On Wednesday, representatives of 111 countries agreed to ban the use of cluster bombs.
Who voted against the ban? The primary makers or users of cluster bombs -- the US, Russia, China, Israel, India, and Pakistan.
What's wrong with cluster bombs? They're notorious for killing or injuring innocent civilians, including children. Cluster bombs are indiscriminate weapons, meaning that they cannot distinguish between an enemy solder and a civilian child. They kill whoever crosses their path. Furthermore, the clusters release numerous "bomblets" and at least 5% of them do not explode on impact. So they hang around and become de facto anti-personnel mines. Even worse, the bomblets are often brightly colored and look like toys to a child.
But the U.S. doesn't want to join the civilized world in banning the use of these cluster bombs. According to the Washington Post, the U.S. calls cluster bombs "an integral, legitimate part of its arsenal." Dead babies are simply dismissed as "collateral damage".
Shame on us!
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