Inquiry Opened Into Israeli Use of U.S. Bombs

The NYTimes ^ | 08.25.2006 | DAVID S. CLOUD

[Words]

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 - The State Department is investigating whether Israel's use of American-made cluster bombs in southern Lebanon violated secret agreements with the United States that restrict when it can employ such weapons, two officials said.
The investigation by the department's Office of Defense Trade Controls began this week, after reports that three types of American cluster munitions, anti-personnel weapons that spray bomblets over a wide area, have been found in many areas of southern Lebanon and were responsible for civilian casualties.
Gonzalo Gallegos, a State Department spokesman, said, "We have heard the allegations that these munitions were used, and we are seeking more information." He declined to comment further.
Several current and former officials said that they doubted the investigation would lead to sanctions against Israel but that the decision to proceed with it might be intended to help the Bush administration ease criticism from Arab governments and commentators over its support of Israel?s military operations. The investigation has not been publicly announced; the State Department confirmed it in response to questions.
In addition to investigating use of the weapons in southern Lebanon, the State Department has held up a shipment of M-26 artillery rockets, a cluster weapon, that Israel sought during the conflict, the officials said. ...

[Spiff]

The thought of U.S. bombs and munitions blasting Hezbos into giblets is a happy way to start the day. Thank you New York Times.

[mewzilla]

Don'cha just love Foggy Bottom?

(/sarcasm)

[RexBeach]

Isn't the State Department supposed to be on our side?

[MNJohnnie]

Sorry but until it is confirmed by a reputable news source anything reported by the NY DNC Times is presumed to be made up propaganda.

[pgyanke]

...secret agreements...

Not anymore...

[Obadiah]

You are a dreamer, aren't you?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

As the Washington Times editorialized, "We shudder to think" what the NYT would have done with information on the UK airplane plot. WE SHUDDER TO THINK.

[nathanbedford]

Once the New York Times and the State Department can get established as a fixed principle of international law the concept of "proportionate response," America will be forced to fight all its future wars the way Israel blundered in Lebanon. That is another way of saying that America will be virtually proscribed from waging conventional war.

On the one hand the New York Times sours the entire American public over the casualty count (which by any historical example is at an unprecedented low rate in Iraq) and on the other hand sets out to prevent our military from using the very weapons which can keep that casualty count low. No political leader will be able to wage conventional war under these circumstances and keep his office.

One can only conclude that it is the strategic objective of the New York Times (and one might add the American State Department) to deprive America of the right and the power to wage war and even to threaten to wage war in the hope of avoiding war.

If the New York Times gets its way, the world will not be closer to peace but will have taken a backward step towards nuclear war. The alternative to conventional war is not peace but nuclear war.

[Obie Wan]

You got to be kidding me.They by by munitions from the US and have condititons when to use them.If I was Israel I'd buy em from Russia or China.No conditions on using those weapons !!!

[OldFriend]

The first sign that Israel won the encounter with the hezzies. The Slimes is sliming them.

[OldFriend]

Clearly Russia and China sell their weapons knowing they will be used on innocent civilians. Or perhaps with the hope they will be used on innocent civilians.

Israel was defending itself against terrorists bent on destroying them and their country.

[NaughtiusMaximus]

NYT? Talking about 0.00 Cred. News by sockpuppets for sockpuppets. Why not throw in a badly Photoshopped picture of the munitions in question?

[SamuraiScot]

The State Department is investigating whether Israel's use of American-made cluster bombs in southern Lebanon violated secret agreements with the United States

Or, since it's the State Department, they're investigating whether American-made bombs were used by icky Jeee-ooos.

Considering that it's the Hezzies, I'm going to guess they set off one old stolen cluster-bomb given to them by the Chicoms in a marketplace, brought in some bodies from one of their own revenge killings, and called their employees at al-Reuters to take videos.

Green Helmet Guy, call your office.

[Obie Wan]

Agree with you but what this article is saying brings a comparison to mind.I put it in the same category as people who don't like warrantless wiretapping.To expect the NSA to get court approval for the thousands of calls they monitor everyday in order to get the handful that are related to terrorism is ridiculous,and expecting Israel to get US State Dept. approval in wartime conditions as to when they can use the weapons they have is equally ridiculous.The phone calls won't wait and neither will the enemy !!!

[Phlap]

They didn't use nearly enough of them, that is for certain.

[mtbopfuyn]

Much ado about nothing.

[EQAndyBuzz]

No mention by the NY Times of those Russian rockets with the ball bearings in them used against Israeli citizens, eh?

[OldFriend]

FWIW, I doubt Israel used cluster bombs in an area where there were civilians.

[NoFoxholeAthiests]

Interesting...no concern at all that all of Hezbollah's weapons were donated by our friends in Russia.