What is Weapon of Mass Destruction?

Answer 1

Nuclear, biological, toxic and chemical weapons.

The following are a list of weapons (real & under research) with massive destructive capabilities.

-modified smallpox (the most popular form of biological weapon). With some modifications, this disease is capable of crippling continents (modified smallpox research has been done in the U.S.A, former Soviet Union, Middle East, etc.)

-I.C.B.M. (intercontinental ballistic missile)

=> M.I.R.V.s (cluster nuclear warheads that spread out mini nuclear bombs like a shotgun)

-Kinetic bombardment

=> involves a weapon system in orbit of earth that launches a giant tungsten pole/rod onto the earth at an impact speed of mach 10, it carries the firepower of 225kg of conventional military explosives (also has strike 25 foot accuracy)

Answer 2

Weapon of Mass Destruction are:

• Nuclear Weapons,
• Chemical Weapons
• Biological Weapons
• All weapons that could cause destruction of all people in single area regardless they are civilians or warriors.

More specifically, a weapon is classified as a "Weapon of Mass Destruction" if it fulfills all the following criteria:

1. The weapon has a very large area of effect, relative to the size of the weapon. There is no specific threshold number, but a good rule-of-thumb is anything which has an area of effect in square km per kg of weight.
2. The weapon is not "aimed", in the traditional sense. Due to the large area of effect and the indiscriminate nature of target selection, the weapon is not aimed at any specific individual, building, or vehicle, but is intended to affect a general area. That is, this is an area of effect weapon.
3. The weapon must cause indiscriminate damage - that is, it does not differentiate between types of targets, and will "attack" anyone (and everyone) inside its area of effect. The weapon makes no distinction between friendly, neutral, or opposing forces, and makes no combatant/civilian distinction, either.
4. Effective protection against the weapon is extremely difficult even for prepared forces, and is practically impossible for civilian populations.
5. The weapon's primary purpose is death or serious incapacitation of all affected. Weapons which cause temporary effects (even if painful) are not classified as WMDs, even if they can cause small percentages of death or permanent injuries. A WMD's primarypurpose must be death or destruction.

Currently, there are four categories of weapons that are considered WMDs by international consensus: Nuclear (fission and/or fusion), Biological (viruses and bacteria diseases), Chemical (those which cause damage due to toxic inhalation or skin exposure), and Toxin (those which are effectively poisons). The lines between the last two are a bit blurry, as many chemicals are also toxins.