Weapons of mass destruction

Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) generally include nuclear, biological, chemical and, increasingly, radiological weapons. The term first arose in 1937 in reference to the mass destruction of Guernica, Spain, by aerial bombardment. Following the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and progressing through the Cold War, the term came to refer more to non-conventional weapons. The terms ABC, NBC, and CBRN have been used synonymously with WMD, although nuclear weapons have the greatest capacity to cause mass destruction. The phrase entered popular usage in relation to the United States lead multinational forces' 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Related Topics:
Nuclear - Biological - Chemical - Radiological - Weapon - 1937 - Guernica - Spain - Bombardment - Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - Cold War - Conventional weapon - ABC - NBC - CBRN - United States - Multinational forces' - 2003 invasion of Iraq

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Because of their indiscriminate impacts, fear of WMD has shaped political policies and campaigns, fosted social movements, and has been the central theme of many films. Support for different levels of WMD development and control varies nationally and internationally. Yet understanding of the nature of the threats is not high, in part because of imprecise usage of the term by politicians and the media.

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