[ScottSolomon]

U.N. resolutions 687 siad it first in response to Iraq.

"Aware of the use by Iraq of ballistic missiles in unprovoked attacks and therefore of the need to take specific measures in regard to such missiles located in Iraq,

Concerned by the reports in the hands of Member States that Iraq has attempted to acquire materials for a nuclear-weapons programme contrary to its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons of 1 July 1968,

Recalling the objective of the establishment of a nuclear-weapons-free zone in the region of the Middle East,

Conscious of the threat that all weapons of mass destruction pose to peace and security in the area and of the need to work towards the establishment in the Middle East of a zone free of such weapons,

Conscious also of the objective of achieving balanced and comprehensive control of armaments in the region, "

The military term is Nuclear/Biological/Chemical (NBC). The media probably thought that this was not an ominous sounding threat - at least not as ominous as "weapons of mass destruction".

Nuclear weapons are the only real weapons of mass destruction. The other 2 weapon types are not really millitarily effective - but serve to terrorize civilians.

Chemical weapons are considered area denial weapons. They are effective at killing people but leaving property behind. They require massive amounts of the toxin to maintain toxic levels, and the agents decompose quickly in the environment. Many have toxic byproducts that create cancer clusters in areas where the chemicals were used.

Biological weapons like anthrax and smallpox are treatable and curable in most people. Biotoxins like ricin are incredibly deadly, but once the delivery mechanism is known, minimizing exposure posibilities could keep the damage to a minimum.

Chem and bio weapons - from what I have read - don't seem to actually fit the definition of weapons of mass destruction, but I guess it makes good press.

I am pretty sure a clusterbomb or a MOAB could kill enough people at one time to be considered a weapon of mass destruction. Actually I think the world community is trying to get clusterbombs classified as such.