is the use of cluster bombs by Israel acceptable behaviour?

Question

100,000 unexploded cluster bomblets were dropped on Lebanon just before the ceasefire. These were not military tragets.
It this a reasonable proportional response to two soldiers being kidnapped ?
Is it right that the US made and paid for them?
Do people in the US feel any shame? should the US manufaturers or government pay to clear them up?

figures from independant UN teams

Answer 1

I think soldiers, soldiers who have a heart in their chest feel shame about the cluster bombs. Soldiers are not kidnapped, soldiers are trapped in combat, soldiers are not kids. Kids are kidnapped in the local park, soldiers are trapped, ambushed or whatever.

Answer 2

First off where did you get your figures? The Hezbollah Times? Second cluster bombs are legal by Geneva convention rules. What is an appropriate response to a terrorist organization illegally entering anothers country and kidnapping soldiers? A slap on the hand? Maybe a rocket or two? What is this new game. We play war by new rules? You can only do this if I do that? Hell you step on American soil and kidnap two of our GI's I hope our country turns the country that does it into a parking lot. An empty one.

Answer 3

Yes it is right. No shame.

If you pull the tail of a tiger...be prepared to get bit.

I am waiting for the rag head muslims to pull another attack off in the US. If you think Israel used a lot of cluster bombs...the countries in the middle east will be covered with them.

If you are a carbon based life form in the smallest identifiable country responsible...you will not come through alive. Remember Hiroshima...that will look like a conventional 500 pounder compared to the carpet bombing that will follow.

Sleep tight.

Answer 4

No, this is not a reasonable response, it is a violation of international law.

Yes, it's OK that the US made them and shipped them, the stipulation was that they were not to be used in civilian areas.

The vast majority of people in the US don't know, and many of those that do know don't care. The US government should divert some of the $4Bn in aid it sends to Israel every year to clean up the unexploded ordinance.

Answer 5

Yes, it is acceptable.

The targets were terrorist; even more acceptable than military.

Only Israel's voters can determine if the response was proportional or not.

Yes, the US made them. Israel paid for them.

No, not shame. Disappointment is more accurate.

The US, governmeent or manufacturers, "should" not be involved in the cleanup. They may if the wish to for humanitarian reasons.

Answer 6

No. So is the use of landmines. Such ordnances are designed for indicriminate slaughter. I'd rather be hit by a sniper (at least I know I am a target) but to be accidentally POOFED! by a bomblet or a landmine when I least expect it is unfair (who do I shoot back?).

Answer 7

No, it isn't acceptable behaviour. Being dispersed they are difficult to clear and will lie around for years, killing innocent civilians indiscriminately, specially children. Israel should be ashamed for using cluster bombs.

Answer 8

Hezbollah should clean it up because they are the bane of Lebanon's existance, and responsible for all of the trouble in Lebanon.

Answer 9

If it is part of war strategy . It is cruel , inhuman and vicious but it is OK if it is part of war strategy . The use of atomic weapons or chemical weapons by almost any or every country is cruel but I guess no one of us mind or Will mind when it is used by our own country .

Answer 10

Only if the Golden Rule means nothing.