U.S. FAILS TO TAKE A RESPONSIBLE POSITION ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS
(Geneva, July 8, 2008) – Less than two months after the negotiation of an international treaty banning cluster bombs, the United States says it will continue to use its vast stockpile for another decade. According to the new policy signed by Secretary of Defence Robert Gates, the U.S. will also ship cluster bombs to other countries. The United States is the leading known user, producer, stockpiler, and exporter of cluster bombs. The new policy puts the U.S. squarely at odds with the 111 other nations—including nearly all major U.S. allies— who agreed in May of 2008 to ban the production, use, stockpiling and trade of cluster munitions. The United States did not participate in the drafting or negotiation of the new Cluster Munitions treaty, which will open for signature by all nations in Oslo in December of 2008.