There are reports tonight that US troops in Iraq just south of Mosul were attacked with chemical weapons. This time, the agent used was mustard gas, the biggest chemical killer in World War I. The use of the mustard gas has been confirmed by tests done on the residue left after the attack was over. Fortunately, no US personnel were killed or injured. The belief is that the attack was launched by ISIS forces.
This is an extremely important development. If ISIS regularly uses chemical agents in its fight against Iraqi and American forces, there will be serious casualties; it is inevitable. Using mustard gas was outlawed by the world after the first world war. Even during the terrible fighting in World War II, no nation resorted to chemical weapons.
When the Assad forces threatened to use chemical weapons in Syria, president Obama said that such use would be a red line for the USA. That was followed by 17 cases in which the Assad forces used these weapons. Obama did nothing until the 17th such occasion when video of the dead and dying made its way to the world's TV screens. Obama couldn't ignore the use of chemical weapons any further, so he did what he does best: he dithered. First he was going to launch a strike, then he was going to ask Congress for permission, then he was waiting for more information, and finally he jumped at the deal that the Russians offered. Assad would give up his chemical weapons and the USA would do nothing. It was a terrible deal and it had the inevitable outcome. A year or so went by and Assad went back to using chemical weapons. His forces now use chlorine gas on a regular basis. Obama, however, does nothing about it.
Can Obama just ignore the use of chemical weapons against US forces? I hope not. The president of the United States cannot just sit by idly while ISIS commits war crimes against American men and women. Can he? Will Hillary Clinton allow Obama to ignore his basic duty to protect American lives because it might be politically unappealing to take action? She has to speak out now.
This is not a political issue. We are talking about the lives of American special forces and other soldiers in Iraq. They have to be protected. All Americans have to speak out to demand action by Obama to stop ISIS from any further use of mustard gas or any other chemical weapons. It's a duty, not an option.
This is an extremely important development. If ISIS regularly uses chemical agents in its fight against Iraqi and American forces, there will be serious casualties; it is inevitable. Using mustard gas was outlawed by the world after the first world war. Even during the terrible fighting in World War II, no nation resorted to chemical weapons.
When the Assad forces threatened to use chemical weapons in Syria, president Obama said that such use would be a red line for the USA. That was followed by 17 cases in which the Assad forces used these weapons. Obama did nothing until the 17th such occasion when video of the dead and dying made its way to the world's TV screens. Obama couldn't ignore the use of chemical weapons any further, so he did what he does best: he dithered. First he was going to launch a strike, then he was going to ask Congress for permission, then he was waiting for more information, and finally he jumped at the deal that the Russians offered. Assad would give up his chemical weapons and the USA would do nothing. It was a terrible deal and it had the inevitable outcome. A year or so went by and Assad went back to using chemical weapons. His forces now use chlorine gas on a regular basis. Obama, however, does nothing about it.
Can Obama just ignore the use of chemical weapons against US forces? I hope not. The president of the United States cannot just sit by idly while ISIS commits war crimes against American men and women. Can he? Will Hillary Clinton allow Obama to ignore his basic duty to protect American lives because it might be politically unappealing to take action? She has to speak out now.
This is not a political issue. We are talking about the lives of American special forces and other soldiers in Iraq. They have to be protected. All Americans have to speak out to demand action by Obama to stop ISIS from any further use of mustard gas or any other chemical weapons. It's a duty, not an option.
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