The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it will be providing Ukraine with widely-banned anti-personnel mines, breaking its own policy that’s meant to prohibit the transfer of the indiscriminate weapons.
The provision of anti-personnel mines is the latest escalation from the Biden administration and comes after President Biden authorized Ukraine to launch long-range strikes on Russian territory using US missiles, which Ukrainian forces have already begun firing into Russia.
Anti-personnel mines, which are designed to kill or maim people, are banned by 164 countries under the Ottawa Treaty, but the US and Russia are not signatories. Ukraine has signed the treaty but has violated it by using anti-personnel mines in the conflict.
US officials justified supplying Ukraine with anti-personnel mines by pointing to Russia’s use of the weapon and by saying that individual Russian ground troops are leading the offensives in eastern Ukraine, not armored vehicles.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also pointed to the fact that Ukraine already makes its own anti-personnel mines and claimed the US version is safer since they can self-detonate.
To provide the mines to Ukraine, President Biden has to violate his own policy that he implemented in 2022, which banned the transfer and use of US anti-personnel mines outside of the Korean Peninsula. The ban was initially an Obama-era policy, but it was reversed by the Trump administration in 2020.
Arms control groups, including the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), slammed the provision of the US mines to Ukraine. “The US must respect its own policy prohibiting landmine transfers,” the ICBL said. “As the world’s largest donor to mine clearance, spending millions annually to protect civilians, it’s inconceivable the US would facilitate laying new mines.”
The ICBL also called on Ukraine to stop violating the Ottawa Treaty. “Ukraine already faces years of demining due to Russian landmine use. Adding to this contamination would impact its own population for decades to come, ” the group said.
Since 2023, the US has been providing Ukraine with cluster bombs, another indiscriminate weapon that’s banned by over 100 countries. Cluster bombs spread small submunitions over a large area, many of which might not explode, making them a huge hazard for civilians who may come across them in the future.
I'm not thoughtless, disrespectful, not hateful or illegal, but I'm very very tempted to be all these things regarding the insane actions of the US government.
Genocide Joe proves once again he is one vindictive bastard. The purpose of these mines is only to give Russia a big mess to cleanup once the war is over.
Disgusting
"The ICBL said …As the world’s largest donor (US)… The ICBL also called on Ukraine to stop violating … due to Russian landmine use." LOL. Obviously obvious.
Orlov is highly astute. I would say, both of these good people are…
https://www.rt.com/russia/607970-nato-war-russia-zakharova/
Orlov's subtle humor is evident in what he states near the 13:53 mark.
Disregarding one’s own policies promotes many potentials…Not many good ones…
The ICBL also called on Ukraine to stop violating the Ottawa Treaty. “Ukraine already faces years of demining due to Russian landmine use. Adding to this contamination would impact its own population for decades to come, ” the group said.
Yes, and their concern for their own population has been their number one priority thus far. s/
“They don’t like us anyhow…Let’s drop the big one and see what happens!…”
NOT!
I find the phrase "breaking its own policy" to be hilarious.
Borrowing a direct quote from Business Insider from July 2023 (I'd seen these figures cited elsewhere but this was a quick & easy source) :
"But several experts told … that the amount of contaminated land in Ukraine is so massive that it could take close to 500 demining teams and 757 years to finish the work. And the World Bank estimated that the demining work could exceed $37 billion through 2033."
Almost EIGHT CENTURIES at last year's mine infestation level. And Biden et. al. want to add to all those figures.
757 years. LOL. What land mine would still be active in 757 years? What chemical explosive would still work in 757 years?
Not surprised that was the main point you would comment on.
Look at you sh*tting on American workmanship. I’d say “How unpatriotic” but your loyalty lies exclusively with the Apartheid State of Israel, so that you even care about anything outside Caanan is fairly unbelievable.
Tell you what – the moment you think no land mines still function, be the first to f**king tap-dance across where they lay. We’ll wait.
Mining land that you can not defend is part of warfare.
164 countries think otherwise.
Russia started using cluster bombs in response. The difference is that the U.S. cluster bombs are old and deteriorated, with a much higher probability that they don't explode on impact but instead stay on the ground, to wound civilians in the future.
Nahum 3:1
Woe to the bloody city!
It is all full of lies and robbery.
Its victim never departs.
OT so does not apply to DC no worries. NWO gets a pass or does it.
Last I read, our little monster is asking Mr Dementia for Tomahawks, which dear leader in all likelihood will gladly supply (perhaps tipped with nuclear warheads).
USA! USA!