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Action
Alert!
MAKE THE MILITARY ARGUMENT!
Recently, 8 senior, high-ranking, retired U.S. Generals, including
those who commanded in Korea, signed and sent a letter to President
Bush urging him to join the Mine Ban Treaty. This letter gives compelling
military reasons for U.S. treaty accession. We encourage you to
write letters to the editor and letters to your legislators and
refer to this letter (see the home
page for an update on the Landmine Elimination and Victim Assistance
Act of 2001 and how to urge your legislators to cosponsor). If you
are not a military expert, ask your policy-makers to listen to those
who are! Let us know what results from your outreach (write to landmines@fcnl.org).
The letter is copied below.
May 19, 2001
George W. Bush
President of the United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Bush:
As retired senior officers and leaders in the U.S. armed forces,
we are writing to express support for the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty,
a total prohibition on the stockpiling, transfer, production, and
use of antipersonnel landmines (APM). It is our collective belief
that the United States does not need to retain any APM, even in
mixed systems with anti-tank mines. We feel strongly that it is
in the best interests of the American soldier and our country that
you "fast-track" U.S. accession to the Mine Ban Treaty.
APM are outmoded weapons that have, time and again, proved to be
a liability to our own troops. We believe that the military, diplomatic,
and humanitarian advantages of speedy U.S. accession far outweigh
the minimal military utility of these weapons.
Current policy, Presidential Decision Directive (PDD) 64, dictates
that the U.S. will not join the Mine Ban Treaty before 2006, and
even then depending on "suitable" new alternatives to
APM having been found and fielded. Every NATO nation except the
U.S. has embraced the Mine Ban Treaty. In doing so, our allies have
demonstrated that they can accomplish their missions and protect
their troops with weapons systems available now.
Your predecessor, former President Clinton, portrayed APM as critical
to the defense of the Republic of Korea (ROK) from the constant
and real threat of North Korean invasion. Several of us are former
commanders of elements of I-Corps (USA/ROK group), and believe that
APM are not in any way critical or decisive in maintaining the peninsula's
security. In fact, freshly scattered mixed systems would slow a
US and ROK counter-invasion by inhibiting the operational tempo
of friendly armor and dismounted infantry units.
It is our understanding that the standing response plan to a North
Korean attack does not call for these weapons to be used to counter
an initial attack. Other, more effective and less inhibiting weapons,
not newly laid APM or mixed systems, would be employed to halt the
first waves of a North Korean advance into South Korea.
What's more, the previous Administration's "Korea Exception"
wrongly implied U.S. responsibility for the landmines currently
deployed in the military control zone south of the DMZ. Those mines
are under the jurisdiction and control of the ROK; U.S. accession
to the Mine Ban Treaty would not require their removal.
Our recommendation that you should send the treaty to the U.S. Senate
for advice and consent is motivated by a deep concern for the welfare
of the men and women of our armed services. As you know, Pentagon
casualty reports from Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf attest
to the tremendous toll that APM, many of them our own, have taken
on our service men and women. Veterans across this country can testify
to the devastating injuries this counterproductive weapon has inflicted
on both U.S. servicemen and civilians in the countries where these
weapons have been laid.
We would not be urging this course of action if we did not believe
it would enhance our combat mobility and effectiveness and, most
importantly, protect our nation's sons and daughters when we send
them into harm's way. Today, Armed Forces Day, we urge you, Mr.
President, to ensure that no more U.S. servicemen or civilians fall
to U.S. mines. Joining the Mine Ban Treaty as soon as possible will
help bring about this achievable reality. We know that the American
people will support you in protecting those who defend us. We certainly
will.
We look forward to hearing more about your position on the Mine
Ban Treaty.
Respectfully,
Rear Admiral Eugene Carroll, USN-retiredFormer Assistant Deputy
Chief of Naval Operations
Lt. General Henry E. Emerson, USA-retiredFormer Commander of the
XVIII Corps
Lt. General James F. Hollingsworth, USA-retiredFormer Commander
of I-Corps (USA-ROK Group)
Lt. General Harold Moore, USA-retiredFormer Deputy Chief of Staff
for Personnel, Department of the Army and former commander of the
Seventh Infantry Division, Korea
Lt. General Dave Palmer, USA-retiredFormer Superintendent of West
Point
Vice Admiral Jack Shanahan, USN-retiredChairman, Military Advisory
Committee
To Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities
Lt. General DeWitt C. Smith Jr., USA-retired
Lt. General Walter Ulmer, USA-retired
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