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LearningCurve

(488 posts)
Tue Sep 3, 2013, 05:05 AM Sep 2013

The US has not always felt a need to respond when chemical weapons were used

While chemical weapons are indeed horrific, and there is a ban, we have ignored prominent use once before. During the Iran-Iraq war, Hussein repeatedly used them. At the time, there was no one attempting to rally popular opinion that something need to be done.

Why do I mention this? Because if anyone has forgotten here, you can bet no one has in the Middle East. To suddenly be upset about the use of chemical weapons, looks to a lot like selective outrage. Any response by the US WILL be viewed through this prism. We shouldn't be surprised if others look for ulterior motives beyond the stated moral high ground.

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The US has not always felt a need to respond when chemical weapons were used (Original Post) LearningCurve Sep 2013 OP
The US didn't enter into the Chemical Weapons Convention until 1997. joshcryer Sep 2013 #1
I wasn't aware of this piece of history LearningCurve Sep 2013 #2

joshcryer

(62,265 posts)
1. The US didn't enter into the Chemical Weapons Convention until 1997.
Tue Sep 3, 2013, 05:15 AM
Sep 2013

Largely in response to the (terrorist) Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway.

Iraq was the last state to use chemical weapons, in 1991. 6 years before the US took a positive position on Chemical Weapons.

After that all gas attacks that I can see have been done by terrorists or rebels or whatever, not actual states.

Until, allegedly, Syria.

The US has changed their position on chemical weapons. Incendiary weapons (which could be considered chemical weapons but fall in a different category under international law) and cluster bombs are where the US continues to fail hard.

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