The Guardian article omits mention that the US, the country which has most extensively used cluster bombs (http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2008_01-02/goose), which is almost certainly the world's leading manufacturer and exporter of these weapons, and which possesses an enormous stockpile of 5 million cluster bombs containing up to 1 billion bomblets, is also not a signatory to the Wellington agreement to ban cluster munitions.

Seen in the context of US efforts to mobilize its allies for a world-wide effort to "contain" Russia militarily and diplomatically and the many pieces of evidence pointing to US complicity in fomenting the recent war in Georgia, this omission cannot easily be dismissed as a benign oversight. Sadly, clues like this suggest that the Guardian may not be the honest and reliable source of information that it appears to be.

Chris Horton

Absolutely right, Mr. Horton, and well said.

To pick up on Chris Horton's excellent observation above, the article from The Guardian "reports":

"The South Ossetia conflict was the first time cluster bombs were deployed since the Lebanon war in 2006, when M85s were used extensively by Israel against Hizbullah."

Actually, Israel dropped these weapons of mass destruction on southern Lebanon as Collective Punishment against the entire population in the last days of that conflict. They were NOT directed against Hizbullah as such. It was an act of State Terrorism.

-30-

HRW "last month called on Russia to immediately stop using cluster bombs"

"Georgia has admitted dropping cluster bombs during its attempt to regain control of its breakaway province of South Ossetia"

Good old HRW. Now they should ask the Palestinians to stop attacking Israel with US made Apache helicopters.

I wonder where Georgia got the cluster bombs...oh yeah...MADE IN THE USA.

Russia should stop using cluster bombs, just as soon as the USA does.

"The only means of strengthening one's intellect is to make up one's mind about nothing, to let the mind be a thoroughfare for all thoughts." - John Keats

The M85 Cluster Bomb isn't Russian...it's made right across the river from the RNC's convention.

"The Israeli military Industries [IMI] developed M85 dual-purpose bomblet is a product outstanding by virtue of its unique self-destruct mechanism. This important safety feature is designed to ensure that no armed duds will be left on the battlefield to endanger advancing friendly troops. The sensitive bomblet fuse functions at steep impact angles and low impact velocities, even against soft targets, ensuring that the bomblet will detonate on impact. As a result of Israeli Defence Force experience, where own troops casualties have occurred as a result of the mishandling of unexploded M85 bomblets, by 1998 Israeli military Industries had developed and incorporated addition safety features to the sub-munition. It now has a unique self destruct device which significantly reduces the chance of finding unexploded bomblets ahead of advancing troops; a safety mechanism which makes it impossible manually to arm duds inadvertently, and a highly sensitive impact fuse which functions at steep angles of impact and at lower impact velocities. The self-destruct mechanism ensures that no hazardous duds are encountered by advancing friendly forces. The IMI safety mechanism prevents inadvertent arming of duds by manual means. No stored energy is contained in the bomblet fusing system, thus complying with the most severe military standards. This requirement is not currently met by any other bomblet.

In March 2003 Israel Military Industries (IMI) and the US-company ATK - Alliant Techsystems announced the signing of a strategic alliance. According to the terms of the agreement, ATK will be licensed to manufacture and market IMI's range of unique Self-Destruct Fuzes in the United States. IMI is a leading defense systems innovator, developer, manufacturer and supplier of advanced weapon systems and ammunition, including precision-guided bombs. ATK is a $2.1 billion aerospace and defense company with leading positions in propulsion, composite structures, munitions and precision capabilities. IMI's Self-Destruct Fuze for submunitions, which exceeds DoD requirements for UXO (UneXploded Ordnance) duds, provides friendly forces with a clean operating area after the firing ends."

I always liked Common Dreams because it has an aura of telling the truth and providing its readers with accurate unbiased facts.

Guess my surprise when I read about the fact that Russia was one of 107 countries who didn't sign the treaty against cluster munitions. What we are not told is the fact that neither did the United States. Going from memory,I seem to recall that cluster bombs were extensively used in Iraq.

Am I correct about the USA position?

Is it just me? I’m still totally mystified by the original Guardian post. HRW reports that the government of Georgia has admitted to using cluster munitions (we can assume in an effort to impede Russia’s predictable response to Georgia’s attack on South Ossetia). HRW then chastises Russia for using said weapons (where and under what circumstances, we’re not told). Did Common Dreams elide the original article to produce this confusing result, or was the original this nonsensical? Where is HRW’s denunciation of Georgia’s use of cluster bombs? Did Russia use them at all, or was ‘Russia’ confused with ‘Georgia’ here? Or has HRW so lost the plot that it has simply fallen into line with the rising new cold war chorus in the West – to be dutifully, if incomprehensibly, parroted by the Guardian? What am I missing here?
jcb

JCB:
Agree I had to read it twice to make sense of it. They did change their stance in mid sentance.

pvanderk:
Agree CD ever since this change over is now CD light on real issues. I wrote them to say it is more like CD/FOX. I am to a point I post maybe a few stories a week and not a day like before. I am spending more time on Canadian based sites that still call it like it is. GlobalResearch.ca is one and I get top stories from them in my E mail in box. We are a witness to the last freedom of speech in America being taken over. Think Progress is another site I enjoy and for a shake your head Fox news hound. newshounds.us they report stories from FOX that are pure BS.

These comments are all right on. This is a very twisted story. I think the Guardian and CD were both duped by Human Rights Watch. Does anyone know anything about this group. I think they're a front for the State Department, to deseminate propaganda. While Russia didn't sign the May agreement, neither did the US. At least they commented on Israel's use of the cluster bombs in Lebanon, but the target was Lebanese civilians, not Hezbullah. The US shipped the weapons to be dropped just before the cease fire went into effect.

My last post wasn’t meant as an attack on Common Dreams, but merely an appeal for information. I genuinely don’t understand what this report can mean. Has Russia used cluster munitions in Georgia? HRW reports on Georgia’s use then excoriates Russia . . . Is this link a complete beat-up or simply shoddy journalism? Either way, it seems, both HRW and the Guardian should have their feet held to the fire.
jcb

jcb:
I read the original story on The Guardian web page and part way through the story it has a link about the Russian use of cluster bombs. It was a journalist from Israel that alleged to be hit by a Russian cluster bomb and was rushed by the Israel to have a piece of metal removed. That is why the story didn't flow right but it still didn't and it was almost like the Russian part was added AFTER the original story was printed. Russia has said it has not used cluster bombs and Israel has a history of using them to kill people so draw your own truth out of it.

"Georgian minister Temur Yakobashvili... told Israeli army radio that "Israel should be proud of its military which trained Georgian soldiers." Yakobashvili claimed rather implausibly, according to Haaretz, that "a small group of Georgian soldiers were able to wipe out an entire Russian military division, thanks to the Israeli training" ("Georgian minister tells Israel Radio: Thanks to Israeli training, we're fending off Russian military," Haaretz, 11 August 2008).

Since 2000, Israel has sold hundreds of millions of dollars in arms and combat training to Georgia. Weapons included guns, ammunition, shells, tactical missile systems, antiaircraft systems, automatic turrets for armored vehicles, electronic equipment and remotely piloted aircraft. These sales were authorized by the Israeli defense ministry (Arie Egozi, "War in Georgia: The Israeli connection," Ynet, 10 August 2008)."

I guess we know who trained them to use cluster bombs.

MiniCcS:
Have you noticed since the new look CD how fast a story is gone? This was posted Sept 1 and by Sept 2 it was at the botton of the list on the left hand side.

To CD editor: I am wondering why this article, originally posted on
CD on 9/01/08, was approved and posted without apparent scrutiny. You all are usually pretty scrupulous about what you print.

This article changes horses in midstream from describing the use of cluster bombs by Georgia to criticizing Russia for using cluster bombs. In addition,
the authors fail even to mention that the self-proclaimed morality of the U.S. government permits it to continue to use said cluster bombs.

As a last comment, I would like to say that I find it difficult to believe that enough people objected to the visible comments on your site to warrant hiding them.
The Huffington Post, the most popular of progressive websites, makes scores of comments visible, every day and apparently sees no need to "disappear" them.