I have a question regarding the legality of Syria using gas....

[Little Star]

Is there an actual international law against any country using these kinds of WMD's?

The reason I ask is, I keep hearing "It's against international law and/or "It's against international norms". Which is it?

Thanks, LS

ps: I am only asking about the legality not the morality.

[Robb]

1. ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_Weapons_Convention#Member_states

[Little Star]

3. Thanks. So it's not actually international law it's just international norms. Correct?

[Robb]

5. Just like the Geneva Conventions.

[idwiyo]

7. Syria is not a signatory to Chemical Weapons Convention. Guess from their point of view its makes it

legal for them to use the weapons.

As an example, US is a signatory to CCW but not to protocol III of CCW. Because of it US has no problems with stockpiling and using Napalm B and White Phosphorous.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napalm#International_law

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_phosphorous#Military_regulations

[Little Star]

9. Bingo

[malaise]

2. Even Obama has been very careful to use

norms and not laws. Do you know why Obama used 98% of the world's countries...? He knows Syria never signed on to any of that just like the US refusing to sign on to the International Criminal Court.

[Little Star]

4. Kerry was careful also. But DU, not so much.

[malaise]

6. 100% correct

[Little Star]

8. .

[Nuclear Unicorn]

10. Norms enforced by 3 self-selected nations, one of whom has been democratically told to stand down

This is a war of choice for ego.

[malaise]

11. You mean selectively enforced norms

By the way didn't 'interests' in the one told to stand down sell the chemical weapons to Syria.

[Niceguy1]

12. nope..those

Turned out to be common chrmicals used in manufacturing..one of them is used in toothpaste.