Article

2009-12-11 Iraq

HRW warns about US cluster bombs in Iraq

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Posted by Fred 2009-12-11 00:00|| || Front Page|| [1 views ] Top

#1 over 61-thousand cluster bombs

Oh, yeah? I heard from some guy at The Lancet it was like 61 million cluster bombs. In fact, it's gotten so bad, you can't even open your sock drawer without finding a cluster bomb. HRW & PressTV, it's a match made in heaven.

Posted by SteveS 2009-12-11 00:41|| 2009-12-11 00:41|| Front Page Top

#2 Aren't cluster bomblets meant to explode during an action? Or are they little 'mines' meant to explode in the undetermined future? If the former, then what's the difference between their duds and the Nazi bomb dug up in England not long ago? Duds have been around since explosives were invented. If the latter, then they should be included in the efforts (whether misguided or not) to ban land mines rather than starting a whole new treaty effort.

Posted by Glenmore 2009-12-11 09:17|| 2009-12-11 09:17|| Front Page Top

#3 A total of 103 countries who can't afford cluster bombs have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions

Posted by Formerly Dan 2009-12-11 13:18|| 2009-12-11 13:18|| Front Page Top

#4 More white noise from the left. 1991 we invaded Iraq to drive them from Kuwait, where Iraqi's were raping and pilaging that small country. But thats not on the left's agenda today. I'm suprised this whole thing is not blamed on Bush/Cheney and further suprised they did not blame Cheney for Diana's death...

Posted by 49 Pan 2009-12-11 03:34|| 2009-12-11 03:34|| Front Page Top

#5 What a crock of bull. Cluster munitions are large bombs filled with little bombs. They're dropped in areas where infantry troops are either massing or dug in, not anywhere and everywhere. There is a known 'dud' factor of about 10%. Let's say that Allied forces dropped 80,000 weapons since 1991. Each 'weapon' contains up to 72 sub-munitions (or as low as 24). 80,000*72 = 5,760,000 sub-munitions. Ten percent of that if 576,000 possible 'duds' that haven't exploded.
Duds have a habit of exploding whenever they're disturbed, or when weather factors are significant (extreme heat/cold). In addition, most US cluster munitions manufactured since the mid-70's have a "delayed destruction" mechanism that causes them to detonate within a certain period after being dropped. That delay seldom exceeds three months, and is 99% accurate. HRW, as usual, is blowing smoke, trying to make war as hard as possible so "sensible" people won't be able to wage it.

Such "sensible" people are usually the first ones attacked by barbarians that exist in every nation. Look to Sudan, Venezuela, "Myanmar" (Burma), and the Philippines for examples.

Posted by Old Patriot 2009-12-11 04:38|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/ 2009-12-11 04:38|| Front Page Top

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