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Ear to the Ground

U.S. Truant as Cluster Bomb Treaty Is Signed

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Posted on May 30, 2008
Cluster Bombs Feet
lemonodor.com

About two dozen unexploded cluster bombs outside an elementary school in Afghanistan.

One hundred eleven countries have signed a comprehensive ban on the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster bombs, concluding a 12-day meeting on the issue in Dublin. Notably absent from the list of signatories was the U.S.—the largest cluster bomb manufacturer in the world—as well as military heavyweights Israel, Russia, China, India and Pakistan. Cluster bombs are widely criticized as being disastrous to civilian populations both during and after wars, because fallen but unexploded bomblets can remain active and potentially lethal for decades.


Voice of America:

Delegates from 111 countries have formally adopted a comprehensive ban on cluster bombs.

The treaty comes at the close of a 12-day meeting Friday in Dublin and bans the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster bombs.  It requires signatories to destroy their stocks within eight years and to assist in clearing contaminated areas.

The United States - one of the world’s largest cluster bomb makers - opposes a ban.  It boycotted the Dublin conference, along with Israel, Russia, China, India and Pakistan.

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By skulz fontaine, May 31, 2008 at 12:22 pm #

And and, the U.S. could make napalm cluster bombs and nuclear cluster bombs and yeah, the U.S. could call those nuclear cluster bombettes. Heck, Israel would jump on those in a Noo Yawk nuclear minute. The U.S. could make John Yoo cluster bombs and we’d have to call those ‘nuanced’ cluster torture bombs. Rendition cluster bombs and detention cluster bombs and those would bear the “official seal of the CIA” and even “if” the bombs were illegal by international convention, some sphincter-clown Justice Department legal eagle would posit in twisted and convoluted legalese that why yes indeed, even though the bombs would be “technically” illegal, they are in fact “legal” because he said so.  Yeah, the possibilities here are almost endless. The U.S. “would” come up with ‘anthrax’ cluster bombs but, in a bizarre twist of ‘thermo-technical’ redaction, the U.S. HAS IN FACT already invented an ‘anthrax’ cluster bomb and the military “tested” the bomb way back in 2001. Wow, go figure.

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By birdflewover, May 31, 2008 at 6:22 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Russia, China, the USA, Pakistan…are all terrorist states but India??? I don’t understand why India didn’t sign?

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By Don Stivers, May 31, 2008 at 1:53 am #

This is why I cringe now when I hear God Bless America and our National Anthem.

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By Fadel Abdallah, May 30, 2008 at 7:47 pm #

Now you know who are the merchants of death and the terrorists of the world.
Another disgrace for the U.S. brought courtesy of Bush and gang.

Presidential candidates should be asked about where do they stand on this issue, so we might see if there is a difference!

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By PatrickHenry, May 30, 2008 at 7:16 pm #

As you can see by the picture, several of the munitions didn’t go off or self destruct.  I as a U.S. taxpayer want my money back for defective mechandise.

Where in America do they make these devices?  Maybe the remaining states can boycott goods and services from the state or corporation which makes these lethal “cluster bombs” and non-lethal toothpaste, car wax or imports them from other countries.

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By cyrena, May 30, 2008 at 5:21 pm #

Well, I knew the US and Israel weren’t gonna show up. I guess there’s no surprise on Russia, China, India and Pakistan either.

Seeing as weapons of all shapes/makes/models/sizes are the largest export for the US, why would they even consider signing on to such a treaty? I’m surprised they didn’t send a lobbyist to threaten the other 111 countries that did.

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By suziq, May 30, 2008 at 4:59 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Corporations making US policy decisions.

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