Cluster bombs banned in UK

[kwicky]

Today its been announced that the UK is acting independently to ban the production of cluster bombs and prevent any more killing of innocent children by picking up explosive bomblets. All current stocks will also be destroyed. Do you agree with me that the UK Defence Dept has acted courageously and that other countries are likely to follow our lead?

[Gromit]

The ban is to be welcomed.

The decission however, might be more due to the fact that the weapon itself isn't really suitable anymore to modern warfare. Cluster bombs need to be deployed from a low level pass making the aircraft very vunerable to enemy attack. The RAFs experience in Iraq has probably also influenced the decission, as its useage has proven ineffective.

Most bombing these days is done from high altitude and is usually laser guided for better accuracy. The Israelis used cluster bombs recently in Lebanon resulting in many civilian casualites, but they were aiming largely at sitting duck targets that were poorly defended.

[kwicky]

It was noticed that the major powers ie USA, Russia and China do not agree with the ban and refused to attend the seminar in Norway on the subject. I believe that the bombing in Lebanon by Israel using cluster ammunition decided the UKs decision. Cluster bombs are not much different to using land mines so I suppose a stand had to be made.

[Gromit]

USA and Russia manufacture them. Don't know about China.

I believe that US pilots are partial to Turkey Shoots.

[maxximus]

no, it is not courageous it is only a partial ban. the ban is only on so-called ' dumb' cluster bombs. the ban does not apply to the so-called ' smart ' cluster bomb. the ' smart ' cluster bomb was used recently in lebanon by the israeli's and aparantly 85% of it's casualities were civilian. acting courageously would be to ban this type of weapon period! and make the sale of them illegal.

[maxximus]

hopefully other countries will follow belgium's lead. http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/a/118.htm l but as was said earlier, any ban is welcome.

[kwicky]

I suppose if you are a non-aggressor or producer of these weapons introducing a ban is an easy option. I do hope their initiative bears fruit though!

[maxximus]

that's a fair point kwicky.