--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To have or not to have [chemical weapons]…" description: "\"To have or not to have [chemical weapons] is a possibility, but to depend on what media says is nonsense, or to depend on some of the reports of the in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/600/bashar-al-assad-1027_chemical-weapons_to-have-or-not-to-have-chemical-weapons_2090568.jpg" --- # To have or not to have \[chemical weapons\] is a… ![“To have or not to have [chemical weapons] is a possibility, but to depend on what media says is nonsense, or to depend on some of the reports of the intelligence is nonsense and that was proven when they invaded Iraq ten years ago and they said "Iraq has stockpiles of WMD" and it was proven after…” quote by Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/600/bashar-al-assad-1027_chemical-weapons_to-have-or-not-to-have-chemical-weapons_2090568.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/600/bashar-al-assad-1027_chemical-weapons_to-have-or-not-to-have-chemical-weapons_2090568.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/600/bashar-al-assad-1027_chemical-weapons_to-have-or-not-to-have-chemical-weapons_2090568.jpg) > “To have or not to have \[chemical weapons\] is a possibility, but to depend on what media says is nonsense, or to depend on some of the reports of the intelligence is nonsense and that was proven when they invaded Iraq ten years ago and they said "Iraq has stockpiles of WMD" and it was proven after the invasion that this was false ; it was fraud. So, we can't depend on what one magazine wrote.” [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Questioning reliance on media and intelligence reports about WMDs, highlighting misinformation and fraud **In simple terms:** Media and intel can be unreliable about weapons claims Key Takeaway Skepticism toward unverified claims Themes critical thinking politics war media literacy Mood cautious skeptical Type political analytical When to use this quote - government statements - journalistic reporting - public debate - policy decisions Key Concepts propaganda verification policy making Questions to Reflect On - How can societies verify dangerous claims? - What safeguards prevent false intelligence from guiding action? A Different Perspective Media narratives may be manipulated for political ends ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chemical weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemical-weapons/) [Fraud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fraud/) [Invasion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invasion/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Reports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reports/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) ## Related quotes > [The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/the-last-un-weapons-inspectors-left-iraq-in-october-of-1998-we-are/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [Saddam's existing biological and chemical weapons capabilities pose a very real threat to America, now. Saddam has used chemical weapons before, both against Iraq's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/saddam-s-existing-biological-and-chemical-weapons-capabilities-pose-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I just don't know whether it was all destroyed years ago - I mean, there's no question that there were chemical weapons years ago…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-petraeus/i-just-don-t-know-whether-it-was-all-destroyed-years-ago-i-mean-there/) [David Petraeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-petraeus/) > [He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-waxman/he-has-systematically-violated-over-the-course-of-the-past-11-years-2/) [Henry Waxman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-waxman/) > [Well, there is no question that we have evidence and information that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, biological and chemical particularly . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-fleischer/well-there-is-no-question-that-we-have-evidence-and-information-that/) [Ari Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-fleischer/) > [We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/we-know-that-he-has-stored-secret-supplies-of-biological-and-chemical/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [There is no doubt that . Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-graham/there-is-no-doubt-that-saddam-hussein-has-reinvigorated-his-weapons/) [Bob Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-graham/) > [In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapon stock,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/in-the-four-years-since-the-inspectors-left-intelligence-reports-show/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [If left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-left-unchecked-saddam-hussein-will-continue-to-increase-his/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-waxman/he-has-systematically-violated-over-the-course-of-the-past-11-years/) [Henry Waxman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-waxman/) > [We are against any WMD, any weapons of mass destruction, whether chemical or nuclear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/we-are-against-any-wmd-any-weapons-of-mass-destruction-whether/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [John Kerry presented his confidence and his convictions. It's not about confidence, it's about evidence. The Russians have completely opposite evidence that the missiles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/john-kerry-presented-his-confidence-and-his-convictions-it-s-not/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [ Israel has WMD, and it has to sign \[chemical warfare agreement\], and Israel is occupying our land, so that's we talked about the Middle… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/israel-has-wmd-and-it-has-to-sign-chemical-warfare-agreement-and/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [As a state, as a government, in 2001 we proposed to the United Nations to empty or to get rid of every WMD in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/as-a-state-as-a-government-in-2001-we-proposed-to-the-united-nations/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [Let's talk... we have indications, let me just finish this point, because how can use WMD while your troops are only 100 meters away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/let-s-talk-we-have-indications-let-me-just-finish-this-point-because/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) ## More by Bashar al-Assad > [Lebanon was under Israeli occupation, up to its capital, but we did not consider that a disaster. Why? Because it was very clear that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/lebanon-was-under-israeli-occupation-up-to-its-capital-but-we-did-not/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [I never rejected any responsibility, but that depends on the decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/i-never-rejected-any-responsibility-but-that-depends-on-the-decision/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [If you are going to be a mediator or arbitrator you have to be in the middle between the two sides; you cannot take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/if-you-are-going-to-be-a-mediator-or-arbitrator-you-have-to-be-in-the/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [ The other thing we did as government is to open gates for the civilians to leave that \[ eastern part\] area \[in Aleppo\], and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/the-other-thing-we-did-as-government-is-to-open-gates-for-the/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [ This war \[in Syria\] is going to support Al-Qaeda and the same people that killed Americans in the 11th of September. The second thing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/this-war-in-syria-is-going-to-support-al-qaeda-and-the-same-people/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [Freedom and democracy are nothing but instruments, just like stability. The goal is called progress and growth. Anyone who puts freedom ahead of stability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/freedom-and-democracy-are-nothing-but-instruments-just-like-stability/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [ I will tell \[Barack Obama\] very simply : present what you have as evidence to the public, be transparent. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/i-will-tell-barack-obama-very-simply-present-what-you-have-as/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [ \[Enemies of Syria\] are the enemies of the people and the enemies of God. And the enemies of God will go to hell. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/enemies-of-syria-are-the-enemies-of-the-people-and-the-enemies-of-god/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [The problem is not the occupation, but how people deal with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/the-problem-is-not-the-occupation-but-how-people-deal-with-it/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [The first question that I ask : do I have public support or not. That is the first question that I asked as President.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/the-first-question-that-i-ask-do-i-have-public-support-or-not-that-is/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [The criteria or the paradigm for us is not the West, not the Western paradigm, because the West has its own culture, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/the-criteria-or-the-paradigm-for-us-is-not-the-west-not-the-western/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [ \[It is important\] to have stability and to have security, which means humanitarian equals fighting terrorists. You cannot talk about humanitarian aid and supporting… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/it-is-important-to-have-stability-and-to-have-security-which-means/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [Iran doesn't have any soldier in Syria, so how could Iran help me ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/iran-doesn-t-have-any-soldier-in-syria-so-how-could-iran-help-me/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [Conversely, it is correct to say that bringing about peace would be the best way to fight terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/conversely-it-is-correct-to-say-that-bringing-about-peace-would-be/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [The hope for an American is different from the hope of a Syrian. For me, I should be the hope of the Syrian, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/the-hope-for-an-american-is-different-from-the-hope-of-a-syrian-for/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) [Explore all 306 Bashar al-Assad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) ## More Chemical weapons quotes > [I come to this debate, Mr. Speaker, as one at the end of 10 years in office on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-come-to-this-debate-mr-speaker-as-one-at-the-end-of-10-years-in/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/the-last-un-weapons-inspectors-left-iraq-in-october-of-1998-we-are/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [My goal is to maintain the international norm on banning chemical weapons. I want that enforcement to be real. I want it to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/my-goal-is-to-maintain-the-international-norm-on-banning-chemical/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Under Saddam Hussein, the nation of Iraq possessed and used chemical weapons against both their own Kurdish population and Iranian military forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/under-saddam-hussein-the-nation-of-iraq-possessed-and-used-chemical/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [The United States, a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention, destroyed the last of its stocks of VX and other chemical agents on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/the-united-states-a-signatory-to-the-chemical-weapons-convention/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [Who cares how we avoided a war and got a dictator to give up his chemical weapons if we avoided a war and got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/who-cares-how-we-avoided-a-war-and-got-a-dictator-to-give-up-his/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Weapons of mass destruction - nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons - are just that, and no cause can excuse their use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-n-haass/weapons-of-mass-destruction-nuclear-biological-and-chemical-weapons/) [Richard N. Haass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-n-haass/) > [I believe that the topic of chemical weapons is critically important for international peace and security, and I take note of the ongoing debate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-believe-that-the-topic-of-chemical-weapons-is-critically-important/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Every day Saddam remains in power with chemical weapons, biological weapons, and the development of nuclear weapons is a day of danger for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lieberman/every-day-saddam-remains-in-power-with-chemical-weapons-biological/) [Joe Lieberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lieberman/) > [ For example, the use of chemical weapons \[in Syria\]- some on the Democrat side have said well, this encourages the North Koreans to use… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/for-example-the-use-of-chemical-weapons-in-syria-some-on-the-democrat/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-waxman/he-has-systematically-violated-over-the-course-of-the-past-11-years/) [Henry Waxman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-waxman/) > [Not all G8 members take the view that chemical weapons were in fact used by the Syrian Army. Some actually agree with us that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/not-all-g8-members-take-the-view-that-chemical-weapons-were-in-fact/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [ Actually, he gave false evidence \[of chemical weapons\]. In this case,\[John\] Kerry didn't even present any evidence. He talked "we have evidence" and he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/actually-he-gave-false-evidence-of-chemical-weapons-in-this-case-john/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [“Evolution is messy. Oftentimes our brains evolve more quickly than our capacity to love. Science has unlocked many mysteries of the universe by harnessing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-main/evolution-is-messy-oftentimes-our-brains-evolve-more-quickly-than-our/) [Darren Main](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-main/) > [Any use of chemical weapons, by anyone, under any circumstances, is a grave violation of the 1925 Protocol and other relevant rules of customary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/any-use-of-chemical-weapons-by-anyone-under-any-circumstances-is-a/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) [Browse all 126 Chemical weapons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemical-weapons/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To have or not to have [chemical weapons] is a possibility, but to depend on what media says is nonsense, or to depend on some of the reports of the intelligence is nonsense and that was proven when they invaded Iraq ten years ago and they said \"Iraq has stockpiles of WMD\" and it was proven after the invasion that this was false ; it was fraud. So, we can't depend on what one magazine wrote.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bashar al-Assad" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/to-have-or-not-to-have-chemical-weapons-is-a-possibility-but-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chemical weapons" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/to-have-or-not-to-have-chemical-weapons-is-a-possibility-but-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/600/bashar-al-assad-1027_chemical-weapons_to-have-or-not-to-have-chemical-weapons_2090568.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/600/bashar-al-assad-1027_chemical-weapons_to-have-or-not-to-have-chemical-weapons_2090568.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/600/bashar-al-assad-1027_chemical-weapons_to-have-or-not-to-have-chemical-weapons_2090568.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To have or not to have [chemical weapons] is a possibility, but to depend on what media says is nonsense, or…” — Bashar al-Assad", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bashar al-Assad", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To have or not to have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/to-have-or-not-to-have-chemical-weapons-is-a-possibility-but-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/to-have-or-not-to-have-chemical-weapons-is-a-possibility-but-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```