Pope welcomes cluster munitions ban, urges more countries to sign

[Holly3278]

Vatican City, Aug 1, 2010 / 08:04 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- It was with “great contentment” that Benedict XVI observed the first day of the worldwide ban on cluster munitions, which took effect on Sunday. The Vatican participated in the talks that led to the international agreement, focusing upon the “logic of peace.”

A total of 107 states have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), adopting its ban in May 2008. The convention prohibits “all use, stockpiling, production and transfer of Cluster Munitions." According to the CCM, the agreement also includes articles which address victim assistance, the clearance of contaminated areas and the elimination of stockpiles.

catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-welcomes-cluster-munitions-ban-urges-more-countries-to-sign/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+catholicnewsagency%2Fdailynews+%28CNA+Daily+News%29

This is good. I am glad that the Pope is against these cluster bombs.

 

[Lutheranteach]

The U.S. still uses cluster bombs and land mines. Two things I wish we would replace.

 

[Adeodatus]

The U.S. still uses cluster bombs and land mines. Two things I wish we would replace.

The USA even has cluster land mines, in a manner of speaking (FASCAM). If they haven’t retired those by now.

 

[Dale_M]

The U.S. still uses cluster bombs and land mines. Two things I wish we would replace.

It is possible that the US could agree, to some extent, to limit its use of land mines. The US Senate, a couple months ago, sent a letter signed by 68 Senators, urging the President to conduct a comprehensive review of its land mine policy. This happened about a half year after President Obama stated we would not sign the Land Mine Treaty.

White House and State Department spokesmen emphasized Friday that the administration is in the midst of a comprehensive review, cutting across all affected agencies, that will not be completed for some months. But two senior U.S. officials speaking on the condition of anonymity indicated that the administration is actively looking for ways to come into compliance with the treaty without endangering national security needs.

Another senior U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said the administration is looking at what new technologies could be used to bring the United States into compliance with the treaty while also allowing it to respond to threats such as North Korea. Some military officials want to maintain the U.S. stockpile in case it is needed to slow an invasion of South Korea by the North. About 30,000 U.S. forces are stationed in the South.

The Pentagon declined to say whether it would support the treaty, citing the Obama administration’s review. “It would be premature at this time to provide any statement until the review is complete,” said Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon press secretary.

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/07/AR2010050705089_2.html

A common defense of land mine use by the US is that they are needed to protect against a North Korean invasion of South Korea. I can’t evaluate that, but I imagine that similar scenarios are envisioned in other military situations.

Adeodatus mentioned cluster land mines. I admit I know nothing about them, but according to GlobalSecurity.org, they are a way of creating minefields in situations which conventional mines can not be laid. Such cluster bomb minefields are temporary, with the bomblets self-detonating after a set period of time (perhaps minutes or days, depending upon their setting.) Since these cluster bomb minefields can be rapidly deployed via aircraft or artillery perhaps they would be a substitute for conventional mines?

The Washington Post article also makes brief mention of landmines which self-destruct after a set time period. Perhaps this too would be a way of minimizing the danger posed by mines, yet still allow their use.