United States OF AMERICA
And Use of Biological & Chemical Weapons

On 1st November President Bush announced measures to strengthen the monitoring of the use of Biological and Chemical weapons (BCW) in accordance with the 1972 Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention. This treaty prohibits the possession of biological weapons. At first glance the unaware reader would think that the USA is at the forefront in combating biological and chemical weapons use. The reality is far from this:

The USA has used chemical and biological weapons against armies and civilian populations on numerous occasions over past 50 years. It has a stockpile of 3000 tons of chemical weapons and the largest stockpile in the world of smallpox, anthrax and other biological weapons.

Consider the following

Depleted Uranium - a highly radioactive and chemically toxic substance, used in the manufacture of bombs, rockets and missiles. Upon contact with it’s target DU becomes fine particles that if inhaled lead to lung cancer, bone cancer, leukemia and kidney disease.

1953: US army disseminates zinc cadmium sulfide through a Canadian city as part of its tests causing suffering on a wide scale.

1950-1953 Korean War: US army dropped quantities of bacteria, insects, feathers, decaying animal and fish parts and many other objects carrying disease. At one point, 70,000 gallons of napalm were being dropped daily.

Vietnam 1967-69: Agent Orange sprayed over 23,607 acres of land and forestation. Agent Orange was used to destroy any foliage or vegetation that could be used by opposing troops polluting Vietnam with 500 pounds of dioxin-widely regarded as the most toxic substance in the world.
Exposure to dioxin results in metabolic disorders, reproductive abnormalities and neuro-psychiatric disorders. Up to 2 million Vietnamese were affected. The US army used CS gas, as well as cyanide and arsenic compounds.

Laos: Sarin nerve gas; can kill within minutes of inhalation or with skin contact. Sarin works by inhibiting an enzyme needed to control muscle movement. Violent vomiting and paralysis are also caused.

Panama: US army uses mustard gas, hydrogen cyanide, and other nerve agents. During the 1989 US invasion civilians complained of intense skin burning, burning skin and diahorrea.

Cuba: Turkeys were infected with a virus to produce the fatal ‘Newcastle’ disease. Cuban exiles provided with a virus to infect other livestock.

Denge hemorrhagic fever (DHF) introduced to Cuba by disease carrying insects and mosquitos –this caused severe flu-like symptoms and incapacitating bone pain on the people of Cuba.

As late as 1996, a plant-eating insect detected in Cuba found for first time that severely damages all crops and is resistant to many pesticides.

A host of biological materials have been exported by private American companies following licensing by the US department of commerce:

Bacillus anthracis (anthrax)
Clostridium botulinum-botulinium toxin
Histoplasma capsulatam-cause of a disease attacking lungs, brains, spinal cord and heart

Brucella melitensis-bacteria that can damage major organs

Clostridium perfringens-a highly toxic bacteria causing sytematic illness

Clostridium tetani-highly toxgenic
E.coli

Interestingly enough, the US senate committee found in the 1990’s that the microorganisms found in Iraq by biological weapons inspection teams were, in fact, identical to the ones exported by the USA. A 1997 convention on the prohibition of the development, production and Stock-piling and use of Chemical Weapons and their destruction was passed by many countries. Before ratifying the treaty the US government insisted on inserting a clause exempting certain buildings from inspection on the basis of protecting national security interests. However, no such exemption was allowed to Iraq during the 1992-1998 weapons inspection program. It was precisely this request by Iraq to exempt certain buildings from inspection that was refused by the US and precipitated US and UK bombings on Iraq throughout the 1990’s.

One can clearly see the double standards and hypocrisy of the United States of America. Last year it refused to ratify the BCW treaty, although over 140 nations did so. It is further evidence of America’s arrogance that she can call other nations to sign up to treaties and conventions which she herself has never ratified or fully endorsed such as the International Criminal Court and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

Thus, President Bush’s declaration this month of strengthening measures against the use of biological and chemical weapons is most likely another tool to dampen and quell US public opinion against the spate of anthrax related attacks. The evidence of the last 50 years shows the USA as the prime suspect in the development, export and Use of biological and chemical weapons.

Zubair Hussaini 
Science Correspondent [Kcom Journal] 10 November 2001