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 Cluster Bomb Treaty Steps ForwardPosted on Dec 3, 2008
It looks like a pact to ban current cluster bomb designs will take another step forward, with more than 100 countries slated to sign the treaty in the next couple of days. This is the next stage in a process, begun in Dublin in May 2008, to reduce the use of cluster bombs in warfare. However, the U.S., Russia and China—the largest cluster bomb manufacturers—so far have refused to sign on.
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By Folktruther, December 9, 2008 at 4:41 pm #
That the US refuses to ban cluster bombs one would expect; it’s foreign policy is militarized, barbarous and brutal. That China refused to sign it indicates that its imperialism, when it replaces the US as the world’ leading country in the next decade or so, will aslo be brutal.
Report thisBy KDelphi, December 5, 2008 at 3:58 am #
Bob Bentley—Umm…you do know that the “Cold War” is over, no? BTW—nobody “won”..
Of course, we could also sign it, if, we only selfishly care if they are used on US—we are no longer the unipolar world power—if we ever were.
Who the hell wants to be?
Your kids, their kids, they are all kids. If you dont know who you are killing, it is so much easier, huh? I suggest you look them in the face.Or look at YOUR kids—want them used on them?
Neither do I!
Report thisBy troublesum, December 4, 2008 at 11:19 am #
The purpose of cluster bombs is to terrorize civilian populations which is always part of any US war effort. Cluster bombs, munitions containing spent uranium, agent orange, napalm, white phosphorus - these things are all methods of terrorizing civilians. democracynow reported yesterday that over 60% of the victims of cluster bombs are civilians and more that 40% of those are children. Going after the children is a favorite tactic of the US military in the third world.
Report thisBy Bob Bentley, December 4, 2008 at 4:11 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Within their admittedly limited role, cluster munitions are highly effective. During the height of the Cold War, when so many commentators both civil and military fully expected hordes of Soviet tanks to pour through the Fulda Gap, cluster-delivered bombs, mines and so on were seen as a vital force multiplier.
Report thisYet now we have treaties banning their manufacture and use. But I must ask, who introduced these documents? Nations able to manufacture effective cluster munitions of their own, or simply those who wish to ensure that such weapons would not be used against them? Making ‘cluster-bombs’ is really no more difficult than napalm, but getting it right, such that a consistent, repeatable pattern occurs with every drop, is far more difficult.
Therefore, I should like to introduce a weapons limitation proposal of my own. Might I suggest that a complete, 5-year moritorium be placed on the manufacture and deployment of all quantum-compression, anti-matter-based Planet Crackers? After all, I can’t make one, so no one else should either.
By Ray, December 4, 2008 at 2:13 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Just a shame we cannot get the big guns on board for these types of agreements… :(
Report thisBy msgmi, December 3, 2008 at 7:59 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Any cluster bomb producing/deploying country leader who believes that cluster bombs are a vital weapon in order to repel an enemy front is propagating denial and deception. They all have arsenals of sophisticated weapons in stock that can do the job better. Studies show that these cluster droplets do more damage to the civilian population than the enemy. The victims of these droplet should be heard and their executioners should listen. Unfortunately, the deaf & dumb leadership has to keep the cluster bomb manufacturers in business; profits rules.
Report thisBy KDelphi, December 3, 2008 at 7:43 pm #
If you have questions about whether we should be a signatory, read the BBC article link here…look at the video. Designed to PRODUCE “collateral damage”!
We can expect this, at least.
Why do so many of these international stories have to come out of BBC, or UK, or Le Monde? I know we “have the internet”—but many dont! They should know about this stuff.
Report thisBy skulz fontaine, December 3, 2008 at 2:27 pm #
Cluster bombs are good. They deliver a message far into the future. “We’ll kill you now and we’ll kill you later! We’ll amputate the legs of your children and, remotely of course, we’ll screw with you for generations, and we’ll walk away with our legs and dignity intact.” Cowardice, thy name is war machine!
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