After 10-Year Hiatus, Pentagon Eyes New Landmine

[soothsayer]

<snip>

The George W. Bush administration may soon resume production of antipersonnel land mines in a move that is at odds with both the international community and previous U.S. policy on the weapons, says a leading human rights organization.

In December of this year, the Pentagon will decide whether or not to begin producing a new type of antipersonnel land mine called a "Spider." The first of these mines would then be scheduled to roll out in early 2007.

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the funds for Spider's production are already earmarked, as the Pentagon has requested $1.3 billion for the mine system, as well as for another mine called the Intelligent Munitions System, which is expected to be fully running by 2008.

<snip>

In 1994 the U.S. called for the "eventual elimination" of all such mines and in 1996, President Bill Clinton said the U.S. would "seek a worldwide agreement as soon as possible to end the use of all antipersonnel mines." The U.S. produced its last antipersonnel land mine in 1997.

<snip>

However, the Bush administration made an about-face in U.S. antipersonnel land mine policy in February 2004, when it abandoned any pretense of joining the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, also known as the Ottawa Convention.

<snip>

much more http://www.antiwar.com/ips/baker.php?articleid=6872

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. One important step forward, and three leaps backward

I cannot believe what is being done by our leaders. I cannot fathom what they have in place instead of morals, ethics and a sense of humanity. I cannot understand why America is so quiet and accepting of their nonstop crap.

[Spinzonner]

2. Just test them on a ranch in Crawford

:sarcasm:

[annabanana]

3. Oh dear God!... I guess now that Princess Diana's dead

her project is just gathering cobwebs...
(Is the UK freaked out about this?)

[RetroLounge]

4. Actually I hear bush calls the new landmine

The Princess Die...

:sarcasm:

RL

[annabanana]

6. ugh

:spank:

[sweetheart]

5. What use of these in our new world

These land mines are for state-state conflicts, old style armed
conflict, not the current age. It seems the pentagon is busy
fighting world war 2 still and has totally lost the plot on the
modern world its in.

If they put one of these land mines underneath the front doorstep
of every republican in office, it would make a very good test, and
maybe if they work, we can keep them around for future nazi fascists.

[Triana]

7. another treaty in the crapper...

..great.

[Flying Dream Blues]

8. In our name, he does this.

When will enough be enough????

[Maccagirl]

9. I just emailed Adopt-A-Minefield

to tell them that I am ashamed of my government. They can call it whatever they choose-but it's NOT IN MY NAME.

[Flying Dream Blues]

10. I'm ashamed, too, but even the fact that I didn't vote for

* or ** doesn't change the fact that we are responsible for our government. If we disagree, it's our job to change it, because they represent us whether we like it or not.

[Deja Q]

11. Are these 'spiders' like those in kiddie online arcade games where

You approach the area where a spider mine is in, the spider mine senses you and then approaches you to blow you up?