Showing posts with label war treaties. Show all posts
Showing posts with label war treaties. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Bombs Away - Go Away That Is

At a conference in Oslo, Norway more than 100 countries have come together to sign a treaty banning the use of cluster bombs. The treaty creators consider this a major humanitarian breakthrough. 

Cluster bombs, first developed during World War II, propel a number of small bomblets that can cover a large area and stop advancing forces. The bombs are effective - too effective because they often leave an area covered in landmines long after a battle and many civilians have been killed by the leftover bomblets. For this reason cluster bombs have been consider immoral. 

Despite the absence of the United States, China, and Russia, many countries have chosen to destroy or not use their cluster bombs. Hopefully pressure from these countries will convince the United States to follow rank.  

Originally reported by the BBC.