
War of Nerves
Chemical Warfare from World War I to Al-Qaeda
Jonathan Tucker(Author)
Fodor's Travel Publications Inc.,U.S. (Publisher)
Published on 13. February 2007
Book
Paperback/Softback
496 pages
978-1-4000-3233-4 (ISBN)
Description
In this important and revelatory book, Jonathan Tucker, a leading expert on chemical and biological weapons, chronicles the lethal history of chemical warfare from World War I to the present.
At the turn of the twentieth century, the rise of synthetic chemistry made the large-scale use of toxic chemicals on the battlefield both feasible and cheap. Tucker explores the long debate over the military utility and morality of chemical warfare, from the first chlorine gas attack at Ypres in 1915 to Hitler's reluctance to use nerve agents (he believed, incorrectly, that the U.S. could retaliate in kind) to Saddam Hussein's gassing of his own people, and concludes with the emergent threat of chemical terrorism. Moving beyond history to the twenty-first century, War of Nerves makes clear that we are at a crossroads that could lead either to the further spread of these weapons or to their ultimate abolition.
At the turn of the twentieth century, the rise of synthetic chemistry made the large-scale use of toxic chemicals on the battlefield both feasible and cheap. Tucker explores the long debate over the military utility and morality of chemical warfare, from the first chlorine gas attack at Ypres in 1915 to Hitler's reluctance to use nerve agents (he believed, incorrectly, that the U.S. could retaliate in kind) to Saddam Hussein's gassing of his own people, and concludes with the emergent threat of chemical terrorism. Moving beyond history to the twenty-first century, War of Nerves makes clear that we are at a crossroads that could lead either to the further spread of these weapons or to their ultimate abolition.
Reviews / Votes
"ChillingE a history of the race between the advance of this taboo technology and the political efforts to abolish it. TuckerEhas a gift for making military science readable"-The New York Times"[Tucker] writes clearly and forcefully, making his case not through argument but through the patient accumulation of appalling detailEAn immensely useful book, presenting a vast trove of vital information in highly readable form."-The San Francisco Chronicle"Compelling Eoffers a comprehensive history of chemical weapons, the most widely used WMD in modern history."-The Washington Post Book World"Outstanding. . .fascinating. . . Everyone who believes weapons of mass destruction exist only in fantasy need but read this book. They are closer than you think."-The Decatur DailyMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Random House USA Inc
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
54 HALFTONES
Dimensions
Height: 203 mm
Width: 132 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
550 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4000-3233-4 (9781400032334)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
12/2007
Anchor
€16.99
Available for download
Person
Jonathan B. Tucker received a B.S. in biology from Yale University and a Ph.D. in political science, specializing in defense and arms control studies, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For the past ten years, he has been a chemical and biological weapons specialist at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies of the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Dr. Tucker previously worked as an arms control specialist for Congress and the State Department and as an editor at Scientific American and at High Technology magazine, where he wrote about biomedical research, biotechnology, and military technologies. He lives in Washington, D.C.
Content
Acknowledgments
List of Illustrations
Prologue: Live-Agent Training
Chapter One: The Chemistry of War
Chapter Two: IG Farben
Chapter Three: Perverted Science
Chapter Four: Twilight of the Gods
Chapter Five: Fight for the Spoils
Chapter Six: Research and Development
Chapter Seven: Building the Stockpile
Chapter Eight: Chemical Arms Race
Chapter Nine: Agent Venomous
Chapter Ten: Yemen and After
Chapter Eleven: Incident at Skull Valley
Chapter Twelve: New Fears
Chapter Thirteen: Binary Debate
Chapter Fourteen: Silent Spread
Chapter Fifteen: Peace and War
Chapter Sixteen: Whistle-Blower
Chapter Seventeen: The Tokyo Subway
Chapter Eighteen: The Emerging Threat
Epilogue: Toward Abolition
Glossary
Notes
Bibliography
Index
List of Illustrations
Prologue: Live-Agent Training
Chapter One: The Chemistry of War
Chapter Two: IG Farben
Chapter Three: Perverted Science
Chapter Four: Twilight of the Gods
Chapter Five: Fight for the Spoils
Chapter Six: Research and Development
Chapter Seven: Building the Stockpile
Chapter Eight: Chemical Arms Race
Chapter Nine: Agent Venomous
Chapter Ten: Yemen and After
Chapter Eleven: Incident at Skull Valley
Chapter Twelve: New Fears
Chapter Thirteen: Binary Debate
Chapter Fourteen: Silent Spread
Chapter Fifteen: Peace and War
Chapter Sixteen: Whistle-Blower
Chapter Seventeen: The Tokyo Subway
Chapter Eighteen: The Emerging Threat
Epilogue: Toward Abolition
Glossary
Notes
Bibliography
Index