Subject: Re: US sending Cluster Munition
Said: ...I was curious what the opinions of Americans might be...


As Biden said, it was a "difficult" decision, based on the fact that Ukraine is burning through stockpiles of conventional artillery that cannot quickly be replaced, and he concluded that he had little choice but to provide the weapons.

Certainly, there are those who will argue that cluster munitions -- widely banned by many U.S. allies -- will lead to civilian deaths after the war is over while others will point out that Russia has been using cluster munitions -- with a dud rate of 40 percent or more -- since the invasion began, so moot point. Also, Ukraine, has deployed cluster munitions of its own in the war (just not any supplied by us). Officials here claim we will only send cluster munitions with a dud rate less than 2 percent, preferable under 1 percent (although there is disagreement on the accuracy of those numbers).

Certainly, there are those who will argue that the United States will lose the moral high ground by using cluster munitions while others will say that's impossible given Russia has committed thousands of war crimes and targeted civilians since the invasion began, so also a moot point. In addition, Ukraine will be using the cluster munitions in their own country which they're defending, not be using them in some foreign land. And Ukrainians have promised to use the weapons in a way that would avoid civilians. But, hey, it's war and battle lines shift.

Certainly, there are those who will argue that this will save the lives of many Ukrainian soldiers while others will ask, "But will that be at the expense of innocent civilians, including children?"

We could discuss the domestic politics of the decision -- many republicans approve of the decision but since they cannot praise a Biden decision, they say he made the right decision but took too long... while some democrats have said it's the wrong decision -- but maybe the moral aspect is better on the Atheist board.

But, yeah, tough call.