Cluster bombs in Lebanon
I'm very critical of the media sometimes, but I want to give some credit to Jim Clancy and CNNInternational for doing a story on the left over cluster bomblets in South Lebanon. It's a big story and a big problem going forward. (Other sources 1, 2, 3, 4)
Think of a cluster bomb as a air dropped minefield. A single object is dropped which then releases hundreds of small, fist sized submunitions blanketing an area. It is a devastating antipersonnel weapon whose use in populated areas may violate the prohibition on indiscriminate attacks in international law.
Under "ideal" use, cluster bombs leave behind about 10% of the bomblets unexploded in the target area. Often that number is 20-30%. The unexploded submunitions are often set off by children. As of Aug 17, at least 16 people have been killed in S. Lebanon by previously unexploded munitions.
The UN estimates there could be 8,000-9,000 unexploded munitions in S. Lebanon.
(Apparently, I wasn't the only one impressed by Jim Clancy's story. Rawstory has a Youtube video up.)
Think of a cluster bomb as a air dropped minefield. A single object is dropped which then releases hundreds of small, fist sized submunitions blanketing an area. It is a devastating antipersonnel weapon whose use in populated areas may violate the prohibition on indiscriminate attacks in international law.
Under "ideal" use, cluster bombs leave behind about 10% of the bomblets unexploded in the target area. Often that number is 20-30%. The unexploded submunitions are often set off by children. As of Aug 17, at least 16 people have been killed in S. Lebanon by previously unexploded munitions.
The UN estimates there could be 8,000-9,000 unexploded munitions in S. Lebanon.
(Apparently, I wasn't the only one impressed by Jim Clancy's story. Rawstory has a Youtube video up.)
posted by mikevotes at
3:05 PM
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