From: Adam <""4thwormcastfromthemolehill\"{at}the field.near
the bridge">

Not that the US will do sh*t all about it.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/754878.html

"Report: U.S. investigating Israeli use of cluster bombs in Lebanon By
Haaretz Service and Reuters

WASHINGTON - The State Department is investigating whether Israel's use of
U.S.-manufactured rockets armed with cluster bombs in Lebanon violated
agreements with the United States restricting use of such weapons, The New
York Times reported on Thursday.

Unidentified current and former U.S. officials told the newspaper they
doubted the investigation would lead to sanctions against Israel, but that
the probe might be intended to help the Bush administration blunt criticism
from Arab governments over its support of Israeli military operations.

Cluster munitions can contain dozens or even hundreds of bomblets designed
to explode as they scatter around a wide area. They are very effective
against rocket-launcher units or ground troops.

In a report on its Web site, the Times said the State Department's Office
of Defense Trade Controls opened the probe this week after reports that
three types of American cluster bombs were discovered in southern Lebanon
and were responsible for civilian deaths.

The official accused Israel of deliberately hitting built-up areas with the
bombs, in violation of international law, which states those munitions must
not be used in areas where there are civilians.

Israel has defended its right to use cluster bombs and says it only deploys
them in accordance with international law. It has not specified whether it
used them in the Lebanon war."

"The Times said the United States crafted agreements with Israel
governing its use of American cluster bombs in the 1970s. The deals
required that munitions only be used against organized Arab armies and
clearly defined military targets, the paper said.

A report released Wednesday by the United Nations Mine Action Coordination
Center, which has personnel in Lebanon searching for unexploded ordnance,
said it had found unexploded bomblets, including hundreds of American
types, in 249 locations south of the Litani River.

In the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan imposed a six-year ban on further
sales of cluster weapons to Israel after a congressional investigation
found Israel had used the weapons against civilian areas of Lebanon, which
it invaded in 1982, according to the report."


So they've done it before.....

What I don't understand is:

"Unidentified current and former U.S. officials told the newspaper
they doubted the investigation would lead to sanctions against Israel, but
that the probe might be intended to help the Bush administration blunt
criticism from Arab governments over its support of Israeli military
operations."

This is a bit bizarre. In what way would saying "oh yes they used US
cbu on civie areas....but hey ho we're not going to do anything about
it..." "blunt criticism from Arab governments over its support of
Israeli military operations"?

Ah well.

Adam

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