Re: Iraq: pass the mustard [gas]

From: Andrew Clough (aclough@mit.edu)
Date: Wed Mar 12 2003 - 14:35:32 MST

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    At 12:22 PM 3/12/2003 -0500, you wrote:
    >Of course, if we were consistent in condemning leaders for "gassing their
    >own people" there might be a few more questions about the use of CS-gas in
    >the attack on the Branch Davidian "compound" at Waco. As I understand it,
    >the US had signed international treaties banning use of that chemical agent
    >in times of war against our enemies. Apparently our leaders will sign
    >treaties agreeing not to use it against our enemies, but reserve the right
    >to use it against domestic civilians, including women and children.
    >
    >Pat Fallon
    >pfallon@ptd.net

    I believe that the international law in question was drawn up before in
    introduction of tear gas, and was origonally meant to prevent the use of
    such wonderful things as mustard gas and cyanide. Personally, I'd rather
    our soldiers fired grenades of tear gas of halucinogens at enemies than
    explosives-it would likely result in less casualties on both sides, as
    enemy combatants would either run or be in no condition to fight...and thus
    wouldn't need to be shot.

    Never attribute to malice what can be explained by stupidity. Don't assign
    to stupidity what might be due to ignorance. And try not to assume you
    opponent is the ignorant one-until you can show it isn't you.
    -M.N. Plano



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