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Ear to the Ground

America’s Bombs Are Still Exploding in Laos

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Posted on Jun 10, 2009
news.bbc.co.uk

When the United States finished bombing Laos back in the early 1970s, it left behind an estimated 80 million unexploded bombs. They are still exploding, maiming an average of 300 people a year in the sparsely populated country. What horrors will our current adventures bring decades from now?

BBC:

American planes attacked North Vietnamese supply routes through Laos, including the Ho Chi Minh Trail, trying to stop the spread of communism.

They made Laos, per capita, the most bombed country in history.

Every year, an average of 300 people are killed or maimed by these bomblets, including many children.

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By BlueBerry Pick'n, June 11 at 6:42 am #

they’re still exploding in *France* from WWI & II.

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By mike, June 10 at 5:55 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

blackspeare 260 million cluster bombs wich can contain anywhere from 50 to 2,000 bomblets.  so lets take 500 per bomb that makes 130 billion bomblets. divide by 80 mill that a failure rate of only 1.62 %  I have seen reports that the failure rate is more like 5 to 10 %

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By BlueBerry Pick'n, June 10 at 4:39 pm #

Gee

YOU THINK MUSLIMS DON’T KNOW THIS?

just imagine how much fun they’re having in Iraq & Afghanistan.

Yeah, spread the love with some aerially administered “American Freedoms”

now, imagine how much Latin America & Canada love you…

I mean, its only a matter of time.

Just keep assassinating people, torturing & flying those Predator drones…

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By thebeerdoctor, June 10 at 11:51 am #

It would indeed be a brighter day for this world if the United States launched an initiative to stop all production of cluster bombs, and would work to deactivate all those planted and still waiting to explode. It would be good if someone would denounce the blabber of retired General Wesley Clarke, who once told Amy Goodman that he considered cluster bombs and land mines to be humanitarian weapons, an oxymoron to say the least.

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By Blackspeare, June 10 at 11:28 am #

80 million unexploded bombs——a trifle exaggeration, but who’s counting!

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