The US army plants landmines?!?

Question

I had naively thought that this was something only 3rd world and war torn armies practiced. Well, I've just learned otherwise. This is so morbid and disturbing. Here is the article that opened my teary eyes: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/77230
We are violating the very things we stand for. Guess that's just the republican way, the way of America.

Answer 1

Thank you for your question.

The United States has not manufactured anti-personnel mines since 1997, but a government statement in February 2004 stated that, "The United States will continue to develop non-persistent anti-personnel and anti-tank landmines."

The Landmine Monitor reports that the US has not used landmines in Iraq, Afghanistan or Kosovo although it reserves the rights to do so.

The US Government decided not to meet a previous commitment given by the Clinton administration to join the Mine Ban Treaty. According to the State Department "The United States will not join the [Mine Ban Treaty] because its terms would have required the US to give up a needed military capability.... Landmines still have a valid and essential role protecting United States forces in military operations.... No other weapon currently exists that provides all the capabilities provided by landmines."

I have attached some resources for your reference.

Regards

Answer 2

Looking at an anti war article is sort of biased don't you think? We did'nt use land mines in Iraq, that I can say. What was the need? Look at the terrain. When you look at an anti war site, you're bound to be disturbed because they're trying to sway you. It worked. In response to the dork above claiming that America has tons of WMD, they do. And if Korea or Iran had them , the world would have ended long ago. When technology is created such as that, it has to be protected. That is the reason. None of you who have never been to Iraq have no real idea of what's going on there. The news is not a good source of information. We use to watch the news from Iraq, and feel horrible because of the fact that they only focus on 'news worthy' stuff which happens to be violence. The good is never televised, only the bad. Do you have any idea what it's like to be there? No. And we don't use land mines. We use claymores, they're better.

Answer 3

I read the article you attached.

The United States Army no longer Sets land mines.

What we do use are the Family of Scatterable Mines.

These are mines that self detonate after a set time period (1 Hr, 8 hr, 2 days)

I do not know how many of these were used in the Iraq war but I assure you that the use of land mines are NOT outlawed by the Geneva Conventions.

The US Government did not sign the Treaty Baning Land Mines (Because it did not allow for the use of the self detonating mines or the mines between North and South Korea) But we did Fund the framing of the treaty and supported it.

Answer 4

Landmines are the easiest and less risky way to take out armor and APCs of any kind. The insurgents have the upper hand in Iraq and Afghanistan because they blend in rather well with the friendly population, while the US soldiers stand out like horses in a field of cows, and we have to sometimes take their tactics to defeat them. On the other hand, landmines do cause a lot of civilian casualties, but collateral damage is apart of war. Landmines do not kill nearly as many civilians as air dropped bombs do. The fire bombings of Dresden in Feb. 1945 by the British and the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Aug. 1945 by the US are praised as great victories of WWII, which EACH killed tens of thousands of civilians. But the US gets s*** for a few landmines?
Guess that's just the liberal way.

Answer 5

Oh for heavens sake - do you people really believe that your government is good, pure and noble? From outside the country they are as deceitful, corrupt and irrational as any other government. Probably more so. What sort of hypocritical insanity is calling for peace in Lebanon while topping uo supplies of bombs for Israel? You people should not be allowed to vote.

Your next task is to find out which country has the largest stocks of chemical and biological weapons. You won't like the answer. By your defintion of rogue states the USA is the worst of them all. Weapons of Mass Destruction all over the place.

Answer 6

What's wrong with planting landmines in Iraq. There is more deadly weapons in Iraq, such as chemicals and biological weapons that their results will be seen in the future. Why do they plant landmines?, hmmm. to barbecue some Iraqi kids playing in the fields? That is how the MRE for the military is delivered.

Answer 7

I guess the saying "Once a Marine, Always a Marine" isnt true for everyone.

I do agree with him that civilan deaths do happen. Its part of war but I also see it as him being a SSgt and having troops shooting first and asking later falls on him. Obviously he didnt have the greatest leadership traits.

As for the fact they shot the individuals that did not want to stop at the checkpoint. I would of shot at them also. They were signaled to stop and they didnt. It could of easily been a suicide bomber or a car full of insurgents that were going to drive by and just start shooting.

Answer 8

Why punish the US when we are not the problem?

The landmine treaty is a worthless piece of paper that has done nothing to protect civilians. And the sad fact is that the people who created this treaty knew that it was useless when they wrote it.

And since you are obviously clueless - the US did not sign that treaty.

Besides, having the US sign that treaty will not protect one civilian. (US doctrine on landmine use is consistent with the International Laws designed to protect civilians from their effects.)

Answer 9

Its not republican or democrat. Clinton would not sign the land mine ban either.

And landmine do have a legitimate purpose in trying to protect areas that we cannot have enough troops in place (such as N-S Korea border)

War is a nasty business.

Answer 10

Hey we could all take my suggestion. get all of our guys out of there, and USE those wmds and make the entire middle east a crater. completly uninhabitable for at least 5 years. then the wars between Islam and america will cease and no one will jack with us for the fear it will happen to them. you cant rationalize irrational people. you also cant reason with irreasonable people. so if you want to cry about war, go back to your room and wail. and please dont EVER jion the armed forces. if you gonna get in the bussiness of killing people, EXPECT it to go all the way. cause it always does.