INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY'S INPUT ON CW USE FOR STUDY ON CBW ARMS CONTROL

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06157969
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2017
• Case Number: F-2012-01432
• Publication Date: April 29, 1981

(b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2015/01/05 006157969
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505
NATIONAL FOREIGN ASSESSMENT CENTER
ACIS 28/81
29 April 1981
MEMORANDUM FOR: Interdepartmental Working Group on CBW Arms Control
SUBJECT: Intelligence Community's Input on CW Use for Study on
CBW Arms Control
Attached is an annex on CW use in Laos, Kampuchea, and Afghanistan
prepared in response to such a request at the 21 April BWC Arms Control
Working Group meeting.
Chief,
Arms Control Intelligence Staff
Attachment:
As Stated
This memorandum may be downgraded to
CONFIDENTIAL when removed from attach-
ment
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2015/01/05 006157969
crr.nrY
Approved for Release: 2015/01/05 006157969
(b)(3)
Annex
LAOS
The Vietnamese (PAVN) and.thelaotian People's Liberation Army
(ULM:almost certainly have used lethal.cheMical agents against.the'
dissident.Hmong tribesman over a period of almost five years. (b)(1)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
describe repeated chemical at-(b)(1)
tacks on Fho,ng Combatants and .the. civilian population with rockets, boml(b)(3)
sprays and artillery.
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
Eyewitness accounts of symptomatic effects, generally agree
with.thoSe reported by a US army investigative team of medical experts,
wholconcluded.that at least three different.chemical agents were used.
.The.described effects indicate that,in � wo or more agents
probably were used in the same attack.
The range of clinical manifestations from the chemical agents,
as reported by the US Army investigative team, included:
� Immediate onset of headache, dizziness, tearing, blurred
vision, chest tightness, difficult breathing, vomiting,
diarrhea, muscle weakness, and convulsions followed by
death in minutes to hours--suggesting a nerve agent.
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
-- In some instances, victims suffered almost immediate
onset of severe bleeding from nose and eyes, vomiting �
of blood, bloody diarrhea, and rapid death�indicating
a' highly toxic unidentified chemical. or mixture of
chemicals.
-- Immediate irritation and tearing of the eyes, tightness
of chest, difficulty in breathing', and skin irritations--
suggesting a riot control agent, such as CS. Similar
effects may be exhibited by persons dosed with other riot
control agents, toxic smokes and below lethal levels of
nerve agent.
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2015/01/05 006157969
(b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2015/01/05 006157969
2
(b)(3)
The use of nerve agent or another highly lethal but unidenti-
fied chemical indicates Soviet involvement in the Loatian CW operations.
.The Soviets are believed to have supplied filled chemical munitions and
possibly bulk agents; neither Laos, or Vietnam is believed to have the
capability to produce nerve agents or chemical munitions on the scale
necessary to conduct even limited chemical warfare. (b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
KAMPUCHEA
The military forces of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and
the People's Republic of Kampuchea (PRK) almost certainly are using non-
lethal screening smokes, riot-control agents, and possibly incapacitating
chemicals against the guerrilla forces of Democratic Kampuchea (DK) and
the non-Communist Khmer People's National Liberation Front, especially
along the Thai-Kampuchea border.
Some riot-control agents, along with dissemination equipment
and munitions, possibly have been supplied by the Soviets or come from
captured US supplies. Any incapacitants would have been supplied by a
third party, probably the Soviets.
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
The Vietnamese are capable of engaging in offensive, lethal,
chemical operations with aid and supplies from the Soviets, such as evi-
dently has occurred in Laos. Although the on numerous oc- (b)(1)
casions that the Vietnamese are using lethal cnemicalsi there is insuffic.10)(3)
evidence to determine whether in fact the Vietnamese-PRK forces have used
lethal chemicals. (b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2015/01/05 006157969
(b)(3)
CrIDUT
Approved for Release: 2015/01/05 006157969
3
(b)(3)
Afghanistan
Chemical weapons evidently have been used against Afghan insur-
gent strongholds and civilian populations both durina the fall of 107(1 and
after th S ember 1979. (1-11(11
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
k'-'/� I /
(b)(3)
The Soviets recently have admitted that their security forces
have used riot control chemicals in Afghanistan. Even preceding this.
admission, we were certain that the Soviets had employed irritant agents
of various kinds. Incapacitating agents., i.e. chemicals which cause be-
havioral changes or unconsciousness, also probably have been used. Lethal
chemicals, such as nerve agents, may have beer' imed h/ the Soviets (b)(1)
(b)(3)
Eyewitness accounts of chemical assaults attributed a wide range
of colors--from colorless vapor to yellow, blue green, and black--to the
chemical clouds.. Accounts of symptomatic effects also suggest a wide range
of clinical manifestations which indicate that three or more chemical agents
or combinations of agents may have been used. There is no obvious correla-
tion between chemical cloud color and symptomatic effects. (b)(1)
(b)(3)
�
Certain clinical manifestations have been repeatedly described (b)(1)
(b)(3)
The lack of
expert interviewing or on the scene analysis probably has resulted in less
clarity in the definition of clinical manifestations, Even so, some fre-
quently reported symptoms appear to fit those that would be produced by
certain classes of active chemicals:
Immediate tearing and burning sensation of the eyes, tightness
of chest, difficulty in breathing and skin irritation. The
symptoms are indicative Of riot control chemicals such as CS.
Similar effects may be shown by persons dosed with toxic
smoke and below-lethal levels of nerve agent.
The above symptoms accompanied by severe itching and inflam-
mation of the skin, pain, small blisters and small- pustules
which lasted for days to weeks and eventually scabbed over.
While these effects may on rare-occasiOns be produced by the
riot control agent CS, they are most likely associated with
A chemical such as phos ene oxime or other blistering agents
which can cause death.
�444ZZI
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2015/01/05 006157969
Approved for Release: 2015/01/05 006157969
4
(b)(3)
Watery eyes and nose, respiration difficulty, 'dizziness, and
a feeling of weakness followed by unconsciousness for three
to four hours. Very few deaths were associated with these
symptoms. The agent apparently is a new incapacitant, of
unknown chemical composition.
(b)(3)
Fever, depression, dizziness, and disorientation .symptoms may
be the res]tofmbehvior modifying compound of unknown com-
position. (b)(3)
Headache, dizziness, tearing, blurred vision, difficult breath-
ing, diarrhea, paralysis and convulsions followed by death.
This suggests nerve agent poisoning. (b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
�SECRET
Approved for Release: 2015/01/05 006157969
(b)(3)