Inquiry Opened Into Israeli Use of U.S. Bombs (NYT)

[spindrifter]

By DAVID S. CLOUD
Published: August 25, 2006

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 — The State Department is investigating whether Israel’s use of American-made cluster bombs in southern Lebanon violated secret agreements with the United States that restrict when it can employ such weapons, two officials said.

The investigation by the department’s Office of Defense Trade Controls began this week, after reports that three types of American cluster munitions, anti-personnel weapons that spray bomblets over a wide area, have been found in many areas of southern Lebanon and were responsible for civilian casualties.

Gonzalo Gallegos, a State Department spokesman, said, “We have heard the allegations that these munitions were used, and we are seeking more information.” He declined to comment further.

Several current and former officials said that they doubted the investigation would lead to sanctions against Israel but that the decision to proceed with it might be intended to help the Bush administration ease criticism from Arab governments and commentators over its support of Israel’s military operations. The investigation has not been publicly announced; the State Department confirmed it in response to questions.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/25/world/middleeast/25cluster.html?hp&ex=1156478400&en=c0afa26258462286&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Tom Joad]

1. This is wonderful news. I do expect it to be a whitewash, however.

In Lebanon today, where whole apartment blocks were demolished, there are signs stating that the blame is on the United States. And it was the United States that made such destruction possible.

That Lebanon today is littered with so many cluster bombs is also the responsibility of the United States, not only because it provided the weapons, but because of the loyal diplomatic support it got from the United States, from Bush but even more so from Congress.

[Marrak]

2. You mean..."whitehouse" wash?

As in Making Friends, Influencing People!:banghead:

[newyorican]

3. Weren't we treated...

to report after report of those insidious Hezbollah rockets that sprayed ball-bearings indiscriminately? Mention of the use of cluster bombs appears to be rather subdued in contrast.

[Scurrilous]

4. Five Lebanese wounded in cluster bomb explosions in south

<snip>

"Five Lebanese, included four children from the same family, were wounded by cluster bombs left over from the Israeli offensive that exploded in two southern Lebanese villages on Saturday, Lebanese security officials said.

One cluster bomb exploded outside a home in the village of Blida, wounding four children from the same family, the officials said. It was not clear whether the children, whose ages were not immediately known, were playing with the bomb or had stepped on it by accident.

Separately, a Lebanese goat shepherd was wounded when another cluster bomb exploded in the border village of Aitaroun, less than five kilometers (three miles) south of Blida. He was being treated in a nearby hospital, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

Since a UN-brokered cease-fire took hold Aug. 14, eight Lebanese have been killed by exploding ordnance, including two children, and 38 people have been wounded, according to a UN count."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/754988.html