Retaliation.

This is coolbert:

With regard to the Islamic State and their continued use of chemical weaponry the American military and their Kurdish allies are faced with a very serious problem for which is there is no easy answer or response!

First protective and defensive steps and measures [passive] need to be taken. To include:

* The issuance of protective masks. With replacement filters for same.
[referred to almost always as gas masks.]
* The issuance of chemical suits.
* The issuance of individual decontamination kits.
* The issuance of unit-level decontamination kits.
* Training at all levels for response to chemical attack.
[stop breathing, mask, spread the alarm, continue the mission!]
* Special medical facilities equipped to treat victims of chemical attack.
* Specially trained medical personnel able to treat victims of chemical attack.

Second as to active steps and measures:

AN ABILITY TO RESPOND IN KIND IT MIGHT SEEM ALMOST IF NOT TOTALLY LACKING.

During that era of the Cold War the threat of chemical attack mitigated by a resolve on the part of the United States to respond in kind. "If you use chemical weapons we will use chemical weapons." So was the threat which any potential aggressor had to take seriously. ["aggressor" usually
defined as the Soviet Union or North Korea but not necessarily 100 % confined to!]

The current stockpile of American chemical weaponry as ready-to-go nil to scant if in actuality if non-existent? Previously manufactured and stored chemical weapons for a period of decades now having been destroyed as per agreed upon treaty. Binary chemical munitions [nerve gas] in the United State military inventory of war munitions?

This is not known to me.

THAT USE OF CHEMICAL MUNITIONS AGAINST THE ISLAMIC STATE AS RETALIATION IN KIND PROBABLY OUT OF THE QUESTION?

THE ISLAMIC STATE EVEN WELCOMING RETALIATION IN KIND!! THE VILLAINS EVEN USING "HUGGING TACTICS"  AND/OR THE USE OF HUMAN SHIELDS OR HOSTAGES IN AN EFFORT TO CREATE THE "INCIDENT". THE FEAR ON THE AMERICAN SIDE OF KILLING INNOCENTS AND FRIENDLIES TOO GREAT!!

OH, the bad guys have it all figured out, don't they?

coolbert.