II; blister agents dating from World War I; and an irritant or riot-control agent introduced in the l950s.
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From page 58... ...
Instead of casualty production, the principal effect of chemical weapons against troops wearing antichemical protection is to slow them down and reduce their efficiency. At high work rates in hot weather, the retention of body heat imposed by the suit, mask, and gloves forces the wearer to limit heavy exertion to short intervals or else to pardy open the protective clothing.
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From page 59... ...
Second, the international organization will operate a system of short-notice inspection and data collection intended to verify that chemical weapons are not produced within the chemical industry. Third, as a safety net to deal with suspicious activities and to deter violations, there will be short-notice challenge inspections at the request of a state party, with no right of refusal by the requested state.
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From page 60... ...
forces in Europe, place it at some 400 500 tons of nerve agent, contained in about 6,500 tons of munitions, or approximately 100,000 artillery projectiles. Given the value of short-notice challenge inspection, bow in evaluating suspicious activities and as a deterrent to cheating, the United States would probably exercise its challenge inspection rights regularly even in cases where no suspicions exist, in order to keep the political threshold for challenge inspections low and their deterrent effect high.
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From page 61... ...
A second substantial benefit would be the creation of a strong international legal and political norm prohibiting chemical weapons, together with a verification regime to deter violations and to combat chemical proliferation. The principal cost of the convention to the United States is the loss of its present option to have chemical weapons for deterrence and for retaliation In kind, specifically in the defense of Europe.
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From page 62... ...
In his foreign policy address at the University of Toledo during the presidential campaign, he said, "If ~ am remembered for anything, it would be this: a complete and total ban on chemical weapons." After the election the President reaffirmed his commitment in his address to the joint session of Congress in February and at the NATO summit in May when he said: "We must achieve a global chemical weapons ban as quickly as possible." In June, 75 senators, including a majority of both political parties, sent a letter to President Bush declaring their "strong support for your personal commitment to ridding the world of chemical weapons." The Board of Directors of the U.S. Chemical Manufacturers Association, representing nearly Me entire U.S.
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From page 63... ...
provisions to ensure general adherence, particularly of third world nations. While solutions to these and other problems remain to be devised, agreed, and cast into treaty language, the main outlines of the Chemical Weapons Convention are in place and, given sufficient priority by the United States and USSR, a ban on chemical weapons is likely.
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