Future of NBC Defence
FUTURE OF NBC DEFENCE – GLOBAL INITIATIVES
INTRODUCTION
“If we do not stem the proliferation of the world’s deadliest weapons, no democracy can feel secure……One of our most urgent priorities must be attacking the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, whether they are nuclear, chemical or biological.”
- President Clinton, 1993
1. Let ‘Peace and Collective Survival’ be the global motto of the 21st century but one cannot ignore the more likely existence of a complex world in the future with unequal distribution of power and resources. The past century is replete with instances of usage of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) weapons, sometimes categorized as Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) when employed for inflicting mass damage including civilians. Whilst WMD is an open-ended concept, NBC is confined to the three named technologies. Nuclear weapons are the most lethal and the least easily defended against of amongst these weapons. The use of biological weapons has a potential for loss of life that can compare with that of nuclear weapons, however, biological arsenals can be tackled to some degree with vaccines, masks, and proper warning. Chemical weapons are the least lethal of the weapons of mass destruction but can still have a profound effect on the battlefield or on civilian populations if used in sufficient quantities. Troops can defend themselves against chemical weapons with chemical detectors and protective clothing, but such equipment undermines operational effectiveness.
2. Nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological weapons are no longer the exclusive domains of first world powers. Rather, the list of players capable of developing and exploiting these weapons is growing rapidly and includes a variety of both state and non-state actors1. Because terrorist use of WMD is difficult to deter or prevent and is potentially catastrophic in most cases, it is the greatest threat to any nation’s security. Terrorist wars
INTRODUCTION
“If we do not stem the proliferation of the world’s deadliest weapons, no democracy can feel secure……One of our most urgent priorities must be attacking the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, whether they are nuclear, chemical or biological.”
- President Clinton, 1993
1. Let ‘Peace and Collective Survival’ be the global motto of the 21st century but one cannot ignore the more likely existence of a complex world in the future with unequal distribution of power and resources. The past century is replete with instances of usage of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) weapons, sometimes categorized as Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) when employed for inflicting mass damage including civilians. Whilst WMD is an open-ended concept, NBC is confined to the three named technologies. Nuclear weapons are the most lethal and the least easily defended against of amongst these weapons. The use of biological weapons has a potential for loss of life that can compare with that of nuclear weapons, however, biological arsenals can be tackled to some degree with vaccines, masks, and proper warning. Chemical weapons are the least lethal of the weapons of mass destruction but can still have a profound effect on the battlefield or on civilian populations if used in sufficient quantities. Troops can defend themselves against chemical weapons with chemical detectors and protective clothing, but such equipment undermines operational effectiveness.
2. Nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological weapons are no longer the exclusive domains of first world powers. Rather, the list of players capable of developing and exploiting these weapons is growing rapidly and includes a variety of both state and non-state actors1. Because terrorist use of WMD is difficult to deter or prevent and is potentially catastrophic in most cases, it is the greatest threat to any nation’s security. Terrorist wars
Bibliography: 2. Brij Mohan and AKL Vats. Global Armageddon. Comcare International Publishers, 2002. 3. Eric Croddy. Chemical and Biological Warfare. Copernicus Books, 2002. 4. K Bhushan and G Katyal. Nuclear Biological and Chemical Warfare. APH Publishing Corporation, 2002. 5. Sidney D. Drell, Abraham D. Sofaer and George D. Wilson. The New Terror. Hoover Institution Press Publication, 1999. 6. Jeanne Guillemin. Biological Weapons. Columbia University Press, 2005. 7. Eric Herring. Preventing the Use of Weapons of Mass Destruction. Frank Cass Publishers, 2000. 8. Malcom Dando. Biological Warfare in the 21st Century. Brassey’s (UK), 1994. 9. Dr Sharad S Chauhan. Biological Weapons. APH Publishing Corporation, 2004. 10. Rear Admiral Raja Menon. Weapons of Mass Destruction. SAGE Publications, 2004.