The use of chemical weapons is not acceptable. Chemical weapons are nothing but harmful ways of ending war or starting one. The chemical weapons countries create just destroy other countries. The chemicals in the weapon do more harm than actually help the real problem going on. Chemical weapons seem like a quick and simple way to end a war, but they truly only cause more problems in the long run than before. Chemical weapons are actually just a destructive creation.
In Syria things are coming to an end for chemical warfare. Syria has been at war since late March, but lately things have gotten worse than before. On September 10, 2013 Syria bombed their capital Damascus. The chemical weapons have killed over 1,500 people including children. Over 1.5 million people who lived in Syria have fled the country in order to avoid the chemical bombs.
Syria is one of the many countries that have not signed the United Nations ban on chemical weapons. The chemical weapon ban says that a country cannot store or create the chemical weapons. Syria has agreed to give the weapons to Russia so they can destroy them. After Russia destroys the weapons Syria is going to adopt the United Nations ban. Though Syria will not sign the ban they have stated they “Shall comply with the stipulations contained in the Convention and observe them faithfully and sincerely, applying the Convention provisionally pending in entry into the force of Syria”. The use of the chemical weapons is a war crime stated by the United Nations ban on them.
I feel that no one in the world should use the chemical weapons because they are so harmful to not only the people, but also the environment. The chemicals used in the weapons kills off the plants and wildlife in the area. For the people it causes lifelong problems like cancer, blindness in some cases and other health problems.
In the Vietnam War the United States did use chemical warfare to end the war, but now Veterans are being diagnosed with cancer and the other health problems from the chemicals in the bomb called “Agent Orange”. It has taken years for Vietnam to get their agricultural soil back because with the soil infected with the chemicals, it was harmful to consume.
Agent Orange is one of the chemicals the U.S. used during the Vietnam War. Agent Orange is made up of a 50:50 mixture of 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D, it was manufactured for the U.S. Department of Defense primarily by Monsanto Corporation and Dow Chemical. During the Vietnam War the U.S. military released 20 million gallons. It killed over 400,000 people and 500,000 babies were born with birth defects. Then in the fall of 1962 the US military targeted the food crop by spraying it onto the crops and also the soil.
The United States killed innocent people just like Syria has done by using chemical weapons. Also, though we have never been punished for it, we certainly know we committed the same war crime as Syria. To the veterans who fought during Vietnam there was no other way to end the war. I feel we could have solved it without the use of chemical weapons as well as Syria could have.
I feel this is not the last we will see of chemical weapons if something is not done about them. Only 189 of the 196 countries in the world signed the United Nations ban on chemical weapons. If every country in the world signed the ban it would hopefully put a stop on chemical weapons being made and being used. Also, I think we should give Syria a punishment to show the other countries that we are serious about the ban. Letting Syria off by saying “give Russia the weapons and you’re good” is showing countries they won’t get punished for doing it.
Ultimately chemical warfare is an important problem in the world today. The effects of some of the agents are extremely harsh and deadly. The United Nations needs to find a way to stop chemical weapons forever. I feel if every country would sign the ban and stop the chemical weapons being made the world would be a better place.
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