Max Baucus: “I rise today to express my firm support of the Chemical Weapons Convention Treaty. I have thought long and hard on this…”

“I rise today to express my firm support of the Chemical Weapons Convention Treaty. I have thought long and hard on this issue. And I believe that my colleagues--both for and against this treaty--have shown patience, diligence and understanding during this important debate. I also believe the time has come for us to lead the civilized world in signing this treaty. And to remember why, we need to look back to our history. On October 30, 1918, 12 days before the end of the First World War, the 362nd Infantry Division received orders to attack German positions outside the city of Audenarde in France. Many Montanans served in this division. During this battle, German troops lobbed several gas shells toward the Montana troops. The wind that morning just happened to be blowing to the east, and the gas carried over the American area. The men of the 362nd fought valiantly that day. And in the end, they overtook the German positions with a minimal loss of life. But they, and hundreds of thousands of other World War I veterans, carried scars in their lungs for the rest of their lives. It made breathing difficult and left many of them invalids. Chemical weaponry has come a long way in the 79 years since that battle took place. Modern technology has made this type of warfare more devastating and more deadly. It can now kill instantly as well as scar and maim the lungs. Chemical warfare is an indiscriminate killer.”