2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: On what issue is Hillary better than Bernie? [View all]Divernan
(15,480 posts)The main point: Hillary Clinton voted to let our military continue to use cluster bombs in areas with concentrated civilian populations, despite the thousands of innocent children who have died or been handicapped due to picking up unexploded cluster bomblets.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/12/21/425303/-Hillary-Clinton-Voted-to-Continue-Cluster-Bombing-Civilians
Clinton's vote in support of continued use of cluster bombs was cast September 6, 2006 on an amendment to the Defense Appropriations act by Senator Dianne Feinstein - Senate amendment 4882 to H.R. 5631 (Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2007.
Statement of Purpose: To protect civilian lives from unexploded cluster munitions.
http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2008-03-18/article/29503
Commentary: Hillary Clintons Shameful Vote on Cluster Bombs
By Paul Rockwell
Tuesday March 18, 2008-
I. CLUSTER BOMBS
On September 6, 2006, a Senate billa simple amendment to ban the use of cluster bombs in civilian areaspresented Senator Clinton with a timely opportunity to protect the lives of children throughout the world. The cluster bomb is one of the most hated and heinous weapons in modern war, and its primary victims are children.
Senator Obama voted for the amendment to ban cluster bombs. Senator Clinton, however, voted with the Republicans to kill the humanitarian bill, an amendment in accord with the Geneva Conventions, which already prohibit the use of indiscriminate weapons in populated areas.
All senators are expected to inform themselves on the issues before they cast a vote. The evidence is overwhelming. It is hard to believe that Senator Clinton was unaware of the humanitarian crisis when she voted to continue the use of cluster bombs in cities and populated areas. A U.N. weapons commission called cluster bombs weapons of indiscriminate effect. For years the international press reported the horrific consequences of cluster bombs on civilians. On April 10, 2003, for example, Asia Times described the carnage in Baghdad hospitals: The absolute majority of patients are women and children, victims of shrapnel, and most of all, fragments of cluster bombs. Reporting from a hospital in Hillah, The Mirror, a British newspaper, became graphic: Shrapnel peppered their bodies. Blackened the skin. Smashed heads. Tore limbs. A doctor reports that all the injuries you see were caused by cluster bombs. The majority of the victims were children who died because they were outside."
IN STARK CONTRAST, BERNIE SANDERS OPPOSED THEM
Bernie Sanders assumed office in the Senate on January 3, 2007. The following month, on February 14, 2007, as a brand new, freshman Senator, Bernie introduced (with co-sponsors Dianne Feinstein (CA), Patrick Leahy (VT), Barbara Mikulski (MD) the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act of 2007 (S. 594). This far-reaching legislation would have banned the use of cluster munitions in or near civilian populated areas, and prohibit funds for the use, sale, and transfer of cluster munitions with a failure rate of more than 1 percent. The bill was referred to the Senate committee on Foreign Relations, then chaired by Republican Richard Lugar, where it died. https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/594/all-info
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_Foreign_Relations
While administration officials dawdle, some policymakers are beginning to pay attention. On February 14, 2007, Senators Dianne Feinstein (CA), Patrick Leahy (VT), Barbara Mikulski (MD), and Bernie Sanders (VT) introduced the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act of 2007 (S. 594). This far-reaching legislation would ban the use of cluster munitions in or near civilian populated areas, and prohibit funds for the use, sale, and transfer of cluster munitions with a failure rate of more than 1 percent.
http://fpif.org/a_cluster_bomb_treaty_again_its_the_us_v_the_world/
Hillary supported the use of land mines and cluster bombs, regardless of how many children were killed and maimed by same. Guess she hadn't "evolved" into being a self-proclaimed champion of children yet. I want a president who will not only honor but strengthen the Geneva Conventions.That ain't "never-served-a-day-in-uniform-but dodged-sniper-fire-in-Bosnia, Hillary Clinton."
"The crimes hereinafter set out are punishable as crimes under international law: wanton destruction of cities, towns, or villages, or destruction not justified by military necessity." -- Nuremberg conventions, Principle VI
Combatants "shall at all times distinguish between the civilian population and combatants and between civilian objects and military objectives and, accordingly, shall direct their operations only against military objectives." -- Geneva Conventions, part IV, Article 48