No Subject Line Found
Filename:22tr7273.143
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This document is a captured Iraqi military record.
It is provided in its original form to include Iraqi
classification markings (i.e. Top Secret, Secret, etc.).
These classification markings are NOT U.S. Government markings.
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Chapter eleven
The military use of biological agents
General
110. Biological warfare agents are remarkably different than toxic
chemical agents since microscopic organisms multiply by millions.
Therefore, a small amount would be sufficient to generate a serious
disease in the human body. As soon as the contamination
starts, there is an incubation period that lasts many days or
weeks according to the type of agent before the symptoms of
the disease appear.
111. Therefore, the biological weapon is mainly a weapon that
is used by the enemy to direct the main attack against humans to
get quick results with secondary attacks on crops. It is
noteworthy that the psychological effect of the last attack
would be severe when the expected famine is near.
112. In view of the fact that microbes can carry the disease
and multiply quickly in the host, it is easy to spread sufficient
amount with one aircraft to inflict casualties and contaminate
thousands of square miles of territories.
Small attacks and sabotage operations may be launched by using
vehicles or small boats in coastal areas. Making such quick
attacks before counter activities start requires care.
Technical problems
113. There are many technical problems that need to be surmounted
before using these agents successfully to guarantee their chemical effects.
The main problems are:
a. Production
The main problems are:
One. The risk of contaminating the people who are involved in the production
Two. The change in the agentÕs properties leads to a lack of intensity
Three. Biological agents may be contaminated with other secondary agents
b. Storage
In view of the costs and the difficulty of producing large quantities of these agents
using a short period, the operation of storage lasts many years before receiving
sufficient amounts. During this period, the agent must remain live while keeping
its capability to transmit and cause the disease.
c. Dispersion
The main problems are:
One. Gathering and charging the weapons
Two. Contamination, rot, and leak after charging
Three. The appropriate ways to produce aerosols or a cloud to guarantee the
spread. Explosives are also not used at all times because they kill
some of these agents
Control
114. Extreme care should be used when producing and storing biological agents so they would
not cause the spread of uncontrollable diseases in the countries that produce biological
weapons
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