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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| IDF commander: We fired more than a million cluster bombs in Lebanon |
| 2006-09-12 |
| "What we did was insane and monstrous, we covered entire towns in cluster bombs," the head of an IDF rocket unit in Lebanon said regarding the use of cluster bombs and phosphorous shells during the war. Quoting his battalion commander, the rocket unit head stated that the IDF fired around 1,800 cluster bombs, containing over 1.2 million cluster bomblets. In addition, soldiers in IDF artillery units testified that the army used phosphorous shells during the war, widely forbidden by international law. According to their claims, the vast majority of said explosive ordinance was fired in the final 10 days of the war. The rocket unit commander stated that Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) platforms were heavily used in spite of the fact that they were known to be highly inaccurate. MLRS is a track or tire carried mobile rocket launching platform, capable of firing a very high volume of mostly unguided munitions. The basic rocket fired by the platform is unguided and imprecise, with a range of about 32 kilometers. The rockets are designed to burst into sub-munitions at a planned altitude in order to blanket enemy army and personnel on the ground with smaller explosive rounds. The use of such weaponry is controversial mainly due to its inaccuracy and ability to wreak great havoc against indeterminate targets over large areas of territory, with a margin of error of as much as 1,200 meters from the intended target to the area hit. The cluster rounds which don't detonate on impact, believed by the United Nations to be around 40% of those fired by the IDF in Lebanon, remain on the ground as unexploded munitions, effectively littering the landscape with thousands of land mines which will continue to claim victims long after the war has ended. Because of their high level of failure to detonate, it is believed that there are around 500,000 unexploded munitions on the ground in Lebanon. To date 12 Lebanese civilians have been killed by these mines since the end of the war. According to the commander, in order to compensate for the inaccuracy of the rockets and the inability to strike individual targets precisely, units would "flood" the battlefield with munitions, accounting for the littered and explosive landscape of post-war Lebanon. When his reserve duty came to a close, the commander in question sent a letter to Defense Minister Amir Peretz outlining the use of cluster munitions, a letter which has remained unanswered. 'Excessive injury and unnecessary suffering' It has come to light that IDF soldiers fired phosphorous rounds in order to cause fires in Lebanon. An artillery commander has admitted to seeing trucks loaded with phosphorous rounds on their way to artillery crews in the north of Israel. A direct hit from a phosphorous shell typically causes severe burns and a slow, painful death. International law forbids the use of weapons that cause "excessive injury and unnecessary suffering", and many experts are of the opinion that phosphorous rounds fall directly in that category. The International Red Cross has determined that international law forbids the use of phosphorous and other types of flammable rounds against personnel, both civilian and military. IDF: No violation of international law In response, the IDF Spokesman's Office stated that "International law does not include a sweeping prohibition of the use of cluster bombs. The convention on conventional weaponry does not declare a prohibition on [phosphorous weapons], rather, on principles regulating the use of such weapons. "For understandable operational reasons, the IDF does not respond to [accounts of] details of weaponry in its possession. "The IDF makes use only of methods and weaponry which are permissible under international law. Artillery fire in general, including MLRS fire, were used in response solely to firing on the state of Israel." The Defense Minister's office said it had not received messages regarding cluster bomb fire. |
| Posted by:elbud |
| #20 Iff my memory is correct, Soviet leader BREZHNEV threatened to send in Soviet milfors iff any US-or US-led UN force went in against Dad Assad. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-09-12 23:09 |
| #19 "also, I believe haaretz is the lib Israeli paper, so expect spin"--Legolas Ahem *cough* ... Haaretz is the New York Times of Israel |
| Posted by: Lancasters Over Dresden 2006-09-12 21:11 |
| #18 FYI: 1800 rockets * 518 bomblets/rkt = 932,400 1800 rockets * 644 " " = 1,159,200 Somebody get their math wrong? Al |
| Posted by: frozen al 2006-09-12 16:53 |
| #17 A million cluster bombs fired in Hezbo-land? It's a start.... |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2006-09-12 16:11 |
| #16 Not only is Haaretz the lib paper of Israel, Meron Rappaport is one of their most liberal reporters. The article smells like BS from start to finish. Entire towns destroyed by cluster bombs? Nah. Looked pretty selective by all non-muzzie accounts. Too selective if you ask me. |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2006-09-12 14:52 |
| #15 "What we did was insane and monstrous Good. Lesson learned. Start fighting on the same terms as your enemy. This isn't a tea party. Until all who fight Islam remember this one single axiom, we will get precisely nowhere while losing many unnecessary lives. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-09-12 14:50 |
| #14 The "head of an IDF rocket unit" is either a pussy or an editorial convenience allowing the newspaper to make a point. Given the performance of the IDF and the Israeli government in the Lebanese affair, either is equally likely. |
| Posted by: RWV 2006-09-12 14:39 |
| #13 An MLRS rocket carries up to 644 DPICM bomblets, though I think most US stocks are 518 bomblet A1 and A2 extended range models. MLRS comes in tracked (Bradley chassis) or wheeled (HiMARS) form. The 40% failure rate is Arab propaganda. The older bomblets had a 5% failure rate. Oh, and I would have fired them into all Hezbie controlled towns with the admonishment that next time rockets are fired south, things are going to much worse. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-09-12 14:23 |
| #12 WP is perfectly legal for use in the Geneva Conventions as smoke generation. Unless there are recordings of it being requested specifically in an anti-personnel role ("request WP. enemy in the open."), then there is almost no way to prove that its intention was AP. I might add that the US M16 rifle is prohibited for use as an anti-personnel weapon, as it is a high-velocity rifle, unlike the AK-47. Technically, a prohibited "killing", not a "wounding" weapon. For this reason, officially, our soldiers do not fire at enemy soldiers with their M16s--they fire at the weapons and equipment the enemy are wearing and carrying, which is legal. Lest you think it is hypocritical, such exceptions by different countries in the Geneva Conventions actually far outnumber the Conventions themselves. In fact, exception effectively negate the Conventions for several countries. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-09-12 14:12 |
| #11 A couple of points: either they are not referring to the US's MLRS (which is quite accurate and not a track or tire carried mobile rocket launching platform) or else they are clueless (perhaps both). Also, 1.2 M bomblets from 1800 bombs? That's 666 per bomb - seems very high to me. Finally, what would be the point of a weapon system with a 40% failure rate? Might as well throw rocks. Of course, the source for that figure was the UN... |
| Posted by: Spot 2006-09-12 14:05 |
| #10 Ha'aretz prides itself on being the New York Times of Israel, and the Grey Lady concurs. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-09-12 13:48 |
| #9 Highest proportion of moonbats in the World. |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-09-12 13:29 |
| #8 also, I believe haaretz is the lib Israeli paper, so expect spin |
| Posted by: Legolas 2006-09-12 13:19 |
| #7 Guess that didn't work. Next time fire more... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-09-12 13:14 |
| #6 Army Field Manual 6-30: The dud rate for ICM or DPICM rounds is between 2 and 3 percent in ideal conditions. However, there are several important considerations which may increase the dud rate as follows: The ICM or DPICM should not be fired into forests; mountainous areas (slope greater than 60 percent); or rocky, uneven terrain. This type of terrain may increase the dud rate and reduce the effectiveness of the rounds. Also, the effectiveness of ICM and DPICM rounds may decrease if the target area is marshy or covered with deep snow or water. Haaetz is quoting Arabist UN propaganda, including the lie phosphorous is banned, while making no mention that the muslims are storing and launching rockets from within houses and mosques. Any subsequent damage is the muslims fault and in direct violation Geneva conventions. Waiting for Belgian arrest warrants as I type. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-09-12 13:07 |
| #5 I call bullshit on this entire article. First, the MLRS is pretty darned accurate - within 20 meters of the target. Secondly, most cluster munitions are designed to explode in cascading waves anywhere from 30 seconds after impact to up to 24 hours later. This was to keep US forces from being injured by their own munitions. Thirdly, white phosphorous has NOT been outlawed by "international law", only by a non-government forum that has no enforcement capability and no authority. Someone needs to be quietly removed from his current position and reassigned to counting sand fleas in the Negev. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2006-09-12 13:02 |
| #4 City of HAMA: Assad murders 20,000 - 30,000 in a weekend circa 1982. No world reaction then or since.. |
| Posted by: borgboy 2006-09-12 12:38 |
| #3 I think this guy has lost his cookies. I wish they had done this. This would have been the proper approach. The next go around, and , there will be one, the only goal should be inflicting maximum damage and death as rapidly as possible. Just was reminded that Pappa Assad, some 20 years ago, killed 20,000 in a local revolt. Everything has been VERY quiet there since. This is the only way to get moonbats attention. They know it themselves. Just follow their lead. |
| Posted by: SOP35/Rat 2006-09-12 12:28 |
| #2 40% duds???? Seems *awfully* high; I could check at Global Security of FAS, but I'm way too lazy and will let military types comment here. Wouldnt bomblets duds be at 5% or so, perhaps 10-15% for earlier gen??? |
| Posted by: anonymous5089 2006-09-12 12:22 |
| #1 War is hell. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-09-12 12:10 |