WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION: MORE THAN JUST NUKES
The advancement of warfare has taken many interesting and destructive twists and turns; however, none of them quite compare to the invention of weapons of mass destruction. WMDs are mostly recognized as nuclear bombs, but the reality is that such weaponry can come in many different forms. No matter how these weapons are deployed, however, the end is always the same: a massive amount of destruction is left in their wake. Even war has its own sets of rules that are imposed by the international community, and there's a reason that the use of a WMD is illegal. The goal is more than just fighting. A weapon of mass destruction is designed by its very nature to not only damage a foreign force but to deliver an exorbitant amount of damage to all of those near its payload. Learn more about these powerful weapons and how they could alter our lives as warfare continues to advance in some of the worst ways possible. Read next:How Do You End Nuclear War? More Nukes Apparently
What Exactly Are Weapons of Mass Destruction?
Advancements in Technology Are Expanding the Definition Further
WMDs Are an Unfortunate Responsibility
While there are many who wish to see WMDs eliminated altogether, there are many hurdles that make this prospect a difficult one to realize. Managing these weapons falls heavily on the hands of the United States, as we are the only nation in the world to have officially used nuclear weapons in combat. We are one of the leading world powers, a nuclear state, and capable of creating and maintaining multiple WMDs. Disarmament becomes difficult because it would ultimately take an immense amount of trust with both our current allies as well as opposing government forces. There’s also the fact that not only are WMDs evolving, but they already can’t all be accounted for, thanks to nuclear submarines. Still, initiatives such as the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) work to lead global efforts to reduce the use of WMDs and their spread into terrorist organizations. As a race, humans have learned to live with weapons of mass destruction for several decades. It’s a responsibility none of us can afford to get wrong, but long-term efforts are still necessary. Combined with keeping WMDs from getting into the wrong hands also comes the responsibility of disincentivizing other nations from expanding their nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons programs. Suggested read:What Is a Hypersonic Missile and How Is the U.S. Mitigating Their Threat?