119
Two things:
- Russia is using cluster munitions
- Russia started the war
this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2023
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Yes but the people who suffer the most with these weapons is the civilians.
Just because they are already being used, doesn’t mean more should be used.
Agree. Russia is guilty of using cluster munitions, and they started the war. They need to stop on both counts.
I'd like to think that Ukraine could do better than Russia...
But then I guess they're getting the cluster munitions from the US, so maybe not?
do i understand correctly that you are implying ukraine, a country attempting to frame itself as a modern developed democracy, should base its policies on those of russia
- Ukraine has already been using cluster munitions, they're just running out
- The US cluster munitions would have a much lower dud rate than either the Ukrainian or Russian cluster bombs
Whether or not you agree with the US sending them more cluster weapons, they're already on use. The Cambodian PM seems completely uninformed if he thinks this is an escalation.
"Warcrimes are okay when the other side does them too."
Know what else will be dangerous for potentially 100 years, maybe longer? Letting Russia win/hold territory. Like, folks, it's war. The front is already riddled with mines, many in strange places because of the dam wash out.
Is this crappy and dangerous for civilians? Yes. But come on, Russian occupiers are literally committing genocide and mining the shit out of stuff right now. At least if cluster munitions help end this war then the cleanup can begin and things can start to get less dangerous.
"At least if nuclear bombs help end this war..."
Just no.
Especially because these things will be used on Ukrainian soil. So it will be Ukranian people who will have to deal with the fallout for years/decades to come.
Nuclear bombs are very different than cluster munitions.
The Russians are already mining-remining Ukranian soil, creating an unexploded ordinance issued for generations. In fact, Russian is also using cluster munitions, so the problem with them specifically already exists.
Similar cautions/implications/unfortunate consequences for mines will be needed for unexploded cluster munitions, so this will need to be dealt with regardless of if Ukraine uses them.
The elected leaders of Ukraine have made the tactical choice to do this, have weighed the trade-offs, and convinced an inittialy-hesitant America to ship weapons. Who are you/the world to interfere with their sovereign decisions on their own land, with consequences largely confined to their own land?
If you are an American/Ukranian and oppose your country providing/receiving these munitions, contact your representatives.
I'm from neither country. I am however from one of the 100+ countries that has banned the use of cluster bombs for over a decade.
In my country, there's still people dying from unexploded bombs leftovet from world war 1.
From an article on why cluster bombs are so controversial
Sixty percent of cluster bomb casualties are people injured while undertaking everyday activities, according to Reuters. One third of all recorded cluster munitions casualties are children.
So yes, while I keep being staunchly on the side of Ukraine and NATO helping them, this is not something I like to see.
They are looking at short term benefits, understandably. I may be naive, but still believe they can drive the Russians out with more conventional weapons. The fact that they seemingly don't think so is actually worrying.
I'm actually really confused. This is the United States we're talking about. They have a military budget greater than, what, the next 10 largest combined? They couldn't figure out how to use a type of weapon that wouldn't cause an international incident and draw condemnation from their closest allies?
yeah, it really is a mystery
like if we really had to send weapons, there are so many more that exist that won't cause unfathomably horrific damage that is so horrific that like nearly half of the fucking world considers them warcrimes
like it's fucking horrid that Russia's using them, but like what the hell is wrong with the US to think "hey, we'll use it too"
(but then again, the US and Russia did refuse to sign the CCM)
By this logic literally anything is justified if it stops Russia.
Shortsighted.
Chemicals! Biologics! Nukes! Suicide Bombers! Targeting children!
Did the US commit a genocide when they invaded Afghanistan?
Well yeah but we don't talk about that.
We just talk about the genocides committed by the baddies.
Is there any legitimacy to the claims that the Ukrainians want to disassemble these munitions to use as drone bombs? I suppose time will tell and no assurances have been made that this is the case.
The big advantage of these weapons for Ukraine is that they can be fired directly from the western -suupplied Howitzers and HIMARS they already have without needing modification. Ukraine's problem is that they are running out of shells. Cluster munitions go further since they are area weapons.
There is none. It's liberal propaganda.
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