WMD - Weapons of Mass Destruction

Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) generally include nuclear, biological, chemical weapons. The term first arose in 1937 in reference to the mass destruction of Guernica, Spain, by aerial bombardment that was made by the German Luftwaffe during the Spanish Civil War.

Nuclear weapons did not exist at that time, but biological weapons were being researched by Japan and chemical weapons had seen wide use. Following the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagiasaki, and progressing through the Cold War, the term came to refer more to non-conventional weapons: atomic, biological and chemical weapons.

The phrase entered popular usage in relation to the U.S.-led multinational forces 2003 invasion of Iraq and today the most widely used definition is that of nuclear, biological or chemical weapons.

The development and use of WMD is governed by international conventions and treaties, although not all countries have signed and ratified them. There are 8 countries that are known to possess nuclear weapons and, of course, other WMD, only 5 of which are members of the NPT (Nuclear Non-Prolif eration Treaty). All states which possess WMD can be divided into four main groups.

The first one is the group of states which are commonly accepted to possess nuclear weapons: China: France; India; Israel; Pakistan; Russia; the United Kingdom; and the United States of America.

The second one is the group of states with access to nuclear weapons through nuclear sharing agreements: Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey.

The third is the group of states currently suspected of possessing or developing nuclear weapon capabilities. They are Iran and North Korea.

And the last group of countries is states that formerly possessed nuclear capabilities: South Africa, as well as Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine following the break-up of the former Soviet Union.

Weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons are rarely used because their us^is essentially an «invitation» for a WMD retaliation, which in turn could escalate into a war so destructive it could easily destroy huge segments of the world's population. During the Cold War, this understanding became known as mutually assured destruction and was largely the reason war never broke out between the WMD-armed United States and Soviet Union.

But nowadays there is a great concern that the weapon of this kind can be available for terrorist organizations, moreover can be used by these organizations.

Vocabulary:

destruction — разрушение; уничтожение
to include — заключать, включать в себя, содержать в себе
to arise (прош. вр. — arose; прич. прош. ер. — arisen) — возникать, появляться; происходить, проистекать, являться результатом
in reference to — в связи с
to exist — существовать; иметься в природе, жить; быть, появляться, возникать
to research — исследовать; заниматься исследованиями
wide — обширный, большой; широкий
to enter — входить, проникать
invasion — вторжение, нашествие, агрессия; набег
definition — определение, формулирование
to govern — править, управлять; влиять; руководить, направлять
convention — соглашение, договоренность, договор, конвенция
treaty — договор, соглашение, конвенция
to sign — подписывать(ся), ставить подпись
to ratify - ратифицировать; одобрять, санкционировать; утверждать; скреплять (подписью, печатью)
to possess — владеть, иметь, обладать, располагать (какими-л. материальными объектами)
proliferation — распространение (знаний и т. д.)
to divide — отделять одно от другого; отделять(ся), разъединяться), нарушать целостность
to accept — принимать, брать; соглашаться; допускать, признавать; принимать, мириться
access — доступ
to share — делить, распределять; разделять; разделять (smth. with smb. — с кем-л. что-л.); использовать совместно
currently теперь, в настоящее время; ныне
to suspect — подозревать
capability — способность, потенциал
break-up — разделение, распадение, разрушение, распад, дезинтеграция; конец
essentially — по существу; по существу дела; существенно, существенным образом; в высшей, в высокой степени; чрезвычайно
invitation — приглашение (to — на)
retaliation — воздаяние, возмездие, кара, отплата, расплата
to escalate — расширять, обострять (ситуацию, конфликт и т. п.); обостряться (о конфликте, положении); перерастать
destructive — разрушительный, уничтожительный, уничтожающий
to destroy — разрушать, рушить, сносить; ликвидировать; стирать с лица земли; истреблять, уничтожать; лишать жизни, убивать
huge — большой, гигантский, громадный, огромный
mutually — взаимно; обоюдно; сообща, совместно
to assure — уверять; заверять кого-л.; убеждать; гарантировать, обеспечивать
nowadays — в наши дни; теперь; в наше время
available — доступный; имеющийся в распоряжении, наличный

Questions:

1. What is weapon of mass destruction?
2. When did the term first arise?
3. When did the term « WMD » appear?
4. Did «WMD» come to refer more to non-conventional weapons?
5. When did the phrase «WMD» enter popular usage?
6. Have all countries in the World signed and ratified international conventions and treaties regarding WMD?
7. What countries are known to possess nuclear weapons?
8. What countries are the members of the NPT?
9. What countries have access to the nuclear weapons?
10. What countries are supposed to possess nuclear capabilities?