According to media reports, the United States wants to deliver controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine. An official announcement is apparently imminent. The plan has already been criticized beforehand.
Well, yes. Despite all concerns and protests, the US government wants to deliver controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine. This was learned by various US media from government circles. However – it was said – the final decision was on President Biden’s desk. The official announcement is reserved for him – just like the promise of another multi-million dollar aid package for Ukraine.
“Cluster munitions are being considered. When we officially announce the plans, we’ll provide more details,” Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder promises. He chooses his words carefully. The use of cluster munitions is outlawed internationally, mainly because it is considered extremely dangerous for the civilian population.
The USA, Ukraine and Russia do not support the agreement
Cluster bombs release countless small explosive devices. Many of these do not explode until later and can therefore continue to kill or injure people long after they are released.
An international agreement prohibits the use of cluster munitions – however, neither the USA nor Ukraine nor Russia have signed this so-called Oslo agreement.
USA wants to deliver “relatively safe” cluster munitions
“I would like to point out that we have several variants of the ammunition in our inventories. Among them are no old variants with a dud rate of more than 2.35 percent,” said Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder.
Probably also to forestall any criticism, he explained that the USA would only supply modern and relatively safe cluster munitions with a lower rate of duds to Ukraine.
If we provide the ammo, we would carefully select ammo with lower dud rates, we have actual test data from 2020 for that.
Pentagon has been considering delivery for some time
Ukraine has long been demanding cluster munitions – missiles or bombs that can hit multiple targets at once. With this they hope to break through the Russian military lines and advance their counter-offensive. US Chief of Staff Mark Milley said last week that the Pentagon had been thinking about supporting Ukraine in this for a long time.
Other European countries have already supplied cluster munitions, and the Russians also use them, Milley justified the decision.
criticism of human rights groups
After the US government’s plans became known, criticism from human rights groups was not long in coming. Amnesty International, among others, strongly condemned the project. The use of cluster munitions is incompatible with international law, Amnesty said. She is a major threat to civilian life – even long after the end of a conflict.