Six states call for cluster bomb ban

[tocqueville]

Thu Sep 7, 9:20 AM ET

GENEVA (AFP) - Six states have formally called for cluster bombs to be banned following the recent conflict in Lebanon.

Austria, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Sweden and the Vatican made the call during an international review conference on the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons which ended here late Wednesday, conference president Francois Rivasseau said Thursday.

More than a dozen Lebanese, including several children, have been killed by bomblets from cluster bombs since the end of hostilities on August 14.

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The United Nations has estimated that it would take at least two years to clear the scourge scattered across more than 390 locations.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060907/wl_mideast_afp/mideastlebanonconflict

[IChing]

1. Six nations not states although it might be a good idea a bill

pushed here in California on this it might pass.

[tocqueville]

3. a nation equals normally a state (or several)

France is a nation and a state
USA is a nation and a federal state
California is a state but not a nation

the word nation expresses the community of people with a common history and culture
A state is a set of institutions that possess the authority to make the rules.

[IChing]

4. Didn't check the yahoo feed

You are right but I was hoping something had happened here and you got my hopes up.

[sweetheart]

5. yes, what states might pass such a measure

i was wondering which 6 states, as i clicked, was figuring,
california
massachussetts
new york
oregon
washington
hawaii

[Benhurst]

2. Damn commies!

Proudly BushAmerican,
a member of The World's Only Superpower.

:patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

BushAmerica
And this be our motto: "Root, hog, or die!"

[flamin lib]

6. At best estimate only 80% of the bomblets detonate.

That leaves one in five unexploded and lying around. Depending on the munition the bomblet (cute name, huh?) may look like a metal baseball with raised directional bumps to give it spin or it may look like a one pound coffee can painted bright yellow. Either is attractive to children who are naturally curious and will play with anything unusual.

I called on an mechanical engineer who left the defense industry for a huge cut in pay. He kept a dummy baseball bomblet on his desk to remind him why he quit his high paying job.

[Benhurst]

7. A strange weapon, indeed, for such a "Christian" nation. NT