Cluster Bomb Ban Powers Ahead Despite US Absence

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Human Rights Watch

Cluster Bomb Ban Powers Ahead Despite US Absence
17 Sep 2011 18:54

Source: Content partner // Human Rights Watch

The new international convention banning cluster bombs is already having a powerful impact despite the absence of the United States and other major powers.


(Beirut) - The new international convention banning cluster bombs is already having a powerful impact despite the absence of the United States and other major powers, Human Rights Watch said on September 17, 2011, as a diplomatic meeting of the convention concluded in Beirut, Lebanon.

"This week's meeting has shown how the cluster bomb ban is not only working, it is powering ahead in bringing more states on board and in destroying cluster munitions. The US and other nations should join them," said Steve Goose, director of the Arms Division at Human Rights Watch and co-chair of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC). "Every cluster munition destroyed represents future lives saved."

The week-long Second Meeting of States Parties to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions concluded on September 16 in Lebanon, a country which remains seriously contaminated by cluster munitions. A total of 131 governments participated in the meeting, including 40 observer nations that have not yet joined the convention, an extraordinarily high number.

Participants adopted the Beirut Declaration, a commitment of support for the convention that strongly condemns the use of cluster munitions by any actor and states, "Together, we are compelled to do more for to accomplish our collective goal - a world free of cluster munitions."




Read more: http://www.trust.org/trustlaw/news/cluster-bomb-ban-powers-ahead-despite-us-absence

[Cool Logic]

1. Does anyone really believe that there is a civilized manner in which to wage war...?

In my view, the term "civilized war" is an oxymoron of the highest order!

I hate war! But if this country is going to ask our sons and daughters to put their lives on the line, I expect the tactics we employ to be of the nature that will give them the best chance to be alive when the horror of it all comes to an end.

In other words, we should endeavor to avoid conflict; however, if we must engage, we must win. That means "everything is on the table."

[polly7]

3. "According to Amnesty international, the victims of cluster bombs are 98 per cent civilians

and 30 per cent children."

http://www.stopwar.org.uk/index.php/middle-east-and-north-africa/780-has-wikileaks-exposed-the-real-reason-for-the-wests-war-on-libya

http://www.stopclustermunitions.org/the-problem/real-stories/

[Cool Logic]

6. Well, perhaps we should endeavor to make war a bit more horrible...

and a little less "civilized."

Perhaps then, we wouldn't be so gung-ho about engaging in them.

[polly7]

8. How could it possibly get more horrible?

Oh, you mean for those waging it? Because as far as I can tell, the victims of these cluster bomb horrors can't have it any worse. I despise war. It's the ugliest thing imaginable. But, how would you suggest making it more horrible?

And don't you think drones, the largest military budget in the world, the deadliest weapons ever made, aren't already being used and 'on the table'?

[ronnie624]

12. We who perpetrate war, will make it worse for our victims,

and that will somehow temper our violent hand?

Interesting.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. That seems awefully high

AI's stats on this area have always been highly variable as well

[polly7]

9. Even if the numbers AI published were half that ...... it would still

be 100 times too many.

[Violet_Crumble]

11. Agreed. And to put that exchange with the other poster into perspective...

Here's a thread I found where they support the use of cluster bombs.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7948837&mesg_id=7951772

[ronnie624]

13. Disgusting. n/t

[Enrique]

2. destroying stockpiles

:bounce:

...Notable announcements at the meeting included Slovenia stating that it has finished destroying its stockpiled cluster munitions, making it the ninth state party to do so. The UK and Germany, both major stockpilers, announced that they each have destroyed more than 60 percent of their stockpiles.

"This extraordinarily rapid destruction of stockpiles just one year into the life of the convention demonstrates the strong commitment of governments to urgently tackle this issue," said Goose...

[awoke_in_2003]

4. they aren't cluster bombs...

they are freedom bombs :sarcasm:

[lsewpershad]

5. Not

convenient for our war economy and war merchants.

[Hoosier Daddy]

10. Kick

[defendandprotect]

14. No clearer sign than that our government and MIC are corrupt -- disgusting!!