Why are Chemical Weapons Worse?

The World
While President Obama focuses today on the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington his administration is grappling with a very difficult decision on Syria. The conflict there could expand. Israel and other nations across the Middle East are mobilizing reserves and going on high-alert because of fears of a regional war. The US and its allies are mulling the possibility of a military strike to punish the Syrian government for its alleged use of chemical weapons last week. But huge questions remain–over the current lack of evidence of responsibility for the attack; and what legal authority there is for war. Peter Beinart has his own question. Beinart is senior political writer for the Daily Beast. He wants to know: "Why is it worse to kill civilians with chemical weapons than some other way?"
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