AP: 46 of 49 Nations OK Ban on Cluster Bombs

[Eugene]

46 of 49 Nations OK Ban on Cluster Bombs

By DOUG MELLGREN
The Associated Press
Friday, February 23, 2007; 7:34 AM

OSLO, Norway -- A declaration calling for a 2008 treaty banning cluster bombs
was adopted Friday by 46 out of 49 nations attending a conference in Oslo,
officials for the Norwegian government and two non-governmental groups said.

Norway's deputy foreign minister Raymond Johansen said Poland, Romania and Japan
did not approve the final declaration. Officials for Human Rights Watch and the
Cluster Munition Coalition also said those three countries dissented.

The gathering was snubbed by some key arms makers _ including the U.S., Russia,
Israel and China _ but organizers said other nations needed to forge ahead
regardless to avoid a potential humanitarian disaster posed by unexploded cluster
munitions.

-snip-

The treaty would "prohibit the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of those
cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians," the declaration said.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/23/AR2007022300492.html

[Robbien]

1. Shame on Poland, Romania and Japan

"It is nonbinding. It is not a legal document. But it is a statement of political will"

Why would Poland, Romania and Japan vote against such a nonbinding statement. If they support cluster bombs, they should have just not shown up for the meeting like the US and Israel did.

[daleo]

4. Possible reasons

Japan - needs cluster bombs for future whale hunts.
Romania - needs cluster bombs for future vampire hunts.
Poland - well, they are next door to Germany and Russia, which can become a bit uncomfortable at times.

But I agree, the absence of the U.S. and Israel is the important detail here.

On edit - Mustn't leave out Russia and China, who didn't attend the conference either.

[SpiralHawk]

2. "That humanitarian shit is for liberals. There's no profit in it." - Commander AWOL

"I mean, what would my cabal of corrupt republicon cronies say if
I deciderated to let the USA do some of that humanitarian shit, and
it crimped War Profiteering? You liberals NEVER thing about that do you?"

- Commander AWOL (Skull & Boner Division of The "Elite' Occultist Preppies)

[jaksavage]

3. SHAME ON US!

We have the blood of millions on our hands. Yet our war drums still thunder. The sheeple shop.

[Mudoria]

5. Please point out the sources for the "millions"...

[jaksavage]

6. well

Iraq 2 =600,000
Iraq 1 =300,000
Vietnam =
Laos =
Phillipines =
El Salvador =
Nicaragua =
Angola =
Haiti =
Lebanon =
Palestine =
WW2 =
Native americans =
Hawaiians =

Doesn't that add up to millions yet?

[WePurrsevere]

7. Kick n/t

[Doondoo]

8. US refuses to ban cluster bombs

The United States has rejected an international call to ban the use of cluster bombs, despite 46 other countries calling for a ban on the weapons.

Groups such as the Red Cross and the United Nations are opposed to cluster munitions because of the high proportion of civilians killed by the weapons.

But the US State Department says cluster bombs have a place in armed conflicts as long as countries follow proper rules of engagement.

Forty-six nations at a conference in Norway have called for a treaty to ban such weapons by next year.



http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200702/s1856214.htm

[rodeodance]

9. Ha ha---like Israel followed the 'rules"!

But the US State Department says cluster bombs have a place in armed conflicts as long as countries follow proper rules of engagement.

[ohio2007]

10. How did the U.S., Russia,Israel and China vote?

oh, they were NO show's and didn't go to the conference.
Honestly, there are well over 100 nations in the world.. ALL should be in attandance to really recognize such a vote