Clusterwhat?

From the International Herald Tribune: "Ireland convened diplomats from more than 100 nations Monday in hopes of negotiating a treaty banning cluster bombs. The negotiations, begun in Norway last year, seek to impose maximum restrictions on cluster bomb manufacturing, sales and storage. But myriad arguments loom over defining what a cluster bomb is, and whether to exempt the most technologically reliable or precise systems. These talks are being pursued outside the auspices of the United Nations. The three biggest producers of cluster bombs — the U.S., Russia and China — oppose ban proposals, wield vetoes on the U.N. Security Council, and are not represented in Dublin. Irish and Norwegian ministers said a treaty would put pressure on leading cluster bomb manufacturers. They said this is what happened when most countries — but not the big three powers — backed a land mine ban in 1997. The State Department said last month it would not attend the Dublin conference, preferring sporadic U.N.-organized talks in Geneva that seek nonbinding rules for using cluster bombs and cleaning up their consequences. Other major makers of cluster bombs — Russia, China, Israel, India and Pakistan — also avoided the talks.
Most countries want a full ban. Pope Benedict XVI backed that call Sunday. So did nine British generals in a letter published Monday in The Times newspaper of London. The signatories included former field commanders in Yugoslavia and Iraq. "Cluster munitions were developed to combat a level of Cold War confrontation that never happened," the generals wrote. "However, in modern wars, conducted among the people, they have consistently caused civilian casualties both during and after attacks."

Rico says there's no need for cluster bombs any more, so let's junk 'em... (But if you like such things, check out Rico's new blog at War Geek, not to be confused with War Nerd.)