Obama Administration Announces Exception To Land Mine Ban For Stockpile In South Korea

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

Associated Press | 42 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — Three months after announcing its intention to largely comply with an international treaty banning land mines, the Obama administration on Tuesday carved out an exception for its stockpile of the weapons on the Korean Peninsula.

The White House, Pentagon and State Department announced the move in simultaneous statements as President Barack Obama prepared to travel to New York to address the United Nations General Assembly. They said the U.S. remains committed to joining the Ottawa Convention that involves 161 other nations, including all other NATO members, and will uphold treaty requirements outside of Korea.

That means the U.S. will not use anti-personnel land mines outside of the Korean peninsula, will not "assist, encourage or induce" anyone outside the peninsula to do so and will move to destroy land mine stocks not required to on the peninsula.

"Even as we take these further steps, the unique circumstances on the Korean Peninsula and our commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea preclude us from changing our anti-personnel land mine policy there at this time," the White House said. "We will continue our diligent efforts to pursue solutions that would be compliant with and ultimately allow us to accede to the Ottawa Convention while ensuring our ability to meet our alliance commitments to the Republic of Korea."

Read more: http://www.newser.com/article/4cf144b4ccfd4c1883fe9034a28fdecb/obama-administration-announces-exception-to-land-mine-ban-for-stockpile-in-south-korea.html

[RufusTFirefly]

1. A couple of Nobel Peace Prize winners

1997: International Campaign to Ban Landmines , Jody Williams
2009: Barack H. Obama

What's wrong with this picture?

[warrant46]

17. The picture is correct

They are saying land mines for peaceful purposes are OK.

It only matters when the proponents justify what a peaceful purpose is---

[Dont call me Shirley]

2. This is disgusting, land mines anywhere in the world are barbaric.

[Feral Child]

3. "...except where we really

want to use land mines."

Kind of negates the purpose of a banning treaty, doesn't it?

[Trillo]

4. Yeah, that's what I was thinking.

Ban for the purposes of exception? WTF?

[Feral Child]

5. You'd think

that half of Americans were below average intelligence to fall for the jingoism.

[FLPanhandle]

6. Considering the size army on the other side of the border and crazy factor of NK's leadership

Land mines in the border area is probably preferable to removing them and having to increase the size of the US forces there.

Those land mines are in a small confined area where civilians can't roam while providing a large deterrent to a ground invasion (or at least a high cost of any land invasion).

[warrant46]

12. Why not just use poison gas ?

Last edited Wed Sep 24, 2014, 12:41 PM - Edit history (1)

Maybe a few biological agent shells Like Anthrax also might be used in a pinch.

This in response to your Quote "Those land mines are in a small confined area where civilians can't roam while providing a large deterrent to a ground invasion (or at least a high cost of any land invasion). "

Poison gas is apparently legal with no treaty restrictions, landmines on the other hand are Forbidden by treaty. But the American way is who cares about treaties !!

The USA is ruled presently by the 1% and their allies in the MIC.

The 1% needs to create boogie men behind every Wall. IE--- Castro, the fat slob in charge of North Korea, the guys running Venezuela, Osama's descendants, the Cali Cartel the Sinaloa Cartel etc etc.

They have now created another war frenzy to get the sheep to spend even more $$$ on their endless wars, meanwhile the disabled veterans they created in the LAST WAR are ignore ie used up and thrown away.

But why worry about South Korea anyway they are about to buy 40 of theses Beauties for $7 Billion $ US. This should keep the big guy in the North shaking in his slippers

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/24/us-southkorea-airforce-orders-idUSKCN0HJ0P620140924

(Reuters) - South Korea will sign a deal this month to buy 40 Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) F-35 fighter jets for about 7.34 trillion won ($7.06 billion) for delivery in 2018-2021, two people with knowledge of the transaction told Reuters on Wednesday.

[FLPanhandle]

14. You prefer the NK army is killed by artillery or machine gun fire?

Poison gas wasn't banned because it killed people in a horrible manner, but because it was hard to control and expensive to implement and defend against.

[AnalystInParadise]

15. Why use poison gas?

The North Koreans are poor nutbags, but they have pretty good CBRNE capabilities. LAnd mines on the other hand cripple on purpose and it takes three soldiers off the table everytime a land mine goes off. One that gets shrapnel, and two that are now tasked with medically treating or evacuating the casualty

[GeorgeGist]

7. Nobel Peace Prize winning ...

American Exceptionalism™.

[lsewpershad]

8. Sad

how we always find reasons to support some horrible things.

[PSPS]

9. Don't you just love it when "exceptions" are "announced?"

[NutmegYankee]

10. This issue is why we never joined the treaty in the first place.

We don't mind eliminating their use in war, but they are really one of the few reliable methods to dissuade an attack from North Korea in the DMZ.

[machI]

11. Our next exception will be cluster bombs in the Middle East

We will also except ourselves to playing torture music at Guantanamo Bay. Special exceptions will be given to:

"Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears
"Killing In The Name" by Rage Against The Machine
"Don't Gimme No Lip" by Pearl Jam
"Somewhat Damaged" by Nine Inch Nails
"Enter Sandman" by Metallica
"Bodies" by Drowning Pool
"Shoot to Thrill" by AC/DC
"Hell's Bells" by AC/DC
"I Love You" from Barney & Friends
"Born in the USA" by Bruce Springsteen
"Babylon" by David Gray
"White America" by Eminem
Theme song to Sesame Street

[warrant46]

13. You forgot Toby Keiths Masterpiece "Courtesy Of The Red, White, And Blue (The Angry American)"

Hey Uncle Sam
Put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty
Started shakin’ her fist
And the eagle will fly
Man, it’s gonna be hell
When you hear Mother Freedom
Start ringin’ her bell
And it feels like the whole wide world is raining down on you
Brought to you Courtesy of the Red White and Blue

Justice will be served
And the battle will rage
This big dog will fight
When you rattle his cage
And you’ll be sorry that you messed with
The U.S. of A.
`Cause we`ll put a boot in your ass
It`s the American way

WITH ITS OMINOUS ENDING

`Cause we`ll put a boot in your ass
It`s the American way

[davidpdx]

16. Given we have pledge to eliminate them everywhere except Korea, that is an improvement

I live 26 km from the DMZ and have seen it up close. I really question how many people keyboard warriors on DU have had the same experience. My guess is not many.

So I have a few questions for those who say we are wrong to use them:

1) How do we remove landmines in the DMZ?

2) If the landmines were removed, what other means would we use to deter North Korea from trying to cross the DMZ?

3) Given the mines have been there for a half century and that some of them may have defects, how many American deaths would be acceptable during the removal process? How many major injuries?

I think it is acceptable to use them within the DMZ in Korea if they are confined to only that one use. I agree everywhere else they should be eliminated.