The chemical weapons convention : strategic implications for the United States
Abstract : On January 13, 1993, in Paris, 130 countries signed the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), to ban the entire class of Chemical Weapons. Debate continues on the strategic implications of the Convention, as drafted, and whether it is in the U.S. national security interest. This paper explores the historical, moral, and legal aspects of chemical warfare, and the strategic implications of the Convention, including operational, policy, constitutional, and industry impact for the U.S. This paper concludes that, although 'imperfect,' the Convention represents a significant contribution to U.S. security objectives, and serves the national interest.
Medical Management of Chemical Toxicity in Pediatrics
Chemical terrorism is the intentional use of toxic chemicals to inflict mass casualties on an unsuspecting population. Use of conventional chemical warfare agents (CWAs) and toxic industrial chemicals by terrorists on a civilian population will quickly overwhelm public health resources and emergency medical services. Toxic chemicals can quickly incapacitate those who are exposed and can lead to mortality if not recognized and treated promptly. In particular, the toxicity of these agents can be increased in children due to their vulnerabilities. While the toxicity and treatment of chemical agents in adult populations have been the focus of numerous reviews, publications, and textbooks, it is critical to recognize the different ways that children may react to toxicity compared to adults. Therapeutic dosing in pediatrics to treat chemical casualties is also different than adult medicine because it is weight based. In this chapter, the chemical threat agents and weapons of opportunity most likely to be used by terrorists to inflict casualties are examined, as well as a brief historical account and unique challenges of managing pediatric chemical casualties. The sections devoted to each chemical agent highlight the pediatric-relevant vulnerabilities and treatment guidelines for medical management. The final two sections of the chapter discuss the decontamination of children and recommendations to help prepare healthcare managers and providers in the event of a chemical event.
The Internet and the Changing Beijing-Taipei Relations: Toward Unification or Fragmentation?
Information and its technologies facilitate the exercise of what has been called “soft power,” a concept that differentiates information from the conventional dimensions of “hard power,” which is mainly associated with military force and economic influence. Soft power, according to Nye, a former Assistant Secretary of Defense of the United States, means that “A country may obtain the outcomes it wants in world politics because other countries want to follow it, admiring its values, emulating its example, aspiring to its level of prosperity and openness. In this sense it is just as important to set the agenda in world politics and attract others as it is to force them to change through the threat or use of military or economic weapons.”1