3/4/05
Russell 5&6

development of technology:
after WWI chemical companies looked for new markets
they weren't able to develop very good insecticides
consumers were scared of the danger of insecticides
application of pesticides improved, particularly crop dusting
incendiary bombs carried by bats
improved incendiary bombs to be dropped from airplanes--napalm
efforts to fight malaria

organizations:
Chemical Warfare Service holds on between the wars, expands in WWII
Roosevelt and allied leaders decide not to use gas except in retaliation
this made chemical warfare a smaller part of the war effort than expected
did use incendiary bombs in retaliation--we didn't have to worry about the home front
scientific research for the war was done by scientists at universities

ideas:
chemical companies and the war metaphor:
advantages: appeal to patriotism, persuade people to take killing insects more seriously
disadvantages: the problem of the "merchants of death" image
people who didn't want to get involved in another war saw the chemical industry as looking for war to make money
military-industrial complex:
if the military becomes too important we have less freedom and democracy (Eisenhower)
corporations that serve the military have self-interest in war

as war becomes more total, it leads to the idea that we can conquer nature more completely than we used to think