Nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) proliferation is recognized as a serious threat across the operational spectrum--from the deployment of forces to posthostility activities, but there is a misconception when it comes to toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) as equal to CW (CW) agents threats. Release of these TICs could inflict the same damage as a military CW agent, albeit larger quantities of the TIC would be required. Thus, this thesis addresses the following question: Do TICs pose a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) threat, and what are their effects on joint military doctrine for operations in chemical environments? A significant array of books, periodicals, government documents, and Internet materials dealing with WMD as they relate to CW agents' (i.e., TICs) toxicities at low levels were reviewed. This thesis concludes that in the hands of terrorists, aggressive states or nonstate actors, TICs will serve as WMD, undermine regional stability, and threaten US interests. In general, joint doctrine for combat and noncombat operations inadequately take account of current TIC realities. Based on the documents cited in this thesis, the US Armed Forces have not collectively identified overall force structure requirements for dealing with this threat.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
