What are Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs)?
“Weapons of mass destruction” (WMDs) is a vague term, often used by politicians, to refer to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons capable of causing widespread destruction. This is in contrast to conventional bombs and bullets, which cause only localized damage. The term “weapons of mass destruction” first came into use soon after WWII, where it was coined to refer to the atomic bomb. Soon after the early days of the Cold War, referring to WMDs fell out of vogue, as the United States was massively stockpiling nuclear weapons, and preferred to call them “strategic weapons” for PR purposes. The term lay dormant for decades, until it was revived in 1990 by members of the Clinton Administration during the Gulf War. Here, the term was used to refer to chemical weapons being manufactured by Saddam Hussein in Iraq. WMDs as a term acquired a more controversial flavor in 2003, when members of the Bush administration said that weapons of mass destruction were likely being prod
