- American military chiefs are developing plans to use
Valium as a potential weapon against enemy forces and to control hostile
populations, according to official documents seen by The Observer.
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- The Pentagon has also asked scientists to evaluate proposals
to use genetically modified bugs that 'eat' the enemy's fuel and ammunition
supplies without harming humans.
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- The development of these 'non-lethal' weapons angers
campaigners who claim that they would breach international treaties on
biological and chemical weapons.
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- US documents reveal that two years ago the Pentagon commissioned
scientists at Pennsylvania State University to look at potential military
uses for a range of chemicals known as calmatives. The scientists concluded
that several drugs would be effective to control crowds or in military
operations such as anti-terrorist campaigns. The drugs they recommended
for 'immediate consideration' included diazepam, better known as the tranquilliser
Valium, and dexmedetomidine, used to sedate patients in intensive care.
The scientists advised that these drugs can 'effectively act on central
nervous system tissues and produces a less anxious, less aggressive, more
tranquil-like behaviour'.
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- Other official documents reveal how genetically engineered
micro-organisms to destroy equipment but not harm troops are also being
considered by US military scientists as 'non-lethal' weapons. One proposal
from the Office of Naval Research in Arlington, Virginia, proposes creating
genetically modified bugs that would corrode roads and runways and produce
'targeted deterioration of metal parts, coatings and lubricants of weapons
vehicles and support equipment as well as fuels'.
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- This group of scientists has already patented micro-organisms
that would decompose polyurethane, 'a common component of paint for ships
and aircraft'. Another proposal from a biotech laboratory at Brooks air
force base in Texas was to modify 'anti-material biocatalysts' already
under development. One of these breaks down fuels and plastics.
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- Most of the research was funded by Washington's joint
non-lethal weapons programme, in which Britain plays an active part. But
further US documents, also seen by The Observer, reveal how a split has
developed between the two nations, with British officials backing campaigners'
claims that using drugs such as Valium or other calmatives would be outlawed
under the 1991 Chemical Weapons Convention. This protocol prohibits 'any
chemical which... can cause death, temporary incapacitation or permanent
harm'.
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- A report of a meeting in the Ministry of Defence's headquarters
in London in November 2000 states: 'The US and UK interpret the Chemical
Weapons Convention (CWC) differently regarding riot control agents (RCA).
The UK interpretation considers them to be chemical weapons under the CWC
and thus proscribed; the US view is that they are not banned under that
agreement. This could lead to difficulties in combined operations in certain
circumstances, a situation compounded by the fact that the UK is a signatory
to the European Convention of Human Rights, which further governs the use
of NLW [non-lethal weapons].'
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- Some experts believe the use of genetically-modified
microbes in military operations would breach the Biological and Toxin Weapons
Convention.
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- Ed Hammond of the Sunshine Project - the US campaigners
against biological and chemical weapons that obtained the documents - said:
'What is absolutely shocking about these disclosures is that it represents
either a massive institutional failure to implement US commitments under
international treaties or it reflects an effort by some people in the Pentagon
to undermine those treaties.'
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- A US military spokesman has denied that the Pentagon
is developing 'non-lethal' biological or chemical weapons.
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- A spokesman from the Foreign Office said: 'There are
discussions between Britain and the US on all sorts of technical issues.
But we both share a commitment to comply with all the international conventions
governing chemical and biological weapons.'
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- http://www.observer.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,722395,00.html
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