[Myrddin]

Bioweapons are generally living viruses and bacteria. Many can continue to multiply and spread well beyond the intended target population. Chemical weapons are generally poisons whose targets are in a limited area. The chemicals do not "reproduce" in a "contagious" fashion, but the effects may linger in an area for periods of hours to days. The microwave weapon is directed at a specified target. It hits the target and ceases to have additional effect when the device is turned off. Troops attending to a microwaved soldier will not be poisoned or infected with a disease.

[independentmind]

Oh, so the problem is that biological weapons can have unintended victims? The weapons as described above seem to have a strong similarity to something civilized nations have frowned upon for quite a while--torture.