A cluster bomb consists of a container holding up to hundreds of smaller bomblets. It opens in mid-air and disperses the bomblets over a large area.
The smaller bombs do not always explode on impact, which means that they can continue to kill innocent civilians years later.
Critics of cluster munitions argue that the weapons cause an unacceptable level of harm to civilians. A recent report by Handicap International claimed that 98 percent of casualties from cluster munitions are non-combatants.
Aid groups say it is difficult to estimate the number of people injured or killed by cluster bombs, but most agree that tens of thousands of people have lost their limbs or lives.
Senior ministry officials from 48 countries attending the Oslo conference discussed how to start a process that, it is hoped, will lead to the adoption of a treaty prohibiting cluster munitions.
Representatives from six UN agencies and a coalition of non-governmental organisations were also attending.
Norway and other pro-ban nations are being hampered by countries that oppose a ban, in particular, Israel and the United States, two countries not officially represented at the conference.
They now want to push ahead without the support of key countries such as opponents Britain, the United States and Israel. Other countries opposing a ban include Canada, China, India and Russia.
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Cluster Bomb Opponents Push For Ban At Oslo Conference
Posted on Friday, February 23 at 10:02 by 4CanadaContributed By
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The real issue in Lebanon was that Israel dropped the things on civilian urban areas. Then again, that's where their enemy lived.
I consider any mine to be a Weapon of Mass Destruction, because, much like radiation or poison gas, it lingers in the area after delivery and threatens civilians, long after the battle is over.
The only thing holding back humane and correct legislation and changes to their design is the US, who would have to remove millions of old mines from the Korean DMZ, and arms manufacturers, who would have to toss out old stock and build in expensive new technology.
But your not going to ban cluster bombs. This all reminds me of the monks in the middle ages declaring the crossbow an inhumane weapon, because it was too efficient and killed too effectively. Sorry folks, the evil is out of Pandora's box, and cluster bombs are one of the most effective ways there is to kill enemy soldiers or deny them access to terrain in a small area.
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“The war is not meant to be won, it is meant to be continuous, the essential act of warfare is the destruction of the produce of human labour”
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"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music." Friedrich Nietzsche