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the Middle East: Syria,
Iraq, Iran, and Libya
The continued proliferation of chemical weapons throughout the
Thfrd World should be a key concern for all Marines. In deed, so vital
is this topic to the Commandant that he has made it the number one
priority in the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Master Plan.
This article should help focus thinking on this crucial subject-the
nature ofthe weapons, the dangers they pose, and what can be done
to defend against them.
by Andrew Rathmell
n the l98Os the number of states the international community to Iraq's
possessing or developing chemical use of chemical weapons coincided
warfare (CW) capabilities increased with the lowering of other barriers to
dramatically. This was particularly proliferation, such as the technical im-
noticeable in the Middle East. At the pediments,6 which make it easier and
end of the l970s, only three states less costly for interested states to ac-
(Egypt, Israel, and Syria) had signifi- quire chemical weapons. Third. as
cant CW programs.1 By the end of the proliferation gathered pace. all states
1980s, these states were engaged in up- were forced to consider developing a
grading their capabilities, while Iraq Cw capability in order to protect
had joined them as a state with note- themselves.7
worthy CW forces.2 Additionally, Iran International concern about the dan-
and Libya were actively trying to de- gers of proliferation grew parallel to
velop their own CW capabilities, with their use and spread. Even while Mid-
Jordan3 and Sudan4 following a few dIe Eastern governments became in-
steps behind. Even states that seemed creasingly active in their search for
uninterested in following the same CW capabilities, the advanced nations
route found it necessary to react to tried to develop means to thwart them.
these developments. Bahrain and Saudi One track was to attempt to negotiate
Arabia both took steps to develop their a global CW ban, and another was to
defensive capabilities, while Saudi Ara- design and enforce export controls.
bia also took initial steps toward ac- This article will describe the devel-
quiring a strategic delivery system.5 opment of and rationales for the CW
) This proliferation has snowballed programs of the four Middle Eastern
since 1983 for three reasons. First, the states that pose the greatest threat to
Iraqis have demonstrated that, contrary the United States and are most likely
to conventional wisdom, these weap- to use these weapons in the near fu-
ons could have significant military ture-namely Syria, Iraq, Iran, and
.1 utility. Second, the muted reaction of Libya.
Marine &rps Gazette * July 1990 59
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