Most weapons of war, from pistols to fighter planes, are generally thought of as legitimate and — considering they are meant to kill — fairly humane tools of war. These weapons can be used in a way that their ability to kill and maim is focused on an individual, legitimate target, whether it be an enemy combatant, vehicle, or facility. Such weapons are also designed to kill relatively quickly, if for no other reason than efficiency.
Then there are weapons, indiscriminate and inhumane killers, that have the potential to strike at noncombatants and even affect human civilization on a global scale. There are also weapons that inflict agonizing injuries leading to prolonged suffering and death.
Some of these weapons of war are so terrible they should never be used. Most have been banned by the international community, a positive development for which humanity doesn’t give itself enough credit. Still, their specter lingers due to the possibility of their use by rogue nations or terrorists.
No comments:
Post a Comment