Senators, Congressman Call on U.S. to Sign Cluster Bomb Ban Treaty

A few days after most of the world’s nations agreed to stop producing and using cluster munitions, Senators Dianne Feinstein (CA) and Patrick Leahy (VT), and Representative James P. McGovern (MA) introduced a joint resolution calling on the United States to sign on to the Convention on Cluster Munitions when it becomes open for signature in December 2008.

The treaty also requires signatories to destroy their cluster munitions stockpiles within eight years. The United States refused to sign on to the agreement.

“The United States should not sit on the sidelines,” Senator Feinstein said. “The United States should join the 111 other countries that have endorsed this effort, and we should take a leadership role in bringing other nations on board. Doing so is consistent with our values and our national security interests.

Senator Leahy said, “One of the many lessons of wars today is that so many are fought in the midst of civilian populations.  Far more can and should be done to reduce civilian casualties and the anger and resentment they cause toward our own troops.  Cluster munitions, like landmines and even poison gas, have some military utility.  But weapons that are scattered over a wide area, which often fail to detonate until triggered by unsuspecting civilians, often children, have no place in the 21st Century."

“Cluster munitions kill indiscriminately,” Representative McGovern said.  “The United States should be leading the way in eliminating these weapons; instead, the Bush Administration is dragging its feet.  That is not acceptable. I commend the dozens of nations that have signed the treaty, and look forward to working with my colleagues and the next Administration to add the United States to that list.

The resolution is co-sponsored by Senators Ben Cardin (MD), Bernard Sanders (VT) Russ Feingold (WI.), and Sherrod Brown (OH).