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Encyclopedia: Weapons of mass destruction

The Weapon of mass destruction (WMD) is a term used to describe a massive weapon with the capacity to indiscriminately kill large numbers of people. The phrase broadly encompasses several areas of weapon synthesis, including nuclear, biological, chemical (NBC) and, increasingly, radiological weapons. There is controversy over when the term was first used, either in 1937 (in reference to the mass destruction of Guernica, Spain, by aerial bombardment) or in 1945 (with reference to nuclear weapons). Following the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and progressing through the Cold War, the term came to refer more to non-conventional weapons. The phrase entered widespread popular usage in relation to the U.S.-led 2003 invasion of Iraq. Terms used in a military context include atomic, biological, and chemical warfare (ABC warfare), nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) after the invention of the hydrogen bomb, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN), recognizing the threat of non-explosive radiological weapons.

Due to the indiscriminate impacts caused by WMD, the fear of WMD has shaped political policies and campaigns, fostered social movements, and has been the central theme of many films. Support for different levels of WMD development and control varies nationally and internationally. Yet understanding of the nature of the threats is not high, in part because of imprecise usage of the term by politicians and the media.

Translations

How to say "Weapons of mass destruction" in other languages:

	(Chinese)	大规模杀伤性武器
	(Japanese)	大量破壊兵器
	(German)	Massenvernichtungswaffe
	(Spanish)	Armas de destrucción masiva
	(French)	Arme de destruction massive

Search results

NBC (disambiguation)

NBC can mean: NBC, a television network in North America Nagasaki Broadcasting Company, a Japanese company. An initialism for " nuclear, b iological and c hemical" weapons of mass destruction...

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Erwin Strauss

Erwin S. Strauss is an american author. His works include: How To Start Your Own Country Loompanics, 1985; 1893626156 Basement Nukes the Consequences of Cheap Weapons of Mass Destruction Complete Guide to Science Fiction Conventions...

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Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists , journal concerned with global security issues, especially related to the dangers posed nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. The journal is published by The Educational Foundation for Nuclear Science (EFNS) which was incorporated as a not-for-profit 501...

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Hossam Mohammed Amin

Hossam Mohammed Amin was an Iraqi general under Saddam Hussein's government. He said in 2002 that Iraq would submit a list of chemical, biological and nuclear programs to UNMOVIC, but that the report would not disclose any banned weapons, "because, really, we have no weapons of mass destruction...

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James Pavitt

speculation that the resignations of himself and former Director George Tenet are possibly linked with the Iraq weapons of mass destruction or 9-11 intelligence issues...

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ABC weapons

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Azati Prime

location inside the Delphic Expanse. A Xindi colony of Primates resided there at one time, and it was the site for the construction of a Xindi weapon of mass destruction. The coordinates of Azati Prime are...

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Islamic Bomb

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List of Bush administration puns

on Terror The Wars on Terra Axis of Evil Axis of medieval Axis of Weasels Asses of Evil Weapons of Mass Destruction Weapons of Mass Distraction... Since the administration of George W. Bush was elected, and especially since the September 11th...

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Peter Inge, Baron Inge

Iraq's possession of "Weapons of Mass Destruction" was flawed... Field Marshal Peter Anthony Inge, Baron Inge, KG, GCB, DL (born 5 August 1935) was the Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army, between 1992 and 1994. He has since been...

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