Saturday, April 16, 2011

It's alleged that Gadhafi's military are using cluster bombs against the civilian population. This is very bad, so I'm assuming these differ in some way from the cluster bombs deployed by UK And US forces in Iraq, by the US in Afghanistan, and by Israel in Lebanon.
Libya, it turns out, did not ratify the international agreement against the use of cluster bombs. You know, the agreement the US and Israel didn't ratify.
The Libyans don't make their own cluster bombs, so the question of their origin arises. I bet the newshounds are already investigating that one - second thoughts, I won't risk any money on it.

Cluster bombs, whatever is claimed, are used to cause casualties among civilian populations. I'm guessing that their use could constitute a war crime. I'm also guessing that, if Gadhafi ever faces an international court, the case against the use of cluster bombs is unlikely to feature.

So remember the rule, for Libya and Libya only; deleted uranium SÍ, cluster bombs NO!

3 comments:

Chris H said...

I'm tipping over into conspiracy theory mode but Hague has come out with the mantra that Nato needs to move quickly to prevent a "massacre". I do wonder if things like this are designed to provide justification for Western intervention.

The cluster bomblets which have been photographed were produced in Spain. I'm betting Gadaffi didn't pick them up in a bogof deal down at the bazaar.

Let's not forget these words "Libya may nationalize its oil industry to control production as oil prices have plummeted over 70% over the past year." - Muammar Qadhafi, televised address at Georgetown University, Washington, January 2009.

Jemmy Hope said...

Interesting quote.
I'm beginning to wonder if there is a genuine resistance movement. All we see is blokes driving back and forth along the East-West highway brandishing weapons for the western TV cameras. The leadership is just hanging out for a full-scale intervention. They want to "ride to power on the CIA train". Failing that it's a cushy berth in Florida, and leave the rank and file to face the music.

Chris H said...

I think there is popular resistance to Gadaffi but any common leadership it had has been subsumed by the CIA backed 'leadership' that has recently appeared.

Once again 'the West' allows nations sovereignty as long as capitalism has unfettered access to resources.