A timeline of chemical warfare and demilitarization

12-30-2001

1915 — Modern chemical warfare begins when the German army kills 5,000 Allied soldiers in a chlorine gas attack at Ypres, Belgium. Ninety-two thousand will die because of gas attacks World War I. 1925 — The Geneva Protocol bans use of chemical weapons in war but does not prohibit nations from developing the weapons. 1937 — Japan uses chemical weapons in series of attacks against China. 1963 — Chemical weapons are moved to the Anniston Army Depot. 1979 — Beginning of Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. The Red Army uses chemical weapons against Afghan guerillas. 1980 — Eight-year Iran-Iraq War begins, during which Iraq uses mustard gas and other chemical weapons. 1988 — U.S. Army decides on incineration as the way to dispose of its aging chemical weapons stockpiles. 1990 — During the Gulf War, Iraq uses chemical weapons against Kurds and Shiites. 1995 — A religious cult unleashes a nerve gas attack on a Tokyo subway, killing eight. 1997 — Chemical Weapons Convention becomes effective, banning the development, production and use of chemical weapons and requiring the destruction of all such existing weapons by 2007. 2001 — Construction on the Anniston incinerator is completed. Disputes between local, state and federal officials over emergency preparation reached fever pitch. 2002 — U.S. Army is expected to begin burning chemical weapons in Anniston.