1. JNLWD is conducting a research and development program on toxic chemical agents for use as weapons in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
JNLWD's desire for chemical weapons is intense and widely documented. JNLWD has explicitly stated that it is operating a program to develop "calmative" chemical weapons (9). In May 1999, its Research Director told Navy News and Undersea Technology "We need something besides tear gas, like calmatives, anesthetic agents, that would put people to sleep or in a good mood." In 2000, JNLWD's Commanding Officer told New Scientist "I would like a magic dust that would put everyone in a building to sleep, combatants and non-combatants." (10) The Marine Corps Research University (MCRU), a major JNLWD contractor, produced an October 2000 study that concluded "the development and use of calmatives is achievable and desirable" and urged "immediate consideration" of drugs like diazepam (Valium). (11) The unit that produced the study is headed by JNLWD's former commander. JNLWD currently has a secretive technology investment program for incapacitating chemical weapons that is being conducted in cooperation with the US Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground. (12) It is urging academic and private institutions to bring it new proposals for chemical agents (13) and has repeatedly emphasized the need for the US military to develop a calmative capability. In addition, it recently concluded a new request for proposals that includes a call for "advanced riot control agents", (14) a military synonym for drug weapons. In October 2001, it offered to equip US commercial aircraft with calmative-dispensing weapons. (15)
JNLWD's desire for chemical weapons is intense and widely documented. JNLWD has explicitly stated that it is operating a program to develop "calmative" chemical weapons (9). In May 1999, its Research Director told Navy News and Undersea Technology "We need something besides tear gas, like calmatives, anesthetic agents, that would put people to sleep or in a good mood." In 2000, JNLWD's Commanding Officer told New Scientist "I would like a magic dust that would put everyone in a building to sleep, combatants and non-combatants." (10) The Marine Corps Research University (MCRU), a major JNLWD contractor, produced an October 2000 study that concluded "the development and use of calmatives is achievable and desirable" and urged "immediate consideration" of drugs like diazepam (Valium). (11) The unit that produced the study is headed by JNLWD's former commander. JNLWD currently has a secretive technology investment program for incapacitating chemical weapons that is being conducted in cooperation with the US Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground. (12) It is urging academic and private institutions to bring it new proposals for chemical agents (13) and has repeatedly emphasized the need for the US military to develop a calmative capability. In addition, it recently concluded a new request for proposals that includes a call for "advanced riot control agents", (14) a military synonym for drug weapons. In October 2001, it offered to equip US commercial aircraft with calmative-dispensing weapons. (15)