Notable Quotes Archive
“The Obama administration’s new strategy for countering biological threats—both natural and man-made—rests upon the main principle of the Biological Weapons Convention: that the use of biological weapons is `repugnant to the conscience of mankind.’ . . . Our new strategy has a clear, overarching goal … to protect against the misuse of science to develop or use biological agents to cause harm.”
-- Ellen Tauscher, U.S. Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, in her Address to the Annual Meeting of the States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention, Geneva, Switzerland, December 9, 2009
“The professional, dedicated government and contract workers at all of our locations are making great strides to safely eliminate our chemical weapons stockpile, making our nation and the world safer.”
-- Conrad F. Whyne, Director of the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency (CMA), 6 October 2009, on CMA’s safe destruction of its two millionth munition since entry-into-force of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)
"These experts' contributions will be crucial to help us review our existing disease surveillance, detection, diagnosis, and containment capacities … [which] strengthen the Convention both by enhancing international cooperation, assistance and exchange for peaceful purposes, and by improving capabilities for preventing and responding to illicit uses of biological agents and toxins". [Emphasis added]
-- Marius Grinius, Chairman of the 2009 Meeting of Experts, States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention, 24-28 August 2009
“On this Remembrance Day, let us honor the victims of chemical warfare by reaffirming our commitment to build a world where, in the words of the [Chemical Weapons] Convention, achievements in the field of chemistry are used exclusively for the benefit of mankind.”
-- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, on the Remembrance Day for All Victims of Chemical Warfare, 29 April 2009
"These [chemical] weapons have been safely stored since ’63; we don't want to store them any longer than necessary, and we can’t move them, so let’s destroy them."
-- Mike Abrams, Anniston Chemical Disposal Facility public affairs official
"I congratulate the government of the Dominican Republic for its decision to ratify the Convention, which draws us closer to the goal of realizing a universal ban on chemical weapons, and we call upon those remaining States that have not yet adhered to the CWC to do so without further delay."
-- Rogelio Pfirter, Director General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
"Iraq's accession [to the CWC] draws us closer to the Convention's goal of the universal ban on chemical weapons, and we call upon those nine states that have not yet adhered to the Convention to do so without delay."
-- Rogelio Pfirter, Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
"It’s official. The last VX-filled land mine ... stored here has been safely demilitarized."
—Timothy Garrett, Site Project Manager, Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (ANCDF), AL
"We can be satisfied that we are taking the right steps to strengthen the Convention. I have been impressed by the strength of common purpose exhibited throughout our work this year and the degree of involvement of the scientific community. We have worked together in a positive and collegial atmosphere to focus on practical measures. "
—Chairman Georgi Avramchev of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, at the closing of the Meeting of States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention, 5 December 2008
"Since our last meeting, quietly and without the public recognition it rightly deserves, a state party completed the destruction of its entire chemical weapons stockpile, becoming the second state party to do so, and before its deadline. "
—U.S. Ambassador to the OPCW Eric Javits
"There is a long way to go, but I do believe that this demonstrates that the United States doesn't have permanent enemies. "
—U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, on diplomatic progress with Libya
"The line we end up drawing probably leaves no one happy. Those who favor the most rigorous lab security will say it's not enough, and those who are doing their research will say it's too much. "
—Richard Besser, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on the problem of biosurety
"It's important to make sure the treaty is upheld, that the weapons are destroyed, and we prevent them ever being developed again. "
— British professor and chemical weapons expert Alastair Hay, on the Chemical Weapons Convention
"We know we’re all working ourselves out of a job "
—Chuck Doscher, control room worker at the Anniston Army Depot, on the destruction of the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile
"The Second Review Conference provides an invaluable opportunity to unequivocally affirm the ability of multilateralism to effectively advance the objectives of disarmament and non-proliferation and the value and necessity of the Chemical Weapons Convention. "
—OPCW Director-General Rogelio Pfirter, in his opening address to the Second Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention
"These [chemical] weapons will not make a strategic difference in the Middle East. These are just weapons of terror for civilians, "
—OPCW Director-General Rogelio Pfirter, in a press interview, urging Israel, Egypt, and Syria to ratify the Chemical Weapons Convention,
4 April 2008
"In my 24 years working for CMA, I have witnessed the unfailing dedication of these individuals to safely storing and ultimately eliminating our former chemical warfare program. I look forward to upholding CMA’s remarkable safety and environmental standards."
—Conrad Whyne, new Director of the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency (CMA), January 25, 2008
"We have had a very productive meeting, and have made a good start on our goal of moving from adjacency to synergy in our efforts to strengthen the effectiveness of the Convention, in the areas we have been looking at of enhancing national implementation and regional and subregional cooperation."
—Ambassador Masood Khan of Pakistan, Chairman of the Meeting of States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention, on the recent Meeting of States Parties, 14 December 2007.
"Our States Parties can be rightly proud of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the OPCW as examples of the success multilateralism can achieve."
—OPCW Director-General Rogelio Pfirter, addressing the United Nations General Assembly’s First Committee, 17 October 2007
"We believe that Codes [of Conduct] can become an increasingly important tool in the fight against bioweapons proliferators and the biothreat overall. Concerns about the misuse of biotechnology and a desire to preserve the free flow of scientific information have spurred discussion about the professional responsibility of the scientific community and the proper role of national governments in promoting standards."
—Ambassador Donald Mahley, U.S. Head of Delegation, Excerpt from Opening Remarks to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) Annual Meeting of States Parties, 5 December 2005
"The Chemical Weapons Convention is a union of obligation and incentive. In joining the Convention, States Parties commit to meeting their implementation requirements. In return, States Parties avail themselves of certain benefits available only to States Parties. Examples include..."
—Peter Lichtenbaum, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce
"Significant progress has indeed been made in meeting Article VII obligations, particularly during the course of 2005. But we should not spend too much time congratulating each other just yet. With just 4 months of our 2-year action plan left to go, it seems clear that a number of States Parties that only recently began to take serious action will fall short of the goal of full national implementation by the 10th Conference. More troubling, it seems very likely that by the time of the Conference, there will still be a number of States Parties that have not taken even the first, most basic steps – though I am pleased to say that no current members of this Council fall into this latter group. We need to redouble our efforts in these last few months: those of us that can provide assistance must do so; those that have national implementation tasks yet to complete, must work assiduously to accomplish them. This is not the time to give up or to reduce our effort, but to make a renewed push."
—Ambassador Eric M. Javits, Head of the U.S. Delegation, Statement to the Forty-First Session of the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), 28 June 2005
"I've no doubt that our upcoming discussions will also amply demonstrate that there is no "one size fits all" approach to codes of conduct. A universal code of conduct is not, in our view, feasible. Instead, my delegation will measure the success of this meeting in the extent to which it contributes to enhancing recognition by experts and States Parties of scientists' professional responsibilities. Ethical and responsible behavior by national scientists complements States Parties' national compliance objectives as well as overall international security."
—Ambassador Donald Mahley, U.S. Head of Delegation, Opening Statement, Biological Weapons Convention Experts Meeting, 13 June 2005
"Verification, compliance assessment and compliance enforcement are the three components of a policy process wherein information about a state's actions is weighed against its obligations and commitments, and if it is determined that the state is not fulfilling its obligations and commitments, steps are identified and taken to induce or enforce compliance."
—Paula A. DeSutter, Assistant Secretary for Verification and Compliance, U.S. Department of State
"Our analysis has centered on a perspective that drew heavily on our understanding of the utility underlying the approach BWC States Parties have adopted in this Work Program. One of the outcomes of this process is the recognition that there is a real need to find creative new ways to improve the global response to the threats posed by weapons of mass destruction, in this case specifically the biological threat. One need only look as far as the unanimous support for United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 to see how critical these issues are for international security."
—Ambassador Donald Mahley, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Arms Control Implementation, Remarks to the Annual Meeting of States Parties for the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), 6 December 2004
"The Bush administration is reinventing the nonproliferation regime it inherited, crafting policies to fill gaping holes, reinforcing earlier patchwork fixes, assembling allies, creating precedents and changing perceived realities and stilted legal thinking. The frontlines in our nonproliferation strategy must extend beyond the well-known rogue states to the trade routes and entities engaged in supplying proliferant countries. This can properly be described not as "nonproliferation," but as "counterproliferation." To accomplish this, we are making more robust use of existing authorities, including sanctions, interdiction and credible export controls. Most importantly, we have taken significant steps to improve coordination between sovereign states to act against proliferators."
—John Bolton, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, 7 September 2004
"Last September, I called on the United Nations Security Council to urge the cooperative action of all U.N. members against the illicit trafficking of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. I commend today's unanimous Security Council resolution, which answers that call. It now remains for all member states to act on the measures urged by this resolution. Member states should enact strict export controls, criminalize the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and secure all related materials within their borders. Today's resolution is an important achievement. We must continue to press these efforts to ensure that the world's most destructive weapons are kept from the world's most dangerous regimes and organizations."
—President George W. Bush, 28 April 2004
"We have seen some dramatic things take place within the last few days. We saw Libya decide, after many years, that it wasn't worth the game, it wasn't worth the candle, to continue to develop weapons of mass destruction. And as a result, a very, very solid diplomacy on the part of the United Kingdom and the United States working with the Libyans, you are aware of the announcements that have been made, and we are following up to make sure that we get verified removal of those weapons and programs of mass destruction, and then we will be in conversation with the Libyans as to what the nature of our relationship will be in the future. But verify first."
—Secretary of State Colin Powell, 8 January 2004
"...[T]he safe dismantlement and disposal of a CW arsenal is no easy matter. While the total costs of this undertaking in the United States are currently estimated at $24 billion, we remain steadfastly committed to the safe, environmentally sound, and verifiable destruction of our stockpile. Since entry into force, we have met every treaty milestone, and to date have destroyed over 22% of our stockpile."
—Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control Stephen G. Rademaker, Statement at the First Review Conference of the CWC, 28 April 2003
"Gas achieved but local success, nothing decisive; it made war uncomfortable, to no purpose."
—Sir James Edmonds, History of the Great War: Military Operations: France and Belgium, 1918. Volume 5. (Macmillan, London, 1947)
"Coalition experts on fermentation and systems engineering examined the trailer found in late April and have been unable to identify any legitimate industrial use--such as water purification, mobile medical laboratory, vaccine or pharmaceutical production--that would justify the effort and expense of a mobile production capability. We have investigated what other industrial processes may require such equipment--a fermentor, refrigeration, and a gas capture system--and agree with the experts that BW agent production is the only consistent, logical purpose for these vehicles."
—Iraqi Mobile Biological Warfare Agent Production Plants, Central Intelligence Agency and Defense Intelligence Agency report, released 28 May 2003
"...Much progress has been made since the entry into force of the Convention, to which there are now 151 States Parties. However, serious concerns exist that there remain States not Party to the Convention. The States Parties reaffirm, in particular, that achieving the goals of the Convention requires ratification or accession by those States that cause serious concern. The States Parties pledge to intensify their bilateral and multilateral efforts towards universality of the Convention, and urge all States not Party to join the Convention without delay...."
—Political Declaration as approved by the First Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, Released 12 May 2003
"...we will find weapons of mass destruction. For the last three weeks we've been fighting battles, and once this combat period is over we can then turn our attention to finding the weapons of mass destruction. And I think they will be found. That was the basis upon which we went in, and I think there is strong evidence. There's no question about the fact that there are weapons of mass destruction, and they will be looking for them.... There is, I think, a higher likelihood of there being chemical and biological weaponry. The nuclear program we also think is there, but we don't think it was as advanced as, perhaps, their chemical and biological weapons programs were."
—U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Interviewed by Sir David Frost, BBC, 12 April 2003
"On the road to Anab, many of the women and children began to die. The chemical clouds were on the ground. They were heavy. We could see them." People were dying all around, he said. When a child could not go on, the parents, becoming hysterical with fear, abandoned him. "Many children were left on the ground, by the side of the road. Old people as well. They were running, then they would stop breathing and die."
—Jeffrey Goldberg, writing in the New Yorker magazine 25 March 2003, relates the account of one survivor, Nouri Hama Ali, who led his family toward Anab, a resettlement center outside Halabja for those whose villages had been destroyed by the Iraqi Army. The gas attack occurred on 16 March 1988 in Halabja, Iraq.
"It is vital to realize that the continued use of chemical weapons in the present conflict increases the risk of their use in future conflicts. In view of this, and as individuals who witnessed first hand the terrible effects of chemical weapons, we again make a special plea to you to try to do everything in your power to stop the use of such weapons in the Iran-Iraq conflict and thus ensure that they are not used in future conflicts. ...In our view, only concerted efforts at the political level can be effective in ensuring that all the signatories of the Geneva Protocol of 1925 abide by their obligations. Otherwise, if the Protocol is irreparably weakened after 60 years of general international respect, this may lead, in the future, to the world facing the specter of the threat of biological weapons..."
—From the report of the third UN mission to investigate CW use during the Iran-Iraq war, 1987
[The Tartars], fatigued by such a plague and pestiferous disease, stupefied and amazed, observing themselves dying without hope of health ordered cadavers placed on their hurling machines and thrown into the city of Caffa, so that by means of those intolerable passengers the defenders died widely.
—Gabriel De Mussis,
on the Siege of Kaffa, 1346 CE
The effects of the successful gas attack were horrible. I am not pleased with the idea of poisoning men. Of course the entire world will rage about it first and then imitate us. All the dead lie on their backs with clenched fists; the whole field is yellow.
—Rudolf Binding, April 1915
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