What constitutes a 'WMD'?

[Bluedog]

How much destructive capability does it take to be classed as a Weapon of Mass Destruction?

I take it nuclear weapons are, and certain biological/chemical agents.  Or is it all NBC stuff?

Is it a 'real' catagory, or is it a term made up recently by the press or something?

For example, if it is in fact any and all Nuclear, Biological or Chemical agents, what about CS gas?....it is a chemical agent.


Im not trying to argue right and wrong here, or point fingers at anyone, I'm just curious, what does the term WMD actually envelope?

Thanks,
Blue

[Leslie]

I don't know, but I heard somewhere that WMD refers mostly to nukes, probably because they are more controllable weapons than bio or chem, and less likely to be encountered in warfare situations.




Les

[Holden McGroin]

I believe it to be most all lethal NBC weapons.  

Sarin and VX are most definitely WMD's

CS gas while it is a Geneva prohibited as a chemical agent, is incapacitating but not lethal - therefore would not be a WMD.

But that is just my gut reaction to your question.

[Maniac]

http://www.kaicurryservices.com/gwbush/remindus.swf

[DieAz]

Originally posted by Bluedog
How much destructive capability does it take to be classed as a Weapon of Mass Destruction?

a sawed off shotgun with barrel less than somewhere between 12 to 16 inches . well in this state anyway.

[Tilt]

A weapon that kills/destroys "the masses"

"mass" (in this context) is a large quantity of indefinate number........... so trying to put a number on it is pretty pointless.

"the masses" are defined in a somewhat dated manner as "the common people"

[capt. apathy]

as the term is used today, I take it to mean any non-conventional weapon.

[Wolfala]

WMD - weapon of mass DESTRUCTION can ONLY be applied to nuclear weapons.

Chemical and Bio weapons are weapons of mass DISRUPTION - they don't destroy anything except for living tissues.

The amount of damage inflicted by even a small nuclear device dwarf's the casualities of any chem/bio attack.

Wolf

[Pongo]

It was nukes. Chemical and Biological were added in the late 80s I believe.

[Sikboy]

Originally posted by Pongo
It was nukes. Chemical and Biological were added in the late 80s I believe.

The term "weapon of mass destruction" has been applied beyond nuclear weapons since at least 1971. It has been applied specifically to Chem/Bio since 1975.

Hope this helps

-Sik

[Habu]

I was going to say a Sunday morning t.urd after a night out drinking and eating extra hot wings, but this topic is far too civilized for such a crass joke.

[Bluedog]

Thats a 'MaG B'.

Morning after Grog Bog.......very definately a dangerous biological/chemical agent, however its ease of production with the most basic materials and facilities makes its worldwide proliferation difficult, if not impossible to police.

[Mathman]

Originally posted by Habu
I was going to say a Sunday morning t.urd after a night out drinking and eating extra hot wings, but this topic is far too civilized for such a crass joke.

Beer ****s are definitely on the list of WMD.  As are beer farts in small rooms and explosive diarhea.  As a matter of fact, any act of nature involving the bowels could conceivably be considered a WMD as long as funked or SOB are involved.  It is much worse if both are involved.