|
Disarmament DiplomacyNews ReviewUS Studies Sedatives as WeaponsOn August 2, Science reported that the US military is researching the possible use of sedatives and other medication affecting the central nervous system as 'non-lethal weapons'. According to the journal, the research is being conducted by scientists at the Institute for Emerging Defense Technologies at Pennsylvania State University as part of the Pentagon's Joint Nonlethal Weapons Program. The article questions the legality of such research under the terms of the Chemical Weapons Convention, quoting Dr. Jonathan Tucker, an expert on CBW arms control at the Monterey Institute for International Studies, as noting: "This is definitely pushing the envelope, if not crossing the line, of what is covered in the treaty". Reports: US research on sedatives in combat sets off alarm, Science (Volume 297, Number 5582), August 2; Washington explores weaponizing sedatives, Global Security Newswire, August 5. © 2002 The Acronym Institute. |