Chemical and biological weapons are absolutely prohibited under international humanitarian law. Debates and questions surrounding the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria are not fading away. Robert Mardini, the ICRC’s head of operations for the Near and Middle East, explains the organization’s position.

ICRC.  “Chemical weapons: An absolute prohibition under international humanitarian law”.  July 18, 2013.

Tell me about the world in which you would like to live.

Will it be a world that holds itself to time honored ethical and moral standards?

Will it be a world in which self-awareness and the awareness of others inspires an integrating compassion and consideration for the humanity shared?

Will it be a world in which the most notable and powerful of public speakers may be trusted to keep their own laws, to restrain themselves from excessive or unbridled appetites, and to tell the truth whether it becomes them or not?

If you should wish to live in some other world, don’t bother with this blog.

* * *

Unknown to Syrian officials, U.S. spy agencies recorded each step in the alleged chemical attack, from the extensive preparations to the launching of rockets to the after-action assessments by Syrian officials. Those records and intercepts would become the core of the Obama administration’s evidentiary case linking the Syrian government to what one official called an “indiscriminate, inconceivable horror” — the use of outlawed toxins to kill nearly 1,500 civilians, including at least 426 children.

Warrick, Joby.  “More than 1,400 killed in Syrian chemical weapons attack, U.S. says.”  The Washington Post, August 30, 2013.

Additional Reference

BackChannels.  “Syria – Chemical Warhead Launch Ascribed to 155th Brigade – 4th Armored Division – Syrian Army.”  August 28, 2013.

Bishara, Marwan.  “US and Syria: the calculus of war.”  Al Jazeera, August 30, 2013.

Boerma, Lindsey.  “U.S. has firm evidence sarin gas was used in Syria chemical weapons attack, Sec. Kerry says.”  September 1, 2013.

ICRC.  “The Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols”. PDF Address: The Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949.

ICRC.  “War and international humanitarian law”.

Raum, Tom.  “Syria: Conflict, an alleged chemical attack, and fallout.”  MPR News, August 31, 2013.

Warrick, Joby.  “Even after 100,000 deaths in Syria, chemical weapons attack evoked visceral response.”  The Washington Post, September 1, 2013.

Wikipedia.  “American Way”.

Wikipedia.  “Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907”.

Wikipedia.  “Laws of War”.

Wikipedia.  “Lieber Code”.

# # #