U.S. Experts Doubt Power of Poison Gas;Saddam's Weapon Seen Largely as Nuisance From: The Washington Post | Date: December 14, 1990| Author: Guy Gugliotta | Copyright (null) The Washington Post. This material is published under license from the Washington Post.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post.Copyright information

Poison gas strikes fear in the hearts of the uninitiated, but the experts of Operation Desert Shield agree that it is a poor way to make war - inefficient, awkward and relatively harmless. An artillery shell is likely to kill many more U.S. soldiers than a canister of nerve gas.

Demystifying chemical warfare - a significant weapon in the arsenal of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein - is an important objective in Desert Shield training. With proper preparation, experts believe, casualtie...