Bad Stuff
That Israel has been accused, on uncontestable evidence, of using cluster bombs in areas which have no direct military advantage, and which represent geographies used by farmers and sheep-herders is really fairly awful, difficult to comprehend. Difficult, but not impossible. Still, hard to square.
One doesn't really want to believe that a state which upholds the principles of humane behaviour, fairness and trustworthiness without equivocation would feel itself forced against its better nature to succumb to the use of these devices. Meant to maim, meant to dismember, meant to exact the utmost in misery upon its human targets; meant to kill.
The world saw a Canadian-led initiative a number of years ago to effect an international ban on the use of landmines. Another deadly munitions device commonly used during warfare to physically disarm the enemy, but which, when failing to explode upon initial impact, presented a dire and ever-present danger post-combat to civilian populations. Responsible for thousands of limb amputations among unsuspecting children and adults wherever these lethal weapons lay undisturbed.
The gradual dismantling of landmines and the however-reluctant international agreement to ban their use has resulted in safer living conditions for ordinary people living in troubled times in their countries of birth. The munitions-descendent of the landmine, the cluster bombs, are used in a similar way for a similar purpose. And like their predecessor, cluster bombs have a high percentile-failure in detonation on initial impact; they remain where they fall, awaiting innocent victims.
The IDF drew up maps to indicate where such drops were made, their numbers and other necessary details - to ensure that they themselves would know where it would be safe to tread. Or, at some future date, presumably to assist in removing these deadly devices - or, handing the information over to those who would remove them. It isn't, though, just the fact that cluster bombs are being used in situations of war to try to deflect an enemy. It's where they're used, it's the overwhelming numbers expressing overkill; a handy enough phrase in these circumstances.
Israel claims, and she has history on her side - that these bomblets containing shrapnel bits whose explosive effect results in an extraordinary amount of damage to soft human tissues, muscles, limbs - were meant to target Hezbollah's Islamist militia which had long used the south of Lebanon to launch cross-border raids into Israel (in direct contravention of UN resolutions) - and only after other, more conventional methods of warfare failed. The 2006 IDF defensive incursion into Lebanon for the purpose of removing Hezbollah from the border resulted in these left-behind lethal weapons.
Civilians, Israel steadfastly claims, were never the targets. "We have taken the concerns raised by the Americans (who originally supplied Israel with cluster bombs, before Israel began producing her own) extremely seriously..." stated Mark Regev, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman. "We are also having our own internal investigation into this matter." As well they should.
The UN official in charge of bomb disposal in the south indicated that the region had suffered the "worst...cluster bomb contamination I have ever seen". On top of all her other headaches, Israel can ill afford a reputation of unconcern for the lives of civilians of countries other than her own. There are more than enough other states within the geography who demonstrate such unconcern and go well beyond that to genuine displays of true ill-will leading to state-homicidal tendencies.
The issue is that Israel, the sole representative-country in the region practising the democratic ideal of enlightened and responsible governance has her own reputation to uphold. Which doesn't include the wanton use of destructive materiel. Such use will always rear its ugly condemnatory head to lessen respect for the integrity of Israel.
A meaningful change of tactics is due. Caesar's wife must always be seen to be above suspicion.
One doesn't really want to believe that a state which upholds the principles of humane behaviour, fairness and trustworthiness without equivocation would feel itself forced against its better nature to succumb to the use of these devices. Meant to maim, meant to dismember, meant to exact the utmost in misery upon its human targets; meant to kill.
The world saw a Canadian-led initiative a number of years ago to effect an international ban on the use of landmines. Another deadly munitions device commonly used during warfare to physically disarm the enemy, but which, when failing to explode upon initial impact, presented a dire and ever-present danger post-combat to civilian populations. Responsible for thousands of limb amputations among unsuspecting children and adults wherever these lethal weapons lay undisturbed.
The gradual dismantling of landmines and the however-reluctant international agreement to ban their use has resulted in safer living conditions for ordinary people living in troubled times in their countries of birth. The munitions-descendent of the landmine, the cluster bombs, are used in a similar way for a similar purpose. And like their predecessor, cluster bombs have a high percentile-failure in detonation on initial impact; they remain where they fall, awaiting innocent victims.
The IDF drew up maps to indicate where such drops were made, their numbers and other necessary details - to ensure that they themselves would know where it would be safe to tread. Or, at some future date, presumably to assist in removing these deadly devices - or, handing the information over to those who would remove them. It isn't, though, just the fact that cluster bombs are being used in situations of war to try to deflect an enemy. It's where they're used, it's the overwhelming numbers expressing overkill; a handy enough phrase in these circumstances.
Israel claims, and she has history on her side - that these bomblets containing shrapnel bits whose explosive effect results in an extraordinary amount of damage to soft human tissues, muscles, limbs - were meant to target Hezbollah's Islamist militia which had long used the south of Lebanon to launch cross-border raids into Israel (in direct contravention of UN resolutions) - and only after other, more conventional methods of warfare failed. The 2006 IDF defensive incursion into Lebanon for the purpose of removing Hezbollah from the border resulted in these left-behind lethal weapons.
Civilians, Israel steadfastly claims, were never the targets. "We have taken the concerns raised by the Americans (who originally supplied Israel with cluster bombs, before Israel began producing her own) extremely seriously..." stated Mark Regev, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman. "We are also having our own internal investigation into this matter." As well they should.
The UN official in charge of bomb disposal in the south indicated that the region had suffered the "worst...cluster bomb contamination I have ever seen". On top of all her other headaches, Israel can ill afford a reputation of unconcern for the lives of civilians of countries other than her own. There are more than enough other states within the geography who demonstrate such unconcern and go well beyond that to genuine displays of true ill-will leading to state-homicidal tendencies.
The issue is that Israel, the sole representative-country in the region practising the democratic ideal of enlightened and responsible governance has her own reputation to uphold. Which doesn't include the wanton use of destructive materiel. Such use will always rear its ugly condemnatory head to lessen respect for the integrity of Israel.
A meaningful change of tactics is due. Caesar's wife must always be seen to be above suspicion.
Labels: Middle East
posted by Pieface | 4:33 PM
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