What are weapons of mass destruction?

THE EDITOR: I am a student of Naparima Girls’ High School. I am a Presbyterian. I hold no brief for Saddam Hussein or George Bush. I am totally confused about this war between Iraq and USA and England. I have tried to discuss it with my father and some of my fellow students and I received some explanations for and against this war.

I was told one of the reasons for the present conflict is Saddam possesses weapons of mass destruction. I was trying to fathom what are weapons of mass destruction. As I looked at television news from CNN and BBC I saw mass destruction being done by the US Marines and the British troops. I asked my father, “I thought this war against Iraq was based on Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction. How come the US is using weapons of mass destruction?” My father and I had a serious argument about this mass destruction. He said to me “Weapons of mass destruction will kill everybody in that location both soldiers and civilians, innocent men, women and children.” I said to him “Yes the weapons that the Americans are using are killing only Iraqi soldiers.” I have come to the conclusion that the meaning of weapons of mass destruction carry a US and British definition. Somebody please give me an explanation?

F KHAN
Puzzled student of NGHS