Reasons for the Banning of Chemical Agents in War
- The damage to human life was well beyond that of the conflict. There was no getting better from Mustard Gas attacks, most times the victims if they survived developed second to third degree burns along with being blinded.
- There wasn't anyway to control where the Mustard Gas would spread too, subjected to the direction of the wind meant that the gas could have easily bypassed both armies and hit a farm or a village killing noncombatants.
- There was no surrendering to the gas, the best that a soldier could do would have been preparedness. At least when put to gunpoint you have to the option to lay down your arms. With Mustard gas there is no surrendering only succumbing to the gas.
The banning of chemical agents occurred with the Armistice in 1925, and this is still enforced today on a global scale.
Iraqi Victims
However there has been evidence that both Saddam Hussein of Iraq and Qaddafi of Libya, both have used chemical weapons against their own citizens. Both incidents have sparked massive global outcry but little was done in the way to stop the leaders at the time.