Let me at the outset be very clear about our motivations.
The United States has, both as a matter of national policy and international effort, foresworn chemical weapons as a matter of warfare. We signed and ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention. We are committed to its implementation and to a strong and viable Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
Even before joining the OPCW, the United States began destruction of its chemical weapons stockpile. Destruction activities continue apace, and are, in the aftermath of the threat exemplified by the cowardly attacks on the United States and the civilized world of last September 11, accelerating. Let there be absolutely no misunderstanding of our intention with regard to chemical disarmament.
The United States has spent, to date, over $10 billion -- that is billion with a "b" -- on chemical disarmament. We are continuing to spend over $1 billion a year on chemical disarmament -- more than the rest of the world has ever spent on chemical weapons destruction. We have indeed contributed already over $250 million to the destruction of chemical weapons in the Russian Federation.
The United States has, both as a matter of national policy and international effort, foresworn chemical weapons as a matter of warfare. We signed and ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention. We are committed to its implementation and to a strong and viable Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
Even before joining the OPCW, the United States began destruction of its chemical weapons stockpile. Destruction activities continue apace, and are, in the aftermath of the threat exemplified by the cowardly attacks on the United States and the civilized world of last September 11, accelerating. Let there be absolutely no misunderstanding of our intention with regard to chemical disarmament.
The United States has spent, to date, over $10 billion -- that is billion with a "b" -- on chemical disarmament. We are continuing to spend over $1 billion a year on chemical disarmament -- more than the rest of the world has ever spent on chemical weapons destruction. We have indeed contributed already over $250 million to the destruction of chemical weapons in the Russian Federation.