On Occasion my country breaks my heart

[hangloose]

US urges ban on antitank mines but happy with anti-personnel varities

The United States, stung by insurgent attacks in Iraq, has urged the international community to consider banning all sales of anti-tank and other heavy landmines, but ruled out its participation in an international conference on mines designed to maim or kill people.

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As many as 143 nations have signed up to the accord, which took effect in March 1999.

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In a written statement released Friday, Deputy State Department Spokesman Adam Ereli gave no indication of change in the US approach and said US diplomats will not be attending the Nairobi gathering.

But he pointed out that important work still "remains to be done" to rid the world of the scourge of landmines that, according ban supporters, still kill and maim between 15,000 and 20,000 people around the world every year.

<snip>

Before the US-led March 2003 invasion of Iraq, this arsenal included an estimated 10 million such mines, according to GlobalSecurity.com, a local research organization. US troops in Iraq travel primarily in Humvees and Bradley Fighting Vehicles, which could be vulnerable to devices handcrafted from antitank mines.

<snip>

But he reaffirmed the US decision to stay out of the convention because the Pentagon deems it necessary to have landmines at its disposal "either to save US forces in the field or to save allied forces or to save a population that we are protecting."

Meanwhile, an opinion poll unveiled last September by the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations showed that 80 percent of Americans disagreed with this position and said the government should support the landmine banning treaty.

[Vincardog]

1. Is there any question about who the Government is representing?

80% of the people want to get rid of Mines. Government sides with ARMS merchants

[lightbulb]

2. The 80 percent disapproval rating is refreshing

Even if the will of the majority doesn't mean squat to OUR military leaders. They know better than us what's good for us, don't you know.

What, the Iraqi's don't like getting their legs blown off? Let them drive tanks! What, they don't have tanks? Well they should have thought of that before they... got invaded... by us.

[Doctor_J]

3. the classic bully

they bomb a tiny defenseless country to the stone age using OUR strength (zillion-dollar state-of-the-art aircraft and ordnanace), then complain when the locals fight back using THEIR strength.

This country's leadership is COMPLETELY bankrupt morally.