Article

2007-02-22 International-UN-NGOs

Cluster bomb opponents push for ban at Oslo conference

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Posted by anonymous5089 2007-02-22 14:45|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The conference received a boost when Austria announced it was banning the use of cluster bombs by its army.

And when was the last time the Austrian army used cluster bombs?

Posted by tu3031 2007-02-22 15:41|| 2007-02-22 15:41|| Front Page Top

#2 Um... Never?

What do I win?

Posted by mojo">mojo 2007-02-22 17:33|| 2007-02-22 17:33|| Front Page Top

#3 Only the Austrian Navy has them.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2007-02-22 17:38|| 2007-02-22 17:38|| Front Page Top

#4 Don't disparage the Austrian army. Both of those guys are pretty tough.

Posted by DMFD 2007-02-22 17:57|| 2007-02-22 17:57|| Front Page Top

#5 This reminds me of a school or public housing project that have signs that state Drug and Gun Free Zone. Two things you can be certain is that they are neither drug nor gun free. They can ban cluster bombs but that but they have the same force as a un resolution banning nuclear proliferation.

Posted by Cyber Sarge 2007-02-22 18:11|| 2007-02-22 18:11|| Front Page Top

#6 Cluster Bomb opponents = Hezbollah?

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2007-02-22 19:02|| 2007-02-22 19:02|| Front Page Top

#7 The latest entry in the "We're Clueless But We Oppose Weapons 'n Stuff Cuz We're Morally Superior" sweepstakes.

Apparently there are some fuzing issues with the bomblets - an awful lot of UXO in many cases. Not an engineer, but seems easy enough to solve. Just install fuzes that don't work after a given period (in the case of CBUs, 10 minutes would be adequate) - clock ticks from deployment of the sub-munition. That way there are no duds lying around for any length of time.

I believe the US has pioneered a similar design (time-limited fuzing) for anti-personnel mines.

Problem solved. Next question, dingbats?

(Sorry, but can't help mention the time, years ago, when I was listening to the Washington Pacific radio station - don't ask, I think I did it for kicks, and to remind myself that there WAS radio more annoying than NPR - and the host was interviewing an expert on land mines. The host asked the guest about the US role in the world-wide land-mine "crisis". Awkward silence. Then the guest sort of mumbled - "uh, well, the US really isn't part of the problem, the US doesn't export such mines and has never produced some of the sorts that are the biggest problem in Third World war-zones." Another awkward silence. Can't recall the rest - I was laughing too hard, turning onto Key Bridge and trying to avoid being hit by some idiot crossing over lanes)

Posted by Verlaine 2007-02-22 19:38|| 2007-02-22 19:38|| Front Page Top

#8 The conference received a boost when Austria announced it was banning the use of cluster bombs by its army.

Nothing mentioned about selling them to Iran...

Posted by Pappy 2007-02-22 21:06|| 2007-02-22 21:06|| Front Page Top

#9 If they ban cluster bombs does this mean they bring back Arclight?

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2007-02-22 21:18|| 2007-02-22 21:18|| Front Page Top

#10 I just want to point out that the photo attached to this post is another jewel in the crown of the Rantburg image archives.

Seriously.

Posted by ryuge 2007-02-22 22:51|| 2007-02-22 22:51|| Front Page Top

23:42 C-Low
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