I guess polluting the world isn't enough, we need to make land mines again?

[splat@14]

Can't believe this administration and its priorities. People all over the world are maimed or killed by these things as nobody ever cleans them up. They are still finding them from WWII.
Sorry if this is old, I saw it this AM and wanted to post it as I thought is was important to note.

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=29765

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 3 (IPS) - The George W. Bush administration may soon resume production of antipersonnel land mines in a move that is at odds with both the international community and previous U.S. policy on the weapons, says a leading human rights organisation.

In December of this year, the Pentagon will decide whether or not to begin producing a new type of antipersonnel land mine called a ”Spider”. The first of these mines would then be scheduled to roll out in early 2007.

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the funds for Spider's production are already earmarked, as the Pentagon has requested 1.3 billion dollars for the mine system, as well as for another mine called the Intelligent Munitions System, which is expected to be fully running by 2008.

A new report by the HRW issued Wednesday notes these weapons that kill and maim an estimated 500 people, mostly civilians, each week. The group called on the Bush administration to halt all research and development on all types of these widely-banned weapons.
:banghead:

[Skink]

1. Going in at border crossings I suppose.

Maybe we could mine Texas. That'd be a start.

[RC]

2. We need to get these criminals out of our White House and into

Federal prisons where they belong.
It makes me sick to remember how close we were to world peace in 2000 and what this administration has done since then to make sure we won't have real peace for generations to come.

[SeaRust]

3. Here is a wishy washy answer

don't flame me because I'm new, but as ex-mil maybe I can give you a partial reason.

A--The US won't sign the anti-land mine treaty mainly because of the sheer volume of mines in the DMZ on the Korean peninsula. Even if the treaty were signed the Gov (read Pentagon) does not want to pay to remove what to 50 years to place.

B--The IMS system should be thought of as an alternative to mine field placement where the system itself detects intrusions and in effect would be safer for both soldiers and civilians after the fact (easier to disable and remove) Thats a genuine pentagonism (a safe mine)

C--The age of current munitions is frightening in some cases--where the explosive has degraded to the point that there is more danger to be had in transporting and installing the munition than ever to anyone setting it off when actually installed.

D--Does the US actually NEED a new mine--no not really--Anti-personnel mines are an area denial munition, and have little place in the current or even future military. BRAC is closing the Naval Mine warfare school at Ingelside Texas, and with it goes most of the US Naval mine knowledge (much of this slack is taken up by the UK and Australian navy). It really won't be missed.

E--I would anticipate both of these really overpriced systems to fall by the wayside at some point like the Army's Centurion gun system. A lot of ideas like this don't originate in the Pentagon, but rather by the Defense industry (sort of like the Pharma. industry showing doctors new fancy drugs that are no better than the old ones, but will keep them in cash and contacts if they are bought) I will have to look at a number sheet, but I believe that the "earmarked" funds for the Spider system are still for proof of concept and design work rather than delivery. (I may be wrong as I have seen Navy numbers recently but not Army--this may be worth checking into)

[splat@14]

5. Seems to me there was a documentary over this. I remember it

going over some of the observations you bring up here. Good info, thanks....And welcome to DU!

[Comandante_Subzero]

4. Crimes Against Humanity

There are cleanup campaigns in various countries where mines have been used. It costs money, a big obstacle. There is some demining funding & expertise provided by the international community.

As serious a problem as mines are, unexploded munitions (bombs, grenades, artillery shells, etc.) actually kill far more people & should receive much more attention & funding than they do.

Some 45,000 people have been killed in Vietnam by such munitions since the end of the war. Even WWI munitions are still killing people in Europe. Then there is depleted uranium, which is a whole other story & potentially the most horrific of all; Washington has salted a large area of the world with the deadly DU dust, yet another reason to put them out of business.

[splat@14]

6. Deserves a letter to congressmen. Thanks, forgot about the uranium

pollution.

Welcome to DU!

[splat@14]

7. Kick'n my post from yesterday as the replies are worth noting. land mines!

[splat@14]

8. My post from yesterday, great replies worth noting re land mines.