Consider This from NPR The Impact of Cluster Bombs
Jul 10, 2023
Lewis Simons, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist with extensive experience in Asia and the Middle East, dives into the controversial use of cluster bombs in the Ukraine conflict. He discusses the implications of the Biden administration's military aid package, stirring debate over civilian safety. Simons shares haunting stories from Laos, where millions of cluster bombs were dropped during the Vietnam War, affecting countless lives, especially children. The conversation raises critical questions about the balance between military support and the human cost of warfare.
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Cluster Bomb Controversy
- Cluster bombs are controversial due to their danger to civilians, prompting concerns from Democrats and human rights groups.
- Unexploded bomblets pose long-term risks, even after conflict ends.
Cluster Munition Concerns
- Cluster munitions are problematic because some bomblets don't detonate on impact.
- These unexploded bomblets can later injure or kill civilians.
Laos: The Most Bombed Country
- Laos is the most heavily bombed country, exceeding Japan, Germany, and Britain, due to U.S. cluster bombing during the Vietnam War.
- The bombing, which lasted nine years, amounted to a plane load of bombs every 8 minutes.
