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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: zonder who wrote (55171)	10/28/2002 1:00:07 PM
From: KLP	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

Appreciate your comments zonder. You say you aren't questioning whether or not they did the right thing to "attack" rather than negotiate with the terrorists. I wasn't aware that the Russians "attacked"....Unless you mean "responded to the terrorists threats".... And yes, it would certainly have been the nicest of all worlds if they had the sleeping gas and the antidotes ready in the 750+ amounts they would need.... And BTW, I am not defending anything about the situation, other than to say that in a terrible situation, where 750+ people were very likely to be blown up, it seems to me that "some is better than none" in this case ..... PS....Everyone should look at the link you provided.... scary stuff! If in fact they used BZ maybe the Russians should have sent 750+ gas masks into the building before using the gas....(info below from the link you provided....there doesn't seem to be an antidote listed other than gas masks and full gear) Depressnats (BZ) Properties BZ and its analogues are glycollic acid esters. Some members of the group are liquid at ambient temperatures but BZ is a stable white crystalline powder that is only slightly soluble in water. After administration of an effective dose by inhalation by mouth or by injection mild peripheral effects of BZ occur within 1 hour and maximal central effects occur after about 4 hours lasting 24 to 48 hours, with a peak at 8 to 10 hours. Some other compounds in this group may take longer for their effects to develop and to disappear. Doubling the dose prolongs the duration of severe central effects by about 40 hours and shortens the onset time of severe effects to about 1 hour. Stimulants (LSD) cause excessive nervous activity by facilitating transmission of impulses. The effect is to flood the cortex and other higher regulatory centres with too much information, making concentration difficult and causing indecisiveness and inability to act in a sustained purposeful manner. A well known drug which acts in this way is D-lysergic acid diethylamide; similar effects are sometimes produced by large doses of amphetamines. Protection It is likely that such agents will be dispersed by smoke-producing munitions or aerosols, using the respiratory tract as a portal of entry. The use of the protective mask, therefore, is essential. With some agents the percutaneous route may be used and full individual protective equipment will be required.