bentson (05/12/83)
ihuxo!jnc claims to be setting the record straight by pointing out the the U.S. used Agent Orange in Viet Nam and that this defoliant contains dioxin which harms people, leading one to the conclusion that this was chemical warfare. Chemical warfare is when one uses a chemical which is designed to incapacitate or kill people. If we had an effective defoliant which didn't have harmful side effects, we would have used it. (That we don't have any such defoliant and that dioxin is an industrial side product is evidenced by the dioxin discoveries within the U.S.) Agent Orange or Paraquat might be considered as chemical weapons when used to destroy consumable vegatation, but let's distinguish this from "yellow rain" and other chemicals designed to harm people. The design and intent behind chemical use is important in this discussion.