Why hasn't the United States ratified the ban on cluster bombs? [View all]

[ForgoTheConsequence]

Seems pretty hypocritical to sell an authoritarian, homophobic, sexist, oppressive theocracy 1,300 of these weapons that are banned in 83 countries while criticizing others for their own use of deadly weapons.


U.S. Shipping Thousands of Cluster Bombs to Saudis, Despite Global Ban

Cluster bombs spit out dozens, even hundreds, of micro-munitions in order cover a wide area with death and destruction. These weapons are used for killing large groups of people, destroying thinly-skinned vehicles and dispensing landmines or poison gas.

These weapons are loathed because in addition to killing enemy combatants, their fairly indiscriminate nature means they can kill plenty of civilians. And not just in the heat of battle. The little ball-shaped bomblets dispersed by cluster munitions don't always detonate on first impact. Often, they will just sit there on the ground until someone, often a child, picks them up and causes them to explode.

So far, 112 countries have signed an international treaty banning cluster bombs, with 83 ratifying it. Guess who isn't part of that club? China, Russia, most for the former USSR, Syria... and the United States, which is selling thousands Textron-made cluster bombs to the Saudis between now and 2015.

http://killerapps.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/08/22/us_shipping_thousands_of_cluster_bombs_to_saudi_arabia_despite_international_ban



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This is why the world doesn't take us seriously when we claim our crusades are for "human rights".