In message , The CO
writes
"Gord Beaman" wrote in message
.. .
So you use the threat of these weapons as a defense...because of
that very 'scale' they're even a better defense, right?

I see your point Gord, but historically chem weapons have only ever been
used offensively.

Iraq used them to break up some Iranian attacks, which is moderately
"defensive" (of course they also used them to soften up Iranian
positions prior to Iraqi attacks, which is "offensive", and they were
quite keen on using them on Kurdish villages which the Iraqis would
probably call "law enforcement")

Now it's no doubt possible to use almost any weapon
defensively,
but something like (say) a SAM is pretty limited in it's offensive
capacity.

Depends whose airspace you're denying the use of: SF under your runway
with good MANPADS can be pretty "offensive", as can an AAW ship in or
near territorial waters.

--
When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite.
W S Churchill

Paul J. Adam MainBoxatjrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk