Medical Aspects of Chemical Warfare (2008) - The Black Vault

History of Chemical WarfareAfter Iran sent chemical casualties to severalWestern nations for treatment, the UN dispatched ateam of specialists to the area in 1984, and again in1986 and 1987, to verify the claims. The conclusionfrom all three trips was the same: Iraq was usingchemical weapons against Iranian troops. In addition,the second mission stressed that Iraq’s use ofchemical weapons appeared to be increasing. Thereports indicated that mustard and tabun were theprimary agents used, and that they were generallydelivered in bombs dropped by airplane. The thirdmission (the only one allowed to enter Iraq) alsoreported the use of artillery shells and chemicalrockets and the use of chemical weapons againstcivilian personnel. 190–192In the letter of transmittal to the UN after the conclusionof the third mission, the investigators pointedout the dangers of this chemical warfare:It is vital to realize that the continued use of chemicalweapons in the present conflict increases the riskof their use in future conflicts. In view of this, and asindividuals who witnessed first hand the terrible effectsof chemical weapons, we again make a specialplea to you to try to do everything in your power tostop the use of such weapons in the Iran-Iraq conflictand thus ensure that they are not used in futureconflicts. . . . In our view, only concerted efforts atthe political level can be effective in ensuring that allthe signatories of the Geneva Protocol of 1925 abideby their obligations. Otherwise, if the Protocol is irreparablyweakened after 60 years of general internationalrespect, this may lead, in the future, to theworld facing the specter of the threat of biologicalweapons. 190Another analyst echoed these sentiments, saying,“In a sense, a taboo has been broken, thus making iteasier for future combatants to find justification forchemical warfare, this aspect of the Iran-Iraq warshould cause Western military planners the gravestconcern.” 193(pp51–52)The Iran-Iraq War failed to reach a military conclusiondespite Iraq’s use of chemical weapons. Roughly5% of the Iranian casualties were caused by chemicalweapons. Although Iranian use of chemical weaponswas rumored, less attention was devoted to verifyingthose reports. In August 1988 Iraq finally accepted aUN ceasefire plan. 185Additional Reports of Chemical WarfareThe end of the Iran-Iraq War did not prevent newchemical warfare reports from circulating. Within amonth of the war’s end, the Kurds, a minority groupin Iraq seeking autonomy, accused Iraq of using chemicalweapons against them. Shortly before, rumorscirculated that Libya had used chemical weaponsobtained from Iran during an invasion of Chad. TheUnited States rushed 2,000 gas masks to Chad in response.There were also reports of the Cuban-backedgovernment of Angola using nerve agents againstrebel forces. 194–197Chemical TrainingIn addition to establishing a retaliatory capability, theUS Army significantly improved its chemical trainingcapability by constructing a new facility at the chemicalschool and conducting more realistic field training. In1987 the Chemical Decontamination Training Facilitystarted live chemical agent training in a controlledenvironment. Major General Gerald G Watson, theschool’s commandant, was “the first American towear the battledress overgarment in a toxic chemicalenvironment” 198(p15) when he entered the facilityon February 19, 1987. Realistic field training, such asOperation Solid Shield 87 199 (see Chapter 3, History ofthe Medical Management of Chemical Casualties) wasconducted, resulting in changes in Army policy.Soviet-US AgreementThe increase in the US retaliatory and defensivecapability for chemical warfare, along with internalchanges in the Soviet Union, helped convince the Sovietsto look closely at a new chemical weapons treaty.In 1987, after admitting possession of chemical agentsfor the first time, the Soviet Union announced it washalting chemical weapons production. In September1989 the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)Between the Government of the United States andthe Government of the USSR Regarding a BilateralVerification Experiment and Data Exchange Related toProhibition of Chemical Weapons, otherwise knownas the Wyoming MOU, started the talks between thetwo countries. 4 The US demilitarization program continued,despite problems (see Chapter 4).The 1990s: A New Age of Chemical Warfare and TerrorismPersian Gulf WarDespite the ongoing political efforts to abolishchemical warfare (see Chapter 4), world events againbrought chemical weapons to daily news reports. OnAugust 2, 1990, Saddam Hussein sent Iraqi troops into63