Groups Asking U.S. to Ban Use of Cluster Bombs and Landmines

Leaders from 67 diverse U.S. groups issued a strong call to President Obama to reconsider U.S. noncompliance with international treaties banning the use of landmines and cluster bombs.

The signers of the petition include the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the head of Evangelicals for Social Action, the President and CEO of CARE, the heads of communion of seven major U.S. churches, two former U.S. ambassadors, one former senator, and Citizens for Global Solutions.

Human rights groups noted the United States' conspicuous absence in Oslo early December 2008 as 100 nations gathered to sign a landmark treaty outlawing the use of cluster munitions.

Former U.S. President George W. Bush opposed signing the treaty banning cluster bombs, with the State Department saying: "Such a general ban on cluster munitions will put the lives of our military men and women, and those of our coalition partners, at risk."

Since his election, many activists and stakeholders are questioning whether President Obama will reverse his predecessor's policy.

Cluster Munitions are indiscriminate and unreliable weapons and pose an unacceptable threat to civilian populations during and long after combat operations have ceased -- in much the same way as do landmines. The use of these types of weapons is an egregious blight against humanity and should be outlawed in every country.

Cluster munitions are large weapons that release up to hundreds of smaller sub-munitions.

Air-dropped or ground-launched, they cause two major humanitarian problems and risks to civilians:

First, their widespread dispersal means they cannot distinguish between military targets and civilians so the humanitarian impact can be extreme, especially when the weapon is used in or near populated areas.
Second, many sub-munitions fail to detonate on impact and become de facto antipersonnel mines killing and maiming people long after the conflict has ended.

For these reasons, 98 percent of cluster-bomb victims are civilians and 27 percent are children, says a study by Handicap International.

The United States is one of only 39 nations in the world that is not party to the decade-old Mine Ban Treaty, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in March.