[PASSED] Radiological Terrorism

[Omigodtheykilledkenny]

I would suggest changing the title to Radiological Terrorism rather than focusing on the weapons. A lot of newbish nations tend to mistake this kind of proposal with a weapons ban when in reality it is part of an effort to quell terrorism by depriving its practitioners of a strategic weapon, as well as any means of acquiring it from WA member states.

Remove the [list] template. I'm not even going to bother trying to replicate the markup on the passed resolutions list if it passes. It's hard enough updating the list without having to replicate all the markup authors like to use (it doesn't all neatly appear in C&P the same way it would when you quote a forum post).

[Imperializt Russia]

I would suggest changing the title to Radiological Terrorism rather than focusing on the weapons. A lot of newbish nations tend to mistake this kind of proposal with a weapons ban when in reality it is part of an effort to quell terrorism by depriving its practitioners of a strategic weapon, as well as any means of acquiring it from WA member states.

Remove the [list] template. I'm not even going to bother trying to replicate the markup on the passed resolutions list if it passes. It's hard enough updating the list without having to replicate all the markup authors like to use (it doesn't all neatly appear in C&P the same way it would when you quote a forum post).

So why not quote to acquire the formatting and then just CP that?

[Republic of Greater America]

If this becomes a resolution I will be voting no, because frankly, it should be a sovereign nation's right to have whatever weapon it wants, regardless of ow destructive it is. Plus, wouldn't it be entertaining to see your enemies slowly suffer from radioactive poisoning, I mean, it would be easier to get what you want, right?

[Imperializt Russia]

If this becomes a resolution I will be voting no, because frankly, it should be a sovereign nation's right to have whatever weapon it wants, regardless of ow destructive it is. Plus, wouldn't it be entertaining to see your enemies slowly suffer from radioactive poisoning, I mean, it would be easier to get what you want, right?

Not really, since it's barely dangerous.

By far the two most dangerous parts of a dirty bomb are the explosive used to propel the material and the fear.

Use a chemical weapon instead, drastically more effective.

[Sciongrad]

I would suggest changing the title to Radiological Terrorism rather than focusing on the weapons. A lot of newbish nations tend to mistake this kind of proposal with a weapons ban when in reality it is part of an effort to quell terrorism by depriving its practitioners of a strategic weapon, as well as any means of acquiring it from WA member states.

Your Excellency raises valuable points, and I've changed the title of the draft to reflect your suggestion.

Remove the [list] template. I'm not even going to bother trying to replicate the markup on the passed resolutions list if it passes. It's hard enough updating the list without having to replicate all the markup authors like to use (it doesn't all neatly appear in C&P the same way it would when you quote a forum post).

Alright, that's a fair point. I typically do it for stylistic reasons, but the difference in aesthetics is minor, and if it's going to inconvenience someone, I may as well not do it. Thanks again for your suggestions, I appreciate it.

[Sciongrad]

If this becomes a resolution I will be voting no, because frankly, it should be a sovereign nation's right to have whatever weapon it wants, regardless of ow destructive it is. Plus, wouldn't it be entertaining to see your enemies slowly suffer from radioactive poisoning, I mean, it would be easier to get what you want, right?

I'm saddened by your Excellency's opposition, but I must respectfully disagree with both the concept of seeing "fun" in the slow deaths of one's enemies from radioactivity and the probability of widespread death. While yes, radioactivity can and does kill living organisms, it is treatable in same nations of a certain tech level (although still undesirable). It is the effects on the environment - area denial and the like - that are the most troubling, and thus the most useful characteristic of radiological weapons to the practitioners of terrorism.

Anyways, if any ambassadors have any concerns, do feel free to bring them up. I plan on submitting this Wednesday, time permitting, and I hope to have an air-tight definition by then.

[Kaputer]

Statement from the Capitalist Paradise WA Embassy:

After seeing this draft being submitted to the WA the delegate of Capitalist Paradise has one major concern, will terrorism really be combated by this WA resolution? While it is good to put some restrictions on the manufacture we fail to see how this truly fights terrorism.

[Sciongrad]

Statement from the Capitalist Paradise WA Embassy:

After seeing this draft being submitted to the WA the delegate of Capitalist Paradise has one major concern, will terrorism really be combated by this WA resolution? While it is good to put some restrictions on the manufacture we fail to see how this truly fights terrorism.

Thank you for taking the time to ask for clarification, your Excellency. If there's one thing that it pains me to watch, it's that some delegates make decisions based on inaccurate interpretations that could be rectified by a simple question. Anyways, the point of this resolution is to prevent radiological weapons from being traded, period. While it is known that they have no military application, the ban on trade is really meant to affect non-state actors and third parties like terrorists. The resolution is not meant to directly combat terrorism but to prevent terrorists from acquiring the means through which they may execute acts of terror and to have member nations prepare themselves accordingly. I hope this answers your question.

[Sciongrad]

After a test run, this got 63 approvals without a campaign - not too shabby! I'll resubmit this tomorrow at the minor update and campaign for it soon thereafter.

[Republic of South Carolina]

The only true Radiological Dispersion Device is a Salted Bomb. Salted fission and fusion weapons are extremely hard to make due to the radioactive isotopes(OOC: Not going to say which for real National Security reasons.) needed to make them. Our suggestion is too make stricter guide lines for the sale and distribution of radioactive isotopes and materials.

[Retired WerePenguins]

Thank you for taking the time to ask for clarification, your Excellency. If there's one thing that it pains me to watch, it's that some delegates make decisions based on inaccurate interpretations that could be rectified by a simple question.

I will be upfront in that I will probably be against this should it come up to the floor (our region is strange that way at times), having just gotten a telegram campaigning against this proposal and seeing that their complaint has no merit whatsoever, I would be inclined to agree. I think a lot of people confuse the secondary effects with the primary effects. (For example if a device causes contamination,while the contamination is radioactive, it does not meet the requirement of "radiological material" ... you don't create radioactive iodine by spreading radioactive iodine in the atmosphere ... you do it through radiation.) I just got a telegram that tried to insist that DU ammo was covered in this resolution. Since DU isn't designed to "spread" DU (rather keep it concentrated as it passes through armor like a knife through butter) that argument doesn't even get to first base.

Anyways, the point of this resolution is to prevent radiological weapons from being traded, period. While it is known that they have no military application, the ban on trade is really meant to affect non-state actors and third parties like terrorists.

I might argue that it would have "no" military application; I just would argue that such a military application would be gross, vile, evil, and a violation of most laws of war. Note that there is a minor Trojan horse in the proposal as the proposal of "transfer or sale of radiological material" and one might argue that a number of waste products of the nuclear industry might be considered radiological material. However, I see this is a good thing as the clause seems a reasonable precaution since such parties often tend to eventually attack the hand that feeds it.

[Imperializt Russia]

Depleted uranium munitions do spread radioactive material, but that is not an intended effect. It's used for two primary reasons - it's dense, so it's good at penetrating armour; it's pyrophoric. So when it penetrates into an armoured vehicle (or anything else, for that matter), it will spontaneously combust with air. As shavings and dust spread throughout the vehicle cabin, they will light and burn out the inside of the vehicle, killing the crew.

It's important to remember that in the concentrations typically available, the radiation threat from depleted uranium is very low. They are far more dangerous for their chemical toxicity, which is about par with tungsten - typically marketed as the "alternative" to DU.

[Republic of South Carolina]

If Depleted Uranium is being targeted with this proposal, any intention of support we had is gone. Depleted Uranium Armor and Munitions are a very important element in our Defense Force capabilities. As, I am sure it is in other Nation's and Region's.

[Imperializt Russia]

I don't believe they are being targeted, since the language doesn't describe DU as a munition material, nor has it been made an actual goal.

[Araraukar]

I don't believe they are being targeted

Not targeted, maybe, but definitely included. Someone posted this proposal on the Silly/Illegal thread, arguing it contradicts NAPA, too.

[Imperializt Russia]

Well, it doesn't, since it explicitly makes exception to actual "nuclear weapons", which a radiological weapon as described in the proposal - describing solely a "dirty bomb" - is not.

It further does not describe a weapon which can reasonably be considered a conventional system utilising depleted uranium munitions.

[Sciongrad]

I will be upfront in that I will probably be against this should it come up to the floor (our region is strange that way at times)...

Hey, well at least I admire your candor.

I might argue that it would have "no" military application; I just would argue that such a military application would be gross, vile, evil, and a violation of most laws of war. Note that there is a minor Trojan horse in the proposal as the proposal of "transfer or sale of radiological material" and one might argue that a number of waste products of the nuclear industry might be considered radiological material. However, I see this is a good thing as the clause seems a reasonable precaution since such parties often tend to eventually attack the hand that feeds it.

The existence of a military application is disputable. Radiological weapons really don't do much in terms of making any military progress - mobile military personnel will be virtually unaffected. However, it may have more devastating consequences on a densely populated civilian areas, which is where you're right - any supposed military application would be absolutely vile, and frankly, sadistic. It would have very little impact on the course of the conflict, and would result in few deaths, but area-denial tactics against densely populated cities are just as nasty as you'd expect them to be, which is why terrorists find these weapons so very tantalizing.

Also, either the annoyingly pervasive assumption that this proposal bans nuclear weapons is more widespread than I initially intended or that erroneous telegram campaign is effective, because I've never had so much trouble getting something to quorum before. There are still a few hours left though, so for those delegates that have yet to approve this, do so quickly!

[The Lorians]

There are three hours left and 7 approvals to procure.
We sincerely hope the persons responsible for campaigning can accomplish this task.

[Sciongrad]

There are three hours left and 7 approvals to procure.
We sincerely hope the persons responsible for campaigning can accomplish this task.

Many thanks for your support, but it seems that whatever misguided telegram campaign that was circulating not only prevented a considerable amount of delegates from approving this, but also got a few to withdraw their approvals. Unfortunately, while this is a proposal that Sciongrad would like to see on the books as soon as possible, it seems like this one will have to be put on the back burner for a few weeks in order for the toxicity of the TG campaign to subside. Suggestions, comments, and questions in the mean time would be splendid.

[Imperializt Russia]

There are three hours left and 7 approvals to procure.
We sincerely hope the persons responsible for campaigning can accomplish this task.

Many thanks for your support, but it seems that whatever misguided telegram campaign that was circulating not only prevented a considerable amount of delegates from approving this, but also got a few to withdraw their approvals. Unfortunately, while this is a proposal that Sciongrad would like to see on the books as soon as possible, it seems like this one will have to be put on the back burner for a few weeks in order for the toxicity of the TG campaign to subside. Suggestions, comments, and questions in the mean time would be splendid.

In future, make specific exception to DU. That seemed to be what the campaign was hinging on.

[Ardchoille]

FWIW, the proposal as submitted withstood a legality challenge based on contradiction of GA#10, Nuclear Arms Possession Act.

[Imperializt Russia]

FWIW, the proposal as submitted withstood a legality challenge based on contradiction of GA#10, Nuclear Arms Possession Act.

A radiological weapon as described is not a nuclear weapon and thus makes no challenge against NAPA.

[Ardchoille]

FWIW, the proposal as submitted withstood a legality challenge based on contradiction of GA#10, Nuclear Arms Possession Act.

A radiological weapon as described is not a nuclear weapon and thus makes no challenge against NAPA.

... which might well be why, as I said (see emphasis above), the mods dismissed the challenge.

[Imperializt Russia]

Apologies, I missed the "with" off of that.

[Sciongrad]

With all of these proposals on radiological weapons popping up, I thought it might be worth this piece of legislation.