Cluster Bombs have been employed by various nations for decades. When dropped, the initial casing releases ‘bomblets’ that then spread across a target area. There are numerous classifications for various purposes ranging from incendiary to anti-tank to anti-personnel, and numerous others aimed at affecting specific targets such as runways and electrical infrastructures. The problem with Cluster Bombs is that not all of the bomblets explode on impact and can lay dormant for decades waiting to be triggered by innocents that happen upon them. In the 70’s the United States dropped two million tons of ordinances on Laos. Of that, it is estimated that some 260 sub-munitions did not explode and, to this day, claim the lives of innocent Laotians. In Vietnam, it is estimated that 300 civilians are killed every year by unexploded bomblets. During the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 2006 Cluster Bombs were also used by the Israeli Air Force. It is estimated that a quarter of the bomblets failed to explode and have since resulted in over 200 civilian casualties.
I mention this because tomorrow in Dublin a conference begins at which participants will attempt to negotiate a treaty that will ban the production, use, stockpile, and sale of cluster bombs. Unfortunately, some of the world’s foremost powers (the United States, China, and Russia) have refused to attend and, not surprisingly, oppose the treaty. Business is, after all, business.
Unfortunately, that’s a difficult perspective to try and explain to a 13-year-old that’s had their legs blown off, but that’s the world we live in.
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Great nations throughout history have taken pride in their weapons arsenal. These weapons are just another one of those achievements that we’re supposed to be proud of. That’s very sad.
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Thanks for the reminding us of this Matthew. I am ashamed to say that the UK – among others – is still insisting that we need them “for military purposes” and is also seeking a “transition period” of up to fifteen years until they find an alternative…shame on the world.
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I used to visit Ipperwash base in the dunes, before it was returned to First Nations. This is in Ontario, near Grand Bend.
They ALWAYS warned us about playing in the dunes and NUMEROUS signs were up saying NOT to touch anything you find.
They didn’t plant mines, thankfully, but the military training involved live ammunition and many munitions (grenades, unspent bullets etc..) did in fact remain in the dunes. Not 300/yr but many people were injured or killed as a result of kids finding something they know little about.
Anyhow, the provincial park used to do, as well as the military for provincial park visitors, demonstrations so families can school their kids in “if you find something do not touch it.”
They were often hidden in the sand so yes, sometimes curiosity was not to blame, but still the warnings helped.
While not a jungle, think of yourself as being 8 yrs old, running with your cousins and friends, jumping from dune top to dune bottom, rolling down the hills… things happen.
What should have been done is sweeping for the weapons, and I think they did a little, when they had spare cycles or someone they didn’t like in the military.
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The only time a nation with a strong military will voluntarily ban a weapon system is when that system is outdated anyway. We’ll come up with a cluster bomb ban when we have something more effective.
What should scare the fuck out of you is when the US agrees to a nuclear weapons ban.
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Sorry Sarah - pride has nothing to do with it, the weapons,in war fighting scenarios are effective, especially the anti-tank.
5% dud rate on DPCIM.
I gotta admit, on my observer course, I was always happy to be allocated some in the event of a scenario of enemy tanks. High Explosive (unless in a direct hit) does little to nothing to a tank.
Have to give a warning to your supported arms commander of the risk associated with using Improved conventional munitions - usually he’s okay with it if he doesn’t see that he’ll be using that land again anytime soon. After the Fire Support Coord centre gives you clearance it’s:
“Hail Mary full of grace
hope it lands in the right place”
It’s funny how everyone is talking about these things being in the ground. The bomblets come down on little sprial type parachutes. Consdier the risk of them getting stuck up in a tree. One day you’re walking through said forest, a strong wind blows and instead of the effect blowing up in scatters down and covers a greater area.
One should make the argument that if tanks are rarely to be used in operation tasks these days with the air superiority achieved by the States. (I say this just over a year after Canada rented some German tanks for the ‘Stan). Though if tanks exist so then will the nature of these munitions.
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Unexploded ordinances still remain buried in some of the battle grounds from World War 1; you cannot venture off the visitor trail at some of them for this reason. Similarly, unexploded bombs dropped from Japanese aircraft still lay on the bottom of Pearl Harbour.
So we are making more bombs (cluster and othe ingenious sorts) that, given the material we use today could arguably last longer than the ones we created for the two World Wars. Makes you wonder; if the ones we fired off in World War 1 can hang around for over 90 years, how long can the new ones lay buried and still remain a threat?
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I guess then they’re just another scary reality of war.
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It’s too bad the whole damned world can’t have a Tony Stark revelation.
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Some more information for those of you interested:
http://www.stopclustermunitions.org
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Tony Stark ended up supporting government intervention ala the Patriot Act in the Civil War series.
I would avoid the Stark revelations.