Incapacitating chemical attacks can be made to reduce the overall
capability of intermingled enemy, captured friendly, and civilian
personnel in an area.
This will permit delayed selective
followup and physical separation of personnel by friendly forces
without
incurring
heavy
civilian
(or
captured)
friendly
casualties.
Incapacitating chemical attacks can be made against selected
targets to assist in the capture of vital or sensitive enemy
installations for intelligence purposes or to interfere with
enemy use of such installations.
2.
An incapacitating agent is an agent producing physiological or mental
effects that may persist for hours or days after exposure to the agent has
ceased In actual usage, however, the term refers to those agents which:
Produce their effects mainly by altering or disrupting the higher
regulatory activity of the central nervous system.
Have effects which last a significant period of time, rather than
momentary or fleeting action.
Do not seriously endanger life except at quantities greatly
exceeding the effective dose, and produce no permanent injury.
An individual will recover without treatment and
without any
permanent effects.
Are highly potent and logistically feasible.
3.
Incapacitating agents DO NOT include the following:
Lethal agents which are incapacitating as sublethal doses, such
as the nerve agents.
Substances which cause permanent or long-lasting injury, such as
blister agents, choking agents, and those causing eye injury.
Medical drugs which exert marked effects on the central nervous
system,
such
as
belladonna
alkaloids,
barbiturates,
tranquilizers, and many of the hallucinogens.
These drugs,
although
effective
and
relatively
safe,
are
logistically
infeasible for large-scale use because of the high doses
required.
2-13
CM3404
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