From: Mike Lorrey (mlorrey@yahoo.com)
Date: Sun Apr 13 2003 - 12:12:59 MDT
--- Karen Rand Smigrodzki <karen@smigrodzki.org> wrote:
> Lewisite acts similarly to mustard: "with Lewisite the skin commences
> to redden at the end of 30 minutes; then erythema increases and
> spreads rapidly".
>
> Chemical and Biological Warfare by Eric Croddy published by
> Copernicus Books (an imprint of Springer-Verlag) 2002.
I'd like to add that, despite the denials of others here, a facility
was found this past week with barrels of containers clearly labeled
"Lewisite/Mustard" and "Tabun".
Deniers are erroneously taking the refusal by the DoD to confirm the
existence of the characteristics of the actual chemical contents (until
samples are tested by labs here) as some sort of retraction. I have
been studiously watching the news on many channels and have not seen
any reports where the DoD has clearly stated that any materials found
were not in fact chemical weapons. Deniers are assuming that when
Rumsfeld says "We have not yet found any chemical weapons", that he is
affirming that all past reports were false. Rumsfeld is, like his
stance on whether Saddam is alive or dead, is refusing to state
anything in the affirmative either way until it is conclusively proven
by scientific evidence. Evidence has been gathered. Evidence exists by
the boatload. That evidence has not yet completed testing in a US
controlled facility.
Another denier tactic is to assume that just because a chemical agent
dates back to WWI that it is somehow less 'serious' or 'dangerous' than
newer chemical weapons. While Lewisite and Mustard date to WWI and
Tabun dates to the 1930's (when it was invented by the Nazis), they are
all quite capable of killing soldiers. Used in concert, they are quite
effective. While mustard and lewisite are described as 'blister
agents', it is assumed that this means they only irritate and make
blisters on the skin. This is false. Inhalation of airborne mustard or
lewisite will cause pooling of fluid in the lungs and asphyxiation.
Even a partial respiratory exposure will leave the individual scarred
for life, bed ridden and/or dependent on bottled oxygen.
Blister agents are quite effective as an opening attack because even
slight diffuse amounts on the skin will erupt blisters when rubbed in.
This occurs especially during an attack where the gas mask contacts the
skin, causing itching, pain, and blistering along the edge of the gas
contact with the skin. This induces many individuals to remove their
masks due to the irritation.
Tabun is a nerve agent. It causes the diaphragm and other musculature
to become paralyzed by blocking the relaxation signal sent by nerves to
muscle fibers.
Simple asphyxiation is the least of your worries with nerve agents like
this. If the individual is amped up on adrenaline at the time, it is
entirely possible for the individuals muscles to tear themselves from
their ligaments. Tabun is meant to be used as a secondary attack, after
a blister agent like mustard or lewisite is used, because soldiers
induced into removing masks by the irritation will then become
vulnerable to nerve agent attack.
These two agents are extremely dangerous, and while agents like VX are
hyped as 'more dangerous' by such movies as "The Rock" because they are
effective at much lower dosage levels, these agents are still among the
scariest things man has invented.
=====
Mike Lorrey
"Live Free or Die, Death is not the Worst of Evils."
- Gen. John Stark
"Pacifists are Objectively Pro-Fascist." - George Orwell
"Treason doth never Prosper. What is the Reason?
For if it Prosper, none Dare call it Treason..." - Ovid
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