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UK will scrap cluster bombs

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Following the weeks of controversy , an agreement to ban cluster bombs has been confirmed.


Ending a long-running Whitehall dispute which has pitted the Ministry of Defence against the FO and Department for International Development, Gordon Brown announced:
"We have decided we will take all our types of cluster bombs out of service. I believe that is going to make a difference to the negotiations that are now taking place," Brown said this evening.

"I look forward to other countries following us in this action and I look forward to other countries being able to take these cluster bombs out of service. I think this would be a big step forward to make the world a safer place."
Mr_Costello

8 responses // UK will scrap cluster bombs

  • http://current.com/items/88960033_u_s_and_u_k_oppose_wo...
    This is one of those rare stories that restores a little of my faith in the government.

    The UK is the world's third biggest user of cluster bombs in the last decade and the MoD's statement at the end of April confirming they'd continue to use cluster bombs, despite the call to ban them, was frustrating and just a little worrying. I'm very glad about this but a little disappointed they'll need to 'phase out' using the M73s (one of the types of cluster bombs). This might be militarily naive of me but never mind phasing them out... just call an immediate halt and have them safely destroyed.

    There's some more information on the Dublin talks at the link.

    Leave a comment below to share your opinions.
    richjm
  • This is great news good to hear the government refused to put military needs above the lives of civilians.

    Flush with this success maybe its a good idea to think about moving on to achieving a ban on other controversial weapons used by our governments.

    How about depleted uranium shells?
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium
    Worse than conventional nuclear warheads?
    http://www.naturalnews.com/023274.html

    White phosphorus should be on the agenda too ... The US have been accused of unsurprising double standards on this issue. When Saddam used white phosphorus against his own population it was deemed a 'chemical weapon' prohibited by the Chemical Weapons Convention. The US used it against the Iraqi insurgency and suddenly it transformed into a 'conventional' weapon ...
    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-int...
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_Weapons_Conventio...

    I think it would be asking far too much for the military to scrap another stockpile though. Think of all the money we have spent on them ...
    http://current.com/items/88981751_we_could_have_coloniz...
    Pardon
  • Totally agree Pardon, this is good news but is just the tip of the iceberg
    poohkits
  • it's definitely a good move banning them, I just hope others follow suit.
    fostec
  • Brown's only agreed to it cos he's so unpopular at the moment. 'statemanship' my arse, he's bricking it about losing his job...

    i'm glad they banned them tho.
    subsequent
  • Does nobody else see the futility of such an action? How much of an impact will it be to ban one instrument of death and destruction when it has millions of others that can do just as much damage.

    It's sad to see a world that needs any weapons at all.
    4free
  • http://current.com/items/88985438_100_nations_agree_to_...
    The UK is one of more than 100 countries that agreed to ban cluster bombs. The treaty agreed to outlaws all current designs of cluster bombs and requires the destruction of stockpiles within eight years.

    About time. I agree with 4free, though. A world without weapons would be ideal. Maybe this is a step in the right direction.
    abbym0308
  • They can still kill a lot of innocent people in the next 8 yrs though
    cubbingabout

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