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At Earth Future Action, we absolutely condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This is a personal issue for us since we have a number of Ukrainian friends. We also support giving aid to Ukraine.
However, the war in Ukraine is a very dangerous situation that needs to be de-escalated as soon as possible. This is becoming a very dangerous situation for both the Ukrainian and Russian civilians. Adding cluster bombs to the mix is a recipe for a humanitarian disaster.
We absolutely disagree with the plan of the Biden Administration to supply Ukraine with cluster bombs.
Cluster bombs are a humanitarian disaster. Dual-purpose improved conventional munitions (DPICMs) are surface-to-surface warheads that burst and disperse deadly multiple, smaller bomblets over a wide area. Many bomblets fail to explode on initial impact, leaving duds that can indiscriminately wound and kill, like landmines, for many years. Meaning these bombs don't just kill combatants, but they will kill innocent non-combatants, children, and animals that happen to step on the duds.
“They are indiscriminate, and they harm civilians,” director of Human Rights Watch, Sarah Yager told the Washington Post. “We are also talking about breaking a global norm against using cluster munitions, at least for countries that believe in humanity even in times of war.”
“These duds are dangerous because they are so easily triggered, making them a threat to everyone who enters an area where they have been fired,” said Brian Castner, a senior crisis adviser at Amnesty International. “It’s like scattering random booby traps across the battlefield.”
The majority of countries in the world would oppose cluster munitions. Over 120 countries, including 23 NATO countries, ban cluster bombs under the Convention on Cluster Munitions Treaty.
In a recent letter, over 30 organizations spoke out against the Biden Administration's plan to give Ukraine cluster bombs.
According to Politico, 14 Senate Democrats wrote to national security adviser Jake Sullivan that “the humanitarian costs and damage to coalition unity of providing U.S. cluster munitions would outweigh the tactical benefits, and urge the president not to approve such a transfer.” (Politico, 6/29/23)
Several high-ranking House Democrats have joined human rights groups in expressing dismay over President Biden's decision to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions; this includes Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), ranking member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense; Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), ranking member of the House Rules Committee; Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), ranking member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; along with Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn).
The House on the night of July 13th, voted down an amendment to the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act that would have prohibited the transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine. You can see the vote here.
LETTERS
U.S. Cluster Munition Coalition Letter to Biden (7/14/23)
AMENDMENT TO PROHIBIT THE TRANSFER OF CLUSTER MUNITIONS TO UKRAINE
Amendment to 2024 National Defense Authorization Act
Amendment to prohibit the transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine.
KEY ORGANIZATIONS
Cluster Munition Coalition Twitter
INTERNATIONAL TREATY
RELATED NEWS ARTICLES
House Votes Down Amendment to Block Cluster Bomb Shipments to Ukraine (Anti-War, 7-13-23)
'A Terrible Mistake': Key Dems Oppose Biden's Move to Send Cluster Munitions to Ukraine (Common Dreams, 7-8-23)
Watchdog Urges Biden to Halt Plan to Supply Ukraine With Cluster Bombs (Common Dreams, 7/6/23)
Biden Administration Poised to Supply Ukraine With Banned Cluster Bombs (Common Dreams, 7/1/23)
U.S. actively considering giving cluster munitions to Ukraine (Politico, 6/29/23)
U.S. is considering sending cluster munitions to Ukraine, officials say (NBC News, 6/29/23)
The U.S. should not provide cluster munitions to Ukraine (The Hill, 6/7/23)
OTHER AMDENDMENTS RELATED TO UKRAINE
Here are some other amendments related to aid for Ukraine: One amendment from Greene would have cut $300 million in military aid for Ukraine that’s packed into the $886 billion NDAA, but it failed in a vote of 89-341. Gaetz put forward an amendment to cut off all military assistance for Ukraine. The measure failed in a vote of 70-358, with only Republicans voting in favor.
An amendment recentky introduced by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) to require audits and investigations of Ukraine aid failed in a vote of 20-78, with only Republicans supporting the measure. The Senate also rejected an amendment to establish a lead inspector general for Ukraine aid in a vote of 51-48 (the effort required a three-fifths majority). And here are the votes for the Senate's 2024 National Defense Authorization Act.
As mentioned above, we generally support aid for Ukraine. However, we are simply providing links to these other amendments just for your information.
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