Senators introduce bill to restrict use of cluster munitions (sponsored by DiChiFi and Leaky Leahy)

AFP on Yahoo ^ | 2/14/07 | AFP

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Democratic senators introduced legislation that would bar US use of cluster bombs in or near civilian areas or that have a "dud rate" of one percent or greater.

Human rights groups urged speedy action on the bill sponsored by Senators Dianne Feinstein (news, bio, voting record) of California and Patrick Leahy (news, bio, voting record) of Vermont.

Dropped from aircraft or fired by artillery, cluster munitions open above ground and disperse dozens to hundreds of tiny bomblets over a wide area.

Although designed to stop armored assaults, bomblets have fallen on civilian areas and littered fields long after the end of hostilities, most recently in Lebanon.

The bill would restrict funding for the use, sale or transfer of cluster munitions unless their submunitions have a failure rate of less than one percent, or unless the president grants a waiver on national security grounds.

It would also bar their use in or near civilian areas.

Since 2005, the Defense Department has required that newly purchased submunitions have a failure rate of less than one percent.

Human Rights Watch, however, estimates that only about 30,000 of the millions of cluster munitions currently in the US arsenal meet the bill's criteria.

"The US has a staggering number of submunitions in its arsenal -- perhaps one billion - that are highly unreliable and should never be used," said Steve Goose of the New York-based rights group.

The United States used about 2 million submunitions in Iraq in 2003, some 248,000 in Afghanistan in 2001 and 2002, and another 295,000 on Kosovo in 1999, the group said.

[wildcatf4f3]

more from the hags and lactating males of the Left.

[NormsRevenge]

Norm, does this mean that a first (AND VERY IMPORTANTLY STRATEGIC ) strike against Iran, make things like in the the link below now "illegal" if the dems pass this?

--

whatever it takes to protect their allies in the War against Bush, yaknow.

[Goldwater and Gingrich]

They outlawed the use of Napalm when Clinton was in office. There were thousands of bombs still to be destroyed right after 9-11.

I like the idea of GPS Napalm.

I will know we are serious about winning this war when we bring back Napalm!

[KoRn]

Soon they will be pushing for emission controls on tanks and other vehicles.

[TigersEye]

If the Democraticks had their way they'd send the troops
into battle naked with panties on their heads.

[M1928A1 Thompson]

You are way too late, they already did that in the mid 70's when they re-timed tank engines for emissions controls. About the same time we started getting laser rangefinders with EPA waivers and warnings not to point them at personnel because of potential eye damage. Like the 105mm M68 gun I was going to shoot at them wasn't likely to cause more than a small retinal burn? You got to love bureaucratic hacks!!!

[wayne_b24]

(humor shield down)
DiChiFi?
sounds good, please define.

[Truth29]

The enemy has agents everywhere working tirelessly to bring down the great Satan. Democrats are actively working to hobble the USA and make sure she never again has the power for good in the world.

[NormsRevenge]

Dianne China Feinstein.. her and her hubby have benefited greatly financially in major business dealings with China

[lowbridge]

bump