Richard Shelby: “I rise in support of the Chemical and Biological Weapons Threat Reduction Act. With the end of the cold war, we live in…”

“I rise in support of the Chemical and Biological Weapons Threat Reduction Act. With the end of the cold war, we live in a much safer, but still unstable, world. Without the bi-polar domination of two superpowers, we now face a world comprised of many nations that have gained power on the world stage by producing a relatively inexpensive means of war. Among the most deplorable methods of war-making known to the world, chemical and biological weapons are horrific tools of mass destruction. Long ago, the United States discontinued and dismantled its biological weapons program and is currently unilaterally destroying its stockpile of poison gas. We would hope that other nations would follow suit, and destroy these weapons as well. However, there are rogue States that are pursuing dangerous weapons programs contrary to international norms against the use and stockpiling of biological and chemical weapons. Some countries are even suspected of pledging to ratify international agreements, while secretly continuing to develop and stockpile these lethal weapons. One significant problem in the fight against chemical and biological weapons is the stunning lack of enforcement of existing international protocols.”