Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Issues of secrecy, accuracy of intelligence sources, and dependency on sci-
entific and technological support from its two major allies are other parts
of the Canadian BW experience. More specifically, an analysis of Can-
ada's role within the Tripartite system, with its annual meetings and spe-
cialized working groups, reinforces the argument that most of the major
BW projects were based on cooperative research rather than being solely
national initiatives. Records of the Tripartite meetings also provide a use-
ful “window” of analysis for understanding the US and UK offensive and
defensive biological programs at the operational level, where scientific
rather than political priorities predominated. The chapter also surveys
NATO's planned responses to a possible Soviet BW attack, particularly
during the 1960s, and how these concerns influenced Canadian defense
policies.
Any analysis of Canadian involvement with BW must consider four
factors. First is the fact that Canada, unlike its two allies, did not have an
independent nuclear deterrent; instead, it was dependent upon the pro-
tection of the US nuclear umbrella. This meant that Ottawa's contribu-
tion to Tripartite WMD capabilities was restricted to the fields of biological
and chemical warfare, where it made significant contributions. Second,
although CBW systems were viewed with revulsion, as inhuman forms of
warfare, at least chemical weapons (CW) had a proven battlefield func-
tion. In contrast, BW were often labeled as “uncontrollable and unpre-
dictable” WMD, with only minimal strategic potential.
2
Another important factor was the unwillingness of successive Cana-
dian governments, between 1945 and 1969, to acknowledge that Can-
ada's armed forces were involved with the offensive biological warfare re-
search of its two allies, either as a deterrent or for retaliatory purposes.
3
In
turn, this refusal raises the question of whether Canada had an official
policy on biological warfare, aside from the mantra of denial. The answer
is no. Rarely was the issue discussed in the Cabinet, the only exception
being during the late 1960s, when Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau took
a personal interest in the creation of the BWC. But for the most part,
discussion in Parliament or coverage by the media was infrequent and
superficial: a situation that continues to the present day.
Finally, in understanding Canada's BW priorities it is important to ap-
preciate that most of the crucial decisions were made by bureaucrats
rather than by elected officials. This was particularly the case during the
Search WWH ::
Custom Search