Pentagon confirms: U.S. eradicates final chemical weapon.

The Last of America’s Chemical Weapons Destroyed

The Pentagon announced on Monday that the last of the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile was successfully destroyed at a munitions plant in Kentucky last week. This marks a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to eliminate these dangerous weapons.

History of Chemical Weapons

Chemical weapons were first used on a large scale during World War I, causing devastating deaths and severe damage to the nervous system. In response to the horrors witnessed, Congress ordered the destruction of America’s chemical weapons in 1986. The U.S. later joined the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1997, committing to complete elimination of these weapons by September 30, 2023.

Challenges and Progress

At its peak, America’s chemical weapons stockpile reached 30,000 metric tons, requiring decades of careful planning and execution to ensure their safe destruction. Douglas Bush, an Army assistant secretary, explained that the final phase of destruction involved the complex process of neutralizing the chemicals in the munitions.

The Deadly Nerve Agent

The last chemical weapon to be destroyed was a rocket filled with sarin, a highly toxic nerve agent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), just a small amount of sarin can be fatal. Its odorless and tasteless nature makes it even more dangerous. The use of chemicals like sarin, chlorine, phosgene, and mustard gas in World War I resulted in the deaths of approximately 100,000 people.

International Concerns

While the U.S. has successfully destroyed its chemical weapons stockpile, there are concerns about whether other countries, such as China and Russia, have fully complied with their obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention. U.S. officials question the transparency and completeness of their destruction efforts.

Cluster Munitions Controversy

In a separate development, the Biden administration recently approved the shipment of cluster munitions to Ukraine, bypassing U.S. law. Cluster bombs, known for their high failure rates and long-lasting unexploded fragments, are banned by most countries due to humanitarian concerns. President Joe Biden utilized a provision of the Foreign Assistance Act to bypass the legal restrictions.

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