Donald Trump ditches Obama-era restrictions on use of landmines, citing 'great power competition'

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02...ban-restrictions-on-use-of-landmines/11921314

Land mines leave a terrible legacy and maim more civilians than troops. Ask anyone from
Laos - they are still paying the price of the American bombardment of their country. It does not matter if they are land mines or aerial ordinance unexplored bombs take a terrible toll for decades after the event

 

It is important to note they seem to be discussing "non-persistent" landmines.

From the OP's own article:
"This policy will authorise Combatant Commanders, in exceptional circumstances, to employ advanced, non-persistent landmines specifically designed to reduce unintended harm to civilians and partner forces," the White House said.

Or as another article states: A White House statement said the new U.S. policy authorizes military commanders to use landmines that are “non-persistent,” meaning they have built-in mechanisms to destroy or deactivate the mine after a certain period.
https://fox6now.com/2020/02/01/president-trump-shifts-to-authorize-wider-us-military-use-of-landmines/

"Non-persistent" landmines "are typically laid on the surface and destroy themselves within a relatively short period of time", so they are not the same as the more dangerous old-school landmines which are still being uncovered (and can still explode) today.
https://fas.org/asmp/campaigns/landmines/FactSheet_FAQ_NewUSLandminePolicy_2-27-04.htm

This is not an area of expertise for me, so I welcome more knowledge/education on the subject.

 

I like how they call it "Obama-era" restrictions when it took him 6 years to implement this policy. That tells me Obama wasn't overly concerned with the issue. And this policy only makes sense if the USA puts mines all over the place - do we?

 

Every so often they dig up a gas canister from the WW1 battlefields with disastrous results. And this is still a common sight today in France and Belgium after farmers have ploughed their land.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/deadly-bombs-still-being-found-13776672

 

More children and innocent citizens will be losing life and limbs.

 

Great idea, our Islamofascist enemies certainly don't limit themselves.

 

The lesson learned should be not to get in wars with the US.

 

Did you not read post 2? Are you one of those who get their news from the headlines?

 

Obama's law only stopped Americans from using landmines... and American's are not the problem when it comes to landmines. Responsible governments usually also map their landmine fields, which is what terrorists and rogue governments don't do... Holding the Trump Administration responsible for the use & devastation of landmines worldwide is absurd. Another typical example of how liberals are willing to lie in their campaign to smear Trump.

 

Did you ignore the part that stated 160 other nations have banned their use? Did you miss the part about unexploded munitions from as far back as WWI? Did you miss the part about the death of innocent civilians including children? Lie? What lie? Where did the report lie? Did Trump remove the ban or was that a lie?

Is it your contention that the world's most powerful, technically advanced military can't win a war without land mines?

 

Did you miss post #2?

 

We need tons of them along our Southern border, would not take long for word to spread.

 

Don't lecture me on unexploded munitions as far back as WWII like I don't know about it. The destruction in Africa and South East Asia is well known, mostly due to the Cold War and the rampant distribution of land mines RPG7's and AK47's from both sides. (I stand corrected but believe there is somewhere in the vicinity of 175 million AK47's still floating around, who knows how many land mines and most of that have been used with no mapping which means you have no clue where they are.) They make furniture from them in Africa FGS (see below) YOU CAN'T BLAME THIS ON TRUMP NO MATTER HOW BADLY YOU WANT TO.

I don't care how many other nations banned it, land mines can protect lives when used around a base. It's irresponsible use of landmines that is the problem when they are sold to rebels and terrorists or used by rogue nations who did not ban the use of land mines and don't map their mine fields. It's like tying up your legs with the opposition running rings around you.... expect we're talking about life and death scenarios.

A US ban on land mines will not stop the sale nor use of land mines and it only means your soldiers cannot use its benefits of securing their base and their lives.

 

How can I find a chair like that for the dining room?

 

But when you say it that way Trump isn't a bad guy...
.

 

I’m no expert either but did read a little about the Ottawa Treaty a while back. Basically, no serious military powers signed on to stop using land mines. Russia, China, both Korea’s, Iran, etc. have no intention of limiting themselves. The US didn’t until 2014 (Obama). Trump made the right move in my opinion. Only fools fight “fair”.

As far as non-persistent technology I’d like to know more myself.

 

No worries, almost everything Trump has ****ed up in the past 3 years can be reversed in days...

World wide embarrassment will take a bit longer...

 

Yes because carpet bombing a country that you are not at war with is so fair



Ask the Laotian people about left over ordinance

 

I love it when facts blow the liberal narrative out of the water

 

Exactly what Trump did to Obama policies and Americas embarrassment about Obama out apologizing for us and giving an enemy of America billions of dollars.

 

All those bombs should have been put pn Hanoi and thr harbors, but idiot Democrats wouldn't do it. Hell we couldn't even bomb their air bases. Andvwe couldn't attack their missile sites until they were operational.

We can argue about wether we should have been there or not, that's another debate. However we were there and could have easily won had we actually fought to win.
Every time we confronted the commie bastards in large scale engagements we wiped the floor with them..

We should have invaded North Vietnam on a large scale and crushed the communists.

The war would have lasted 6 month and everyones suffering would have been much less. Other communists in thecregion would not hsve been emboldened and 6 million cambodians wouldn't have been slaughtered.

I am opposed to al "limited wars"

Either you fight to get your enemies complete surrender or you pretty much do nothing.

 

I’m not responsible for carpet bombing SE Asia. No more so than you are. That said, I think it was a stupid, irresponsible thing to do.

I also believe it has nothing to do with the issue at hand. They are two separate issues. Also, why do you not mention the millions of land mines left all over Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam by countries other than the United States?

Bottom line is no other serious world power is going to give up mining in wartime. The US shouldn’t either. I believe having non persistent mines as an option is smart tactically as well as the responsible thing to do from a national security standpoint.

 

Absolutely.

 

Almost as fair as invading your neighbors trying to expand the influence of communism.

 

It makes me kind of sad, what a waste.....