Handicap International is speaking out against the United States for pressuring European and African nations not to participate in the cluster bomb treaty. Why would the United States have interest in such a thing? The US is one of the world’s largest arms manufacturers and they sell millions of dollars in weapons such as these every year. Also if they participated in the treaty, they would no longer be able to use this weapon, which has provided them military success in the past.
Handicap International is interested in supporting the Treaty to ban cluster bombs because these bombs often kill and disfigure civilians. They believe any use of such weapons as inhumane and immoral. Another problem with cluster bombs is that they contain small mini bombs inside them that scatter over several miles. These mini bombs can then explode years after the initial attack has taken place. Therefore they are capable of causing damage to a nation that the United States could have come to peace with.
The treaty begins may 19th and is expected to have over 100 countries involved. Major players such as Russia, China, and the United States will not participate in the Treaty.
Cluster bombs are among the most dangerous weapons for civilians. Handicap International estimates that 98 percent of those killed by Cluster bomb use were civilians. Tragically, a large percentage of that number was children.
This brings us back to a similar moral dilemma that we discussed a few days ago with the Atomic Bomb. Who can say what is the correct thing to do? I think that so much depends on the circumstance and the issues surrounding the use of such weapons. If you have comments on the usage or effects of cluster bombs, please let us know what you think. As always, we appreciate your input.
