William Helms: “I suppose, at this point, it would be an exercise in futility to go into great detail about why the Senate should reject…”

“I suppose, at this point, it would be an exercise in futility to go into great detail about why the Senate should reject this chemical weapons treaty. But let me touch on it. Mr. President, this treaty won't touch--won't touch--terrorist states like Libya, Iraq, Syria and North Korea. The administration admits this itself. The administration also admits that this treaty is unverifiable. The fact that Russia is already cheating, even before this treaty goes into effect, and the rather incredible refusal by the administration to bar inspectors from hostile nations, such as Iran and China, to come and ``inspect'' the businesses of the United States of America. It seems to me that each of these defects, in and of themselves, are reason enough to oppose the treaty. But one in the Senate often has to face reality. Let me say this. There is one issue that has raised the greatest concern among Senators, I believe--the issue on which the ratification vote should hinge--and that is the administration's refusal to modify Articles X and XI of this treaty. Now, these controversial provisions require the transfer of dangerous chemical agents, defensive gear and know-how to any nation that joins the CWC, including--get this--terrorist states like Iran and Cuba, and known proliferators, such as Russia and China.”