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| Iraq |
| Brit government refuses to rule out use of cluster bombs despite MPs’ fears |
| 2003-03-20 |
| Labour MPs last night launched an 11th-hour attempt to prevent Britain from using cluster bombs in a military attack on Iraq. Amid fears that Iraqi civilians will be killed by the bombs, which release thousands of "bomblets", a series of MPs challenged Tony Blair and other ministers not to use them. But the prime minister refused to rule out their use, which have been criticised by Amnesty International because some of them fail to explode immediately, causing horrific injuries and deaths after military action. Asked by the Labour MP, Martin Caton, to rule out their use, the prime minister said: "In any military conflict we will operate in accordance with international law. Any weapons or munitions that are used will be in accordance with international law." Labour sources said Britain was entitled to use cluster bombs because they are not banned by the Ottawa convention. One source added: "There may be times when their use is justified. They can be the most effective way of attacking a military convoy." But the sources made clear that British forces would not lay landmines and would have nothing to do with any American forces who laid them. "Our law is clear — we will have nothing to do with landmines." I don't think we'll be using them either, since it isn't going to be that kind of war. Perhaps hasty minefields if we go into the north real fast? But Joan Ruddock, a former Labour They just told you. She will also ask about the use of bombs made from depleted uranium, which are Not from DU, which is a weak alpha-emitter only. It's called depleted for a reason. "What special arrangements will be made to deal with the humanitarian consequences of those weapons?" Here's the plan, Joan: 1) get rid of Saddam. 2) deal with any humanitarian concerns. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #5 "Hey, what are we supposed to use, man, harsh language?" - Private Crowe from Aliens II |
| Posted by: Raj 2003-03-20 12:00:37 |
| #4 sorry I thought she was complaining about Deleted Ubrainium. Something with which she is familiar. |
| Posted by: john 2003-03-20 09:46:48 |
| #3 Hey Joanie! Bombs aren't made of Depleted Uranium. Anti-Tank shells are. |
| Posted by: Chris Smith 2003-03-20 09:35:17 |
| #2 Coming up next: Bullets are bad. Don't use them. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-03-20 07:57:09 |
| #1 "Hey, what are we supposed to use, man, harsh language?" - Private Crowe from Aliens II |
| Posted by: Raj 3/20/2003 12:00:37 PM |