Land mines and cluster bombs

164 nations of the world have banned the use of land mines and cluster bombs.  Cluster bombs break apart into small bomblets that contain even smaller shrapnel.  They are useless at knocking out hard targets, but the shrapnel is excellent at penetrating flesh.  Land mines, of course, last for years after they have been planted, killing and maiming people long after a war is over.  Civilians are still killed in Vietnam from land mines.  

The Trump administration now says it will reverse American policy against these weapons that has been in effect since 2008.  We will again permit their use.

And people bitch about Nancy Pelosi ripping up Trump’s speech and J. Lo’s half time show and the slow count in Iowa.  When will we start complaining about the stuff that matters?  Land mines matter.

See John Ismay and Thomas Gibbons-Neff, “Trump Administration Embraces Weapons 164 Nations Ban,” (Feb. 8, 2020), p. A5.