Mustard gas identified in Syria, says OPCW report

[bemildred]

Source: AFP/Reuters

Chemical weapons experts confirmed Thursday that a chemical agent known as mustard gas was used in a Syrian town where "Islamic State" insurgents were battling another rebel group, according to a leaked report by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

"We have determined the facts, but we have not determined who was responsible," an unnamed OPCW official said.

A confidential October 29 report by the OPCW, a summary of which was shown to news agencies, concluded "with the utmost confidence that at least two people were exposed to sulphur mustard" in the town of Marea, north of Aleppo, on August 21.

"It is very likely that the effects of sulphur mustard resulted in the death of a baby," it said.

Read more: http://www.dw.com/en/mustard-gas-identified-in-syria-says-opcw-report/a-18831287

[Javaman]

1. how mustard gas works...

http://science.howstuffworks.com/mustard-gas3.htm

You might experience some of the following symptoms after you inhaled or touched mustard gas [source: Centers for Disease Control]:
•Eyes: irritation, redness, burning, inflammation and even blindness
•Skin: itchy redness that is replaced with yellow blisters
•Respiratory system: runny or bloody nose, sneezing, hoarse throat, shortness of breath, coughing, sinus pain
•Digestive system: abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting

Some of the more serious respiratory symptoms would take even longer to surface, needing anywhere from 24 to 48 hours to appear. This latent period played havoc with soldiers exposed during the war, rendering troops incapacitated, filling infirmaries, taking up valuable human resources, bogging down reinforcements and generally demoralizing soldiers.

Make no mistake, mustard gas can be lethal. But it doesn't kill quickly. Rather fatalities primarily result from secondary broncho-pneumonia. Approximately 2 percent of all casualties who wore a respirator died from their injuries in World War I, compared to a death rate of 50 percent of those exposed without a respirator [source: The Medical Front]. The highest number of fatalities occurred after the third or fourth day of exposure, with the most extreme cases taking up to three to four weeks [source: The Medical Front].

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I had an Uncle who was gassed in the Argon Forest in WWI.

The gas had settled in a blast hole to which he sort refuge during an artillery barrage. He took a deep inhale. His lungs were scared for the rest of his life.

[bemildred]

2. Yeah, my father got his left leg half blown off by a shell at Vimy Ridge.

Lost all his teeth, limped all his life. But he didn't get gassed.

I think "the laws of war" is an oxymoron myself.

[AngryAmish]

3. Isn't this kinda red liney?

[bemildred]

4. It's the wrong people gassing each other for it to be a red line.

Last edited Fri Nov 6, 2015, 03:50 PM - Edit history (1)

When your little buddies gas each other it's a "tragedy" or "unfortunate mistake".

[geek tragedy]

5. red lines don't exist, nt

[geek tragedy]

6. the moral race to bhe bottom is too close to call nt