Cluster bombs on offer at arms fair despite sales ban

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

Cluster bombs are being offered for sale at an arms fair in London, The Independent has discovered, despite assurances by the organisers, that the weapon would not be marketed at the event.

Denel, the South African company, confirmed yesterday at the show being held at the Excel Centre in Docklands, that it made and supplied the cluster weapons.

(...)

He said the weapon, which was not on display, was designed to work against tanks but he conceded it would also inflict injuries on any people in the target area. The bomblets rain down on an area of about 200 metres by 200 metres, he said.

(...)

Officially the trade fair does not allow cluster bombs to be promoted at the event. Paul Beaver, spokesman for the DSEi, declared: "They are not here, not for sale and not even a topic of conversation." On being told that at least one company was willing to sell the weapons at the fair, he said: "I'm surprised you have found that, but you have to remember they are not illegal. There are far worse weapons, you know."

The taxpayer picks up a substantial bill for the event - for the policing, for the British armed forces personnel and warships made available for demonstrations, and for foreign delegations put up at the taxpayers' expense. A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said action would be taken against any exhibitor selling illegal weapons, but added cluster munitions did not fall into this category.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article312473.ece

[leveymg]

1. As an American, Chuck Heston said it's my 2nd Amendment Right

to own and bear cluster bombs and the F-18 I might want to use to deliver it to destination of my choice. ;) :evilgrin: :nuke:

[Nihil]

2. "There are far worse weapons, you know."

Oh, that's alright then!

:crazy:

"The tragedy about protests at these industry events is that those
ignorant people simply don't understand the situation.

Everyone's going to die sometime so it only makes sense to profit
from this inevitability wherever possible. It is *such* a wasted
opportunity when you hear about people dying of old age or a child
starving ... these events mean that no-one was there at the right
time to sell a weapon that would have made their deaths worthwhile!

Cluster-bombs are really quite efficient in terms of "blood per buck",
not just a one-off "big bang" event but a purchase that keeps draining
life for years. That's why they are still legal and widely used.

Also consider how ingeniously the humble Depleted Uranium round has
captured the hearts & minds of soldiers & civilians (along with their
lungs, limbs and other vital organs). A substance that used to be
locked away, carefully monitored and guarded is now distributed evenly
across the entire landscape - not only penetrating armour & buildings
that previously provided shelter but also saving money on storage!

This is the sort of progress for which our industry is famous but
sadly those Luddites outside lack the imagination to perceive this.

Now, if you will please excuse me, I'm going to rejoin my fellow
war-pigs at the trough of human suffering. Have a nice day!"