[Peace-discuss] Fwd: US Plans for Use of Gas in Iraq

[Margaret E. Kosal]

The CWC (Chemical Weapons Conventions) permits use of riot control agents 
against one's own citizens but does *not* permit their use against soldiers 
of another state as a weapon.  The use against civilians of a foreign state 
is a definite 'no-no' under the CWC & other international treaties.

The U.S. is a state's party to the CWC.

>To: "CBW Discussion Forum" <cbw-sipri at sipri.se>
>From: Edward Hammond <hammond at sunshine-project.org>
>Subject: Sunshine: US Plans for Use of Gas in Iraq
>
>The Sunshine Project
>News Release - 7 February 2003
>http://www.sunshine-project.org
>
>
>-------------------------------
>US Plans for Use of Gas in Iraq
>-------------------------------
>
>(Austin and Hamburg, 7 February 2003) - Top US military planners are 
>preparing for the US to use incapacitating biochemical weapons in an 
>invasion of Iraq.  Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeldt and Gen. Richard 
>Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, revealed the plans in 
>February 5th testimony before the US House Armed Services Committee.  This 
>is the first official US acknowledgement that it may use (bio)chemical 
>weapons its crusade to rid other countries of such weapons. The Sunshine 
>Project and other nonprofits have warned since late 2001 that the "War on 
>Terrorism" may result the United States using prohibited biological and 
>chemical armaments, thereby violating the same treaties it purports to 
>defend.  The US announcement creates grave concerns for the future of arms 
>control agreements, particularly the Chemical Weapons Convention.
>
>Rumsfeldt stated that plans are being made for multiple applications, 
>including use of gas or aerosols on unarmed Iraqi civilians, in caves, and 
>on prisoners. Rumsfeldt reiterated the confusing, typical US official 
>language about so-called "non-lethal" biochemical weapons, which is at 
>odds with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Rumsfeldt described 
>applications of a "riot control agent" that clearly imply the complete 
>incapacitation of victims, combatant and non-combatant, in armed conflict 
>- a definition and usages that are at odds with the CWC. Rumsfeldt 
>acknowledged US ratification of the CWC but expressed "regret" about its 
>restrictions, stating that the US has "tangled itself up badly" on policy 
>for use of incapacitating biochemical weapons. Rumsfeldt indicated that - 
>in his opinion - if President Bush signs a waiver of long-standing 
>restrictions on US use of incapacitating chemicals, that the US will be 
>able to legally field them in Iraq and elsewhere.
>
>An audio file of the testimony from February 5th is posted with this news 
>release at the Sunshine Project website.
>
>The focal points for US development of these weapons are the Join 
>Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate in Quantico, Virginia, and the US Army 
>Soldier Biological Chemical Command, located in Edgewood/Aberdeen Proving 
>Ground, Maryland.  Following their capture in Afghanistan and elsewhere, 
>the US has used incapacitating chemicals on suspected terrorists 
>"detainees".  In October 2002, Russian Special Forces used a so-called 
>"non-lethal" incapacitating biochemical weapon when storming the Palace of 
>Culture Theater in Moscow.  It resulted in the deaths of over 100 hostages 
>and was used to facilitate the extrajudicial execution of as many as 50 
>Chechen separatists.  Before the War on Terrorism began, British officials 
>stated that they would not cooperate with the US military in missions 
>where US troops used incapacitating chemicals.
>
>The Sunshine Project has established an online clearinghouse of dozens of 
>documents from the US research program on these weapons, obtained under 
>the Freedom of Information Act.  These are available at the Project's website.