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Phosphorus shells used in Lebanon invasion (UN)

By Steve Connor, Science Editor. Published on The Independent on 8 November 2006.

Abstract: Israel fired artillery shells containing white phosphorus in its recent conflict with Hizbollah militants in the Lebanon, according to an official investigation by the United Nations.

White phosphorus is banned under the Geneva Convention when used against civilians or in civilian areas, although Israel insists that the shells were directed against solely military targets.

Variable burn-rate propellant Description

Here is the text of the patent for Variable burn-rate propellant, a kind of propellant such as may be used in solid rocket motors. In one preferred embodiment, the propellant comprises one high energy propellant composition comprising a homogeneous mixture of fuel and oxidizer having a predetermined fuel/oxidizer ratio, wherein individual fuel particles are generally uniformly distributed throughout a matrix of oxidizer, and a low energy propellant composition comprising a fuel and oxidizer. The amounts of the two propellants are present in amounts which achieve a preselected burn rate.

Thermobaric Explosive (Source globalsecurity.org)

Abstract: Volumetric weapons include thermobaric and fuel-air explosives (FAE). Both thermobaric and FAE operate on similar technical principles. In the case of FAE, when a shell or projectile containing a fuel in the form of gas, liquid or dustexplodes, the fuel or dust like material is introduced into the air to form acloud. This cloud is then detonated to create a shock wave of extended duration that produces overpressure and expands in all directions. In a thermobaric weapon, the fuel consists of a monopropellant and energetic particles.

The WMD Commission Report

On 1 June 2006 the Chairman of Weapons of Mass Distruction Commission, Dr. Hans Blix, presented the Commission report "Weapons of Terror" to the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in New York. The report contains sixty concrete proposals on how the world could be freed of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.

The report was also handed over to Sweden's Foreign Minister Jan Eliasson, also president of the United Nations General Assembly.

Nuclear Posture Review Report (by Donald H. Rumsfeld, source globalsecurity.org)

Submitted to US Congress on 31 December 2001 by Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense.

Abstract: The Congress directed the Defense Department to conduct a comprehensive Nuclear Posture Review to lay out the direction for American nuclear forces over the next five to ten years. The Department has completed that review and prepared the attached report.

Reducing the civilian harm of cluster munitions (Source Human Rights Watch)

Original title: Essential elements for reducing the civilian harm of cluster munitions: examples of positive policy and practice and global overview of cluster munition use, production, stockpiling, and transfer.

Potential Biological Weapons Threats (Source U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases)

By Mark G. Kortepeter and Gerald W. Parker, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA.
Published on Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol. 5, No. 4, July-August 1999

BLU-118/B Thermobaric Weapon (Source globalsecurity.org)

Abstract: The BLU-118/B nomenclature was first reported on 21 December 2001, and this weapon is clearly unrelated to the BLU-118 500 lb. napalm canister used during the Vietnam war.

As Bechtel Goes: the failure of Iraq reconstruction effort. (Source Paul Krugman, New York Times)

By Paul Krugman, published on the New York Times, 11 March 2006.

Abstract: Bechtel, the giant engineering company, is leaving Iraq. Its mission — to rebuild power, water and sewage plants — wasn’t accomplished: Baghdad received less than six hours a day of electricity last month, and much of Iraq’s population lives with untreated sewage and without clean water. But Bechtel, having received $2.3 billion of taxpayers’ money and having lost the lives of 52 employees, has come to the end of its last government contract.

Use of Biological Weapons (Source "The Textbook of Military Medicine", Borden Institute, 1997)

Eitzen, Edward M. “Use of Biological Weapons.” Chapter 20, pp. 437-450.
Iin Sidell, Frederick. et al (eds.) Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare, Part I. The Textbook of Military Medicine. Office of the Surgeon General, Borden Institute, 1997.


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