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FOR SARIN.
WHEN DICTATORS COMMIT
ATROCITIES, THEY DEPEND ON THE
WORLD TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY
UNTIL THOSE HORRIFYING PICTURES
FADE FROM MEMORY, BUT THESE
THINGS HAPPENED.
THE FACTS CANNOT BE DENIED.
THE QUESTION NOW IS WHAT THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS
PREPARED TO DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE
WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE PEOPLE,
TO THOSE CHILDREN IS NOT ONLY A
VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW,
IT'S ALSO A DANGER TO OUR
SECURITY.
LET ME EXPLAIN WHY.
IF WE FAIL TO ACT, THE ASSAD
REGIME WILL SEE NO REASON TO
STOP USING CHEMICAL WEAPONS.
AS THE BAN AGAINST THESE WEAPONS
ERODES, OTHER TYRANTS WILL HAVE
NO REASON TO THINK TWICE ABOUT
ACQUIRING POISON GAS AND USING
THEM.
OVER TIME OUR TROOPS WOULD AGAIN
FACE THE PROSPECT OF CHEMICAL
WAR FAIR ON THE BATTLE FIELD AND
IT COULD BE EASIER FOR TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS TO OBTAIN THE
WEAPONS AND USE THEM TO ATTACK
CIVILIANS.
IF FIGHTING SPILLS BEYOND THE
BORDERS, THESE WEAPONS COULD
THREATEN ALLIES LIKE TURKEY,
JORDAN AND ISRAEL AND A FAILURE
TO STAND AGAINST THE USE OF
CHEMICAL WEAPONS WOULD WEAKEN
PROHIBITIONS AND ENBOLDEN
ASSAD'S ALLY ARRAN WHICH MUST
DECIDE TO IGNORE INTERNATIONAL
LAW BY BUILDING A NUCLEAR WEAPON
OR TAKE A MORE PEACEFUL PATH.
THIS IS NOT A WORLD WE SHOULD
ACCEPT.
THIS IS WHAT IS AT STAKE.
AND THAT IS WHY AFTER CAREFUL
DELIBERATION, I DETERMINED THAT
IT IS IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY