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The history of biological weapons (BW), chemical weapons (CW), and
nuclear weapons is complicated. It can be disturbing, tragic, and
occasionally encouraging. It is rarely amusing, although the names
selected for certain weapons suggest a casualness toward the
consequences of their use: Atomic Annie, Blue Peacock, Dew of
Death, Fat Man, Flying cow, George, Gilda, Helen of Bikini,
Hurricane, Katie, Little Boy, Lulu, Mike, Red Beard, Sewer Pipe,
Squirt. Use of BW and CW in warfare has produced mixed results in
terms of effecting the outcome of a battle or campaign; despite
this mixed record, both weapon types have attracted intense
interest and strong advocacy for further use. The sole experience
with use of nuclear weapons in warfare is viewed as hastening
surrender by Japan, created competition among nations to develop
more such weapons, and influenced efforts to ban any use or even
stockpiling of such weapons. Each of these three weapon types has
its own peculiar history, as recounted in this dictionary. This
second edition of Historical Dictionary of Nuclear, Biological and
Chemical Warfare contains a chronology, an introduction, and an
extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 700
cross-referenced entries on terms related to NBC warfare, ranging
from basic descriptions of substances used to details on incidents
and episodes where NBC weapons were used, historical events,
persons important to NBC warfare, countries where such weapons have
been developed or used, and international treaties and
treaty-related organizations.
Human experience with nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC)
warfare has been limited, especially in comparison to conventional
forms of warfare. Our experience with nuclear warfare is confined
to a period of less than one week during the end of World War II,
when the United States successfully used two nuclear weapons
against targets in Japan. The course of biological warfare and
modern use of biological weapons are difficult to track owing to
the difficulty of differentiating deliberate use from natural
outbreaks. However, the keen potential of biological weapons in
acts of terror was shown in the mass disruption caused in the fall
2001 experience in the U.S. with the release of anthrax through the
American postal system. Chemical weapons have been used in a
handful of conflicts since their introduction to modern warfare
during World War I, most recently during the Iran-Iraq War during
the 1980s. Despite this limited experience, NBC warfare continues
to exert a certain fascination among states. The A to Z of Nuclear,
Biological, and Chemical Warfare covers the development and use of
NBC weapons as well as efforts to limit or control the use of these
weapons through a chronology, a bibliography, an introductory
essay, and dictionary entries. Over 500 cross-referenced dictionary
entries provide a unique selection of terms related to NBC warfare,
ranging from basic descriptions of substances used in NBC warfare
to details on incidents and episodes where NBC weapons were used.
Entries are structured around historical events, persons important
to NBC warfare, countries where such weapons have been developed or
used, and international treaties and treaty-related organizations.
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