February 25, 2007
Cluster Bombs
Cluster bombs have been used over the last 60 years in about 17 countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan.
During the war against Iraq in 1991, Iraqi soldiers called this weapon “steel rain”.
The submunitions are designed to explode on impact, which differentiates them from antipersonnel mines, which are designed to be activated by the victim.
However, when cluster bombs fail to explode as expected, they remain hazardous and will explode when touched or disturbed.
http://www.handicap-international.org.uk/page_347.php
First Global Report on Cluster Munitions:
http://www.handicap-international.org.uk/page_597.php
>related: 46 of 49 Nations OK Ban on Cluster Bombs
OSLO, Norway (AP) - Forty-six nations adopted a declaration Friday calling for a 2008 treaty banning cluster bombs, saying the weapons kill and maim long after conflicts end and inflict ``unacceptable harm'' on civilians, particularly children.
Some key arms makers - including the U.S., Russia, Israel and China - snubbed the conference of 49 nations. Of those attending, Poland, Romania and Japan did not approve the final text.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6435402,00.html
>also: On Sept 6, 2006 Feinsten Amendment 4882 was defeated:
Comment: The bill was " To protect civilian lives from unexploded cluster munitions." Voting Nope, don't protect civilians, were: Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Joseph Biden, Senator Evan Bayh, Senator Chris Dodd, Senator Daniel Inouye, Senator Mary Landrieu, Senator Frank Lautenberg, Senator Joe Lieberman, Senator Blanche Lincoln, Senator Joseph Schumer, Senator Jay Rockefeller, Senator Ben Nelson, Senator Bill Nelson, Senator Mark Pryor, Senator Ken Salazar. All the other Democrats, including Kerry and Obama voted FOR the resolution. All the Republicans voted against it with the Democrats listed above.
archived & comments | Unknown News
Posted by Stubbornson at February 25, 2007 02:36 PM