U.S.-Made Cluster Bomb Use by Saudis in Yemen

Yeah. I'm actually quite familiar with the subject. The only problem is, and the thing that completely defeats your argument and invalidates everything you just said, the US does not recognize these laws and no amount of your (*)(*)(*)(*)(*)ing will change that. Cheers

 

The detonation of cluster munitions are very, very cool to watch

 

Cluster munitions are still maiming and killing people in Laos 45 years after they were dropped.

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Especially if detonated by a child, not!

 

Actually I was thinking of aerial detonations but whatever turns you on.

 

No, it doesn't now. The argument I'm putting forward is the usual one; the US is hypocritical and applies double standards. Since we can both now agree on that, little else needs to be said.

 

Yeah, 'so what' that people are still being killed and maimed by the unexploded cluster munitions you dropped all over South East Asia half a century ago.

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William Blum beat you to it. http://williamblum.org/books/rogue-state/ A book every 'patriotic' American should be forced to read.

 

Uh huh. America dropped millions of the things in South East Asia and you still lost another of your stupid wars.

 

Maybe seeing to many afghan kids with no legs because they stepped on some douch jihadists IED made me accept that life is cruel

 

Indeed, and America is very good at losing.

 

Yes, and that hypocrisy was never more in evidence than here: http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/?sum=367&p1=3&p2=3&case=70&p3=5
The Court found against America. Unsurprisingly America refused to recognise the Court's jurisdiction. I wonder when the cheering and flag waving would have stopped if the decision had been in America's favour...

 

Quite possible that I picked that usage up from him subconsciously then. I like Blum and do read him from time to time. His "Killing Hope" is highly regarded and an excellent insight into US foreign policy.

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More rank hypocrisy and double standards. And so many Americans buy into it with all their heart --- it almost inspires weeping in pity.

Almost.

 

Oy maybe you're disposed to not caring a damn about other people? It's called selfishness.

Personally, I think that's far more likely.

 

Arabs are not "savages". They have not been killing each other with the same frequency as our European "savages." Nothin in the Arab world compares with the history of warfare in Christendom. You don't know history. Bigotry is not history.

 

Yep, let's do focus entirely on the nice pretty firework show and ignore the carnage that follows.

So you.

 

Might as well take something good out of it.

 

How's the US rouge, if it never signed a treaty to ban such weapons. Then it's not breaking any treaties or international law. I support the end of using such weapons, but the dramatics isn't going to further your cause.

 

Not a lot of fun for those under the detonations..

Actually,, most cluster munitions don't explode until they impact with the ground. What you're probably seeing is opening of the Spencer halves and the spilling out of hundreds of bomblets.

I lived and worked in Laos for eight years in development aid. I've been back only four months. As a journalist and photojournalist I did volunteer work for Mines Advisory Group and UXO Lao. I've seen first hand the damage cluster bombs do, fifty years after they've been dropped.

 

From article Silver Surfer posted, "In light of serious allegations that coalition forces have been deliberately targeting Yemeni civilians and have used prohibited cluster munitions, several countries are now publicly questioning arms sales to Saudi Arabia and considering ways to promote greater accountability through the United Nations. British members of Parliament have called from the floor of the House of Commons for a halt to weapons sales, Germany has backed out of a weapons deal and Canadian support for existing deals is wavering. Recently, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who serves on the Foreign Relations Committee, called on his colleagues to consider the same."


The Morality question applies to ALL involved.

"....several countries are now publicly questioning arms sales to Saudi Arabia and considering ways to promote greater accountability through the United Nations...." Talk IS cheap.

My sig applies well here, "The 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council are also the world's largest weapon's suppliers."

 

So true.

Alot of the bomblets don't explode after hitting the ground and can kill/maim decades later. Laos is still cleaning up the mess the US left there in the 'Secret War.'

 

Anywhere from 30 million to 80 million live cluster bomblets still litter the Lao countryside. Without the help from other countries, Laos will never be rid of UXOs.

 

The Saudi kingdom is tottering, causing panic over the conflicts in Yemen and in Syria. Saudi Arabia is a welfare hotel for Saudis. The skilled jobs and the dirty jobs are done by foreigners. Seventy percent of Saudis work for the government, many in no-show jobs. The new king is in over his head and his son is inexperienced. The current budget is billions in deficit and the whole setup is going to collapes quite promptly because of the drop in oil prices.

In this climate Saudi has been making nice with Israel while continuing to support ISIS in Syria. If/When the kingdom collapses the shaky post-colonial regimes of the Sunni world go with it. Iran, vast rich and powerful with its encircling alliance of Shia forces has just resumed profitable world trade with the end of sanctions.

Young Israelis are already emmigrating to the USA and Europe. The Persian Empire is waking from its sleep.

 

Probably less damage than the Communists ultimately did.

 

You have very little knowledge of Lao history.

 

Saudi Arabia is not collapsing.. and KSA was never under British influence or any sort. What are you talking about post colonial?

Iran will probably shoot itself in the foot again.

 

Interesting accusation to direct at a history teacher and a specialist in Cold War history.