The use of chemical weapons in the Iran-Iraq War, followed by the Rabta controversy in Libya and the threat of chemical and biological attack during the Gulf War, dramatised the consequences of the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons. Although the use of these weapons has been banned by the Geneva Protocol (1925), they still have attractions for some states and pose risks to regional neighbours or intervention forces. In this work the risks and attractions are evaluated, the difficulties of curbing their spread examined, and the reaction to the Rabta revelations assessed. The Gulf War is analysed in depth, including the allied response to the Iraqi threat, the non-use of chemical and biological weapons during the war, and the lessons of the conflict. Finally, the evolution of American chemical weapons policy and the likely impact of the Chemical Weapons Convention is considered in light of the inherently dynamic nature of the weaponry and the flexibility of its use.

Proliferation in Perspective -- Proliferation: Scope and Implications -- Proliferation Incentives, Supplies and Controls -- Rabta: A Case Study in International Action -- Bush's Chemical Weapons Policy -- The Gulf War -- Chemical and Biological Arms Control -- Proliferation Prospects.