[Vaquero]

they need to use these cluster f**k bombs to do damage.

send them lots of them....

[Pukin Dog]

If Israel has ordered cluster munitions, it means that they and the US are playing a coy game with the U.N., and these cease fire negotiations are nothing but a ruse.

Clusters = serious ass kicking time.

[zippy the razor]

I think these munitions would be highly effective. It's a sick world when a country can't defend itself because some folks want a more "sensitive war".

[Rummyfan]

But some State Department officials have sought to delay the approval because of concerns over the likelihood of civilian casualties, and the diplomatic repercussions. The rockets, while they would be very effective against hidden missile launchers, officials say, are fired by the dozen and could be expected to cause civilian casualties if used against targets in populated areas.

I swear to The Almighty... If I were elected President the first thing I would do is go over to Foggy Bottom with an industrial-sized broom and sweep the building out of every career Stater in there!

[SMM48]

Before we send them all to Israel, we need to drop one on the State Department.

[Santiago de la Vega]

Is there any doubt that Rice is totally incompetent?

The way to win a war is "sudden, resolute, and aggressive action".

This dumbo thinks she can solve the problem with her half-assed diplomacy?

This is a disgrace.

Fire her worthless ass and bring back George Marshall. He'd so better dead that she can alive.

[Wolfhound777]

But some State Department officials have sought to delay the approval because of concerns over the likelihood of civilian casualties, and the diplomatic repercussions

As usual the State Dept. has only the interest of the UN and America's enemies at heart. The State Dept needs mass firings and new people put into position that understand that they are to work for United States interests period! These folks along with the Rats are becoming a serious problem that needs to be addressed.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

Clinton was afraid to use cluster munitions in Afghanistan. That was a real cluster f---.

[MadJack]

Any redlegs out there? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe single MLRS rounds be fired at a specific target.


The first MLRS rocket was the unguided M26 rocket. The M26 is spin-stabilized by 4 fins, has a range of 32 km (20 miles) and is armed with 644 M77 DPICM (Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions) anti-personnel/anti-materiel grenades. The M77 submunitions are dispensed over the target in mid-air, are drag-ribbon stabilized during free fall, and detonate on impact. The MLRS/M26 was first used operationally during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, where it acquired the nickname "steel rain".

[SJackson]

2006israelwar> 2006israelwar or WOT [War on Terror]

----------------------------

[reformedliberal]

The only person quoted on this claiming Israel wants cluster munitions is from HRW.

The unnamed State Department person is quoted as saying Israel will get these munitions w/a warning "to be careful."

The Israeli spokesman isn't commenting.

I am remembering that in the Israeli War for Independence in 1947, the Brits blockaded Israel, no one would sell them anything except outdated and nonfunctional hand guns w/o ammo and the founders of Israel, all of them, of course, survivors of the Nazis and the camps,as well as "illegal entrants", bought European scrap and began manufacturing their own weapons.

While I know we supply the Israelis with advanced munitions, the entire Western world is very shy of using cluster rounds. However, I believe the people who invented the Sten gun under extremely adverse conditions could produce cluster bombs if they intended to use them. Since, so far, the Israelis have refrained to their own detriment from using any munitions that could cause indiscriminate casualties, I am suspicious of this article, its sources and its intent.

[Little Ray]

The State Department needs a good ol' fashioned Stalin-type purge.

[defenderSD]

This is another example of a story where the New York Times is so far to the left on an issue that they think their story is going to hurt Bush, but the story actually ends up helping Bush. The NY Times thought the NSA wirtetapping story would hurt Bush, but most Americans want the NSA to use all available tools to prevent terrorist attacks. This is another example of this amusing phenomenon, where the Times thinks America will be disgusted by the use of cluster-bomb rockets, but instead most people will in fact support their use against Hezbollah.

[untrained skeptic]

Israel really needs to develop the ability to make this kind of cluster munition on their own.

Our own domestic politics are going to continue to make the US an unreliable source for these weapons, and Israel needs to have such weapons in their arsenal.

They should use such weapons cautiously, but the Israelis have demonstrated an amazing level of restraint and have limited civilian casualties to an amazingly small number for this size of conflict.

I believe that we should sell them these munitions, but I also don't think that Israel can afford to rely on us for these types of weapons.

[SunkenCiv]

Israel Asks U.S. to Ship Rockets With Wide Blast (Cluster bombs)
New York Times | August 11, 2006 | DAVID S. CLOUD
Posted on 08/11/2006 3:53:25 AM EDT by tlb
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1681679/posts

[Billthedrill]

But some State Department officials have sought to delay the approval...

It is a mistake to assume that our State Department is on our side. The objection to cluster munitions isn't on the basis of immediate civilian casualties, but is a nod to the international campaign against landmines. Bomblets that do not go off are a very dangerous residue of war.

Unfortunately this sort of restraint sounds much better in the drawing room than it does in the field. This particular munition is most effective against dispersed infantry and soft-skinned vehicles, and that is precisely what the IDF is facing. And there isn't really a problem with civilians returning to the area if there isn't anything to return to and it's cordoned off. That is a cruel thing for those civilians whose homes are lost in that way. It is equally cruel for those Israeli civilians who are in the same condition.

[gogogodzilla]

Condi Rice strikes again...

Cease fire!!! (so Hizbollah can rearm)

No ammo for Israel, either!!! (can't have Israel killing any of those lovely Hizbollah member, now can we)

---

And of course, here at the Free Republic...

...Condi Rice for President!!!

She'd be 'great' in the war on terror... oh yes, she'd be GREAT!

(Yeah, great for the fricking terrorists.)

[Tall_Texan]

Israel Asks U.S. to Ship Rockets

Should we send them Yao Ming?

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

The State Department, as usual, is supporting the enemy...

[American in Israel]

The United States Army also employs the M-26 rocket and the Multiple Launch Rocket System in combat, and the Pentagon has sold the weapon to numerous other allies, in addition to Israel. The system is especially effective at attacking enemy artillery sites, military experts say,

We sell them, but I guess we do not deliver them... Once again the US State Department screws Israel at a crucial time. It is like a broken record.