The Cluster Bomb Disgrace

[ProSense]

Morning Reaction: The Cluster Bomb Disgrace

by Kula2316

Mon Dec 01, 2008 at 12:16:41 AM PST

This Wednesday, over 100 nations will gather in Oslo to sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions, a global ban on the use of cluster bombs. The vast majority of our allies will be there: Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and many others. The United States will not. Once again, the United States laughs in the face of international cooperation and moral leadership.

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Yup, I'm sure tyranny would suddenly triumph if the United States couldn't use cluster bombs. Give me a break. The United States has said that it is developing cluster bombs that will be less prone to failure (not exploding) than the current weapon. The editorial board of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer summed up that argument perfectly back in July:

The world bans an inhumane weapon. We want to perfect it. Embarrassing.

Cluster munitions have been used in many recent conflicts. Russia used them in Georgia in 2008. Israel used them in Lebanon in 2006. The United States used them in Iraq in 2003. In each conflict, cluster munitions have caused civilian injuries and deaths, particularly of children.

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If you agree that cluster bombs should be banned, you can sign the People's Treaty, a global petition that calls on governments to sign the treaty banning cluster munitions. This is one issue I will be contacting the new Congress and President Obama about as soon as they take office. Obama wants to restore America's moral authority in the international community? This is a great place to start. You can learn more at the Cluster Munition Coalition.

more

[happychatter]

done and done - k/r NT

[LeftishBrit]

1. Done, and kicked, and recommended

This is a really burning issue. These weapons are truly evil.

[ProSense]

6. Thanks. n/t

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Sure, why not? We're on the cutting edge of...

antipersonnel mines, faux napalm and all sorts of other killing mechanisms others seem to think are barbaric. Goes along with justifications for torture, too.

And never forget the money involved-- we not only use these things, but just might be selling them to our less finicky allies.

[ITsec]

3. We should be banning nukes as well...

There's no reason for a civilized society to have such evil weapons. But hey, who ever said the United States was civil?

[grantcart]

9. and we will never use them as we now have 'smart bombs' that will

take out specific targets.

[karynnj]

4. Obama had the guts to vote against cluster bombs even when running for President

This may mean that he will work to eliminate them. Here's the Senate roll call - http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00232 The only Senators with Presidential ambitions then to vote for it were Senators Obama and Kerry.

[anonymous171]

5. Cluster Bombs sounds pretty useless for urban warfare

Why are they wasting money on it?

[Dragonfli]

7. Done K&R /nt

[ProSense]

8. Thanks. n/t

[wuushew]

10. Its obvious she doesn't support the ban because Israel is fond of the weapon

As is evidenced by use in the Lebanon war of 2006.

When something doesn't look right always suspect AIPAC.

[ProSense]

11. Perino Can’t Explain Why Bush Administration Opposes Cluster Bomb Treaty

Perino Can’t Explain Why Bush Administration Opposes Cluster Bomb Treaty

Today in Oslo, Norway, over 100 countries began signing the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The nations signing the cluster bomb treaty argue that the unexploded munitions pose a “deadly hazard to children, farmers and others long after a conflict ends.” In a surprising last-minute change of policy, Afghanistan agreed to join the treaty.

Russia and the U.S. remain two of the key holdouts to the agreement. Today during the White House press briefing, veteran reporter Helen Thomas pressed spokeswoman Dana Perino to explain the Bush administration’s opposition:

THOMAS: Is the President going to sign the anti-cluster bomb treaty? Apparently this is –

PERINO: Right, this is a treaty that was passed out of the U.N. Security Council several months ago. We said then that, no, we would not be signing on to it. And so I think that the signing is actually — we did not participate in the passage of it, and therefore we’re not going to sign it either.

THOMAS: Why not?

PERINO: What I have forgotten is all the reasons why, and so I’ll get it for you. (Laughter.)

Watch it:

(http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/03/perino-cluster-bombs/">Perino on cluster bomb treaty

When Perino was asked about the administration’s position on the treaty last May, she stressed the importance of cleaning up the munitions but not ending the practice. “We are deeply concerned about the humanitarian impact, not only of just cluster munitions, but really the whole range of munitions that are used at war,” she said. “It’s a moral obligation to clean up, and we do so.”

The State Department has acknowledged that “there are legitimate humanitarian concerns” about the use of cluster bombs, but argues that “it is going to be impossible to ban cluster munitions, as many in the Oslo process would like to do, because these are weapons that have a certain military utility and are of use. The United States relies on them as an important part of our own defense strategy.”

[Ichingcarpenter]

12. Even Afghanistan signed the treaty

Its a disgrace.