Britain bans 'dumb' cluster bombs

[Eugene]

Source: BBC News

Last Updated: Tuesday, 20 March 2007, 18:28 GMT

The UK is to stop using cluster bombs that lack self-destruct mechanisms
to reduce the risk of civilian casualties, Defence Secretary Des Browne
has said.

The weapons, known as "dumb" cluster bombs, will be withdrawn immediately
and destroyed, said Mr Browne.

He said the move meant the UK was the first world power to abandon their use.

But campaigners called on the government to scrap all cluster bombs, including
so-called "smart" ones which have the capacity to self destruct.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6472371.stm

---

Britain bans "dumb" cluster bombs

Source: Reuters

20 Mar 2007 18:32:03 GMT

By Peter Graff

LONDON, March 20 (Reuters) - Britain became on Tuesday the biggest military
power to ban "dumb" cluster bombs, but landmine charities said the move was
not enough to protect civilians from weapons that kill and maim long after
a war is over.

-snip-

But Simon Conway, director of Landmine Action UK, said the self-destruct
mechanisms on the newer bombs, identical to ones used by Israelis during a
war in Lebanon last year, were not reliable enough to make them safe.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L20181173.htm

[Greeby]

1. Pity we can't ban dumb ministers while we're at it

:eyes:

[Turbineguy]

3. Hmmm....

I think you may have violated the Official Secrets Act with that one.

[Kagemusha]

2. If the initial munitions fail at an immense rate

how the hell should anyone expect self-destruct mechanisms not to fail at a similar rate? These things violently bounce on the ground and stuff after all.

[Hand]

5. Dang! Ya beat me to it! nt

[merwin]

4. Can we ban dumb cluster-fucks like this administration?