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War of Nerves

Chemical Warfare from World War I to Al-Qaeda

Chemical Warfare from World War I to Al-Qaeda

By Jonathan Tucker

By Jonathan Tucker

By Jonathan Tucker

By Jonathan Tucker

Best Seller
Paperback $18.95

Feb 13, 2007 | ISBN 9781400032334

Ebook $14.99

Dec 18, 2007 | ISBN 9780307430106

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    War of Nerves by Jonathan Tucker
    Paperback $18.95
    Feb 13, 2007 | ISBN 9781400032334

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    • Paperback $18.95

      Feb 13, 2007 | ISBN 9781400032334

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      Dec 18, 2007 | ISBN 9780307430106

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    About War of Nerves

    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.

    About War of Nerves

    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.

    Read An Excerpt

    Read An Excerpt

    About Jonathan Tucker

    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… More about Jonathan Tucker

    About Jonathan Tucker

    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… More about Jonathan Tucker

    Product Details

    Category: Military History | Domestic Politics | Science

    Paperback | $18.95
    Published by Anchor
    Feb 13, 2007 | 496 Pages | 5-3/16 x 8 | ISBN 9781400032334

    Category: Military History | Domestic Politics

    Ebook | $14.99
    Published by Anchor
    Dec 18, 2007 | 496 Pages | ISBN 9780307430106

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    Praise

    “ChillingÉ a history of the race between the advance of this taboo technology and the political efforts to abolish it. TuckerÉhas 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 detailÉAn immensely useful book, presenting a vast trove of vital information in highly readable form.”—The San Francisco Chronicle“Compelling Éoffers 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 Daily

    Table Of Contents

    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

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