#like. the us specifically did not ratify the geneva convention on chemical weapons until after vietnam so they could keep using defoliants

[quixoticanarchy]

That the term "military chemical compound" is specifically differentiated from chemical warfare agents is a kind of fascinating rhetorical sleight of hand. "Riot control" agents, herbicides, respiratory irritants, incendiaries, and smoke materials including even white phosphorus can be considered "military chemical compounds" and not chemical weapons*. You can do an awful lot of damage with defoliants and certainly white phosphorus or an irritant like chlorine, but you still get to say you weren't using chemical weapons since congrats, you stopped short of like. sarin. Interesting way to allow for certain permissible methods of harm, in contrast to those you (nominally) label out-of-bounds

*this is according to US classifications

[quixoticanarchy]

adding my tags from the original post:

#not that treaties/conventions will really hold back a country that desperately wants to do atrocities w regulated/banned weapons #but i think it's interesting the efforts made to sidestep even those somewhat toothless agreements #like. the us specifically did not ratify the geneva convention on chemical weapons until after vietnam so they could keep using defoliants #and yes schedule 1 chemical weapons like vx are surely 'worse' than like tear gas. however they are all still weaponized chemicals #and i think it's interesting how the lines get drawn #also wild to me that chlorine is considered a respiratory irritant and therefore a permissible military chemical? ok?? #when the 1925 geneva convention on chemical weapons was created due to the use of gas in wwi (mustard yes but also chlorine)??

That the term "military chemical compound" is specifically differentiated from chemical warfare agents is a kind of fascinating rhetorical sleight of hand. "Riot control" agents, herbicides, respiratory irritants, incendiaries, and smoke materials including even white phosphorus can be considered "military chemical compounds" and not chemical weapons*. You can do an awful lot of damage with defoliants and certainly white phosphorus or an irritant like chlorine, but you still get to say you weren't using chemical weapons since congrats, you stopped short of like. sarin. Interesting way to allow for certain permissible methods of harm, in contrast to those you (nominally) label out-of-bounds

*this is according to US classifications