| Abstract: | For a long time people used chemicals to weaken or incapacitate their opponents. In World War I a sad peak was reached with the massive use of poisonous gas. Iraq's success using chemical weapons against Iran stimulated some emerging countries to acquire chemical weapons after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The intelligence community estimates their number of up to 30 countries. In 1997 an international law came into force to stop further proliferation and guarantee destruction of chemical weapons till 2007. So far already 147 countries ratified this treaty — but not countries like Iraq, Syria and North Korea. Even for an individual with sufficient criminal energy it is possible to spread terror with chemical weapons. So, control is mandatory, panic certainly not. |
