Jeroen wrote:
>> > No one is claiming scores, let alone thousands, of people are
being
>> > killed and maimed by US mines.
>>
>>One of the sources I cited mentions a report (IIRC, from the Army
>>Surgeon
>>General or something like that), that says that over a thousand US
>>soldiers
>>were killed by US mines, and a few thousand US soldiers were injured
>>by US
>>mines.
>
>CORRECTION: the number of deaths is lower than I said -- that's what
>happens when you rely on a rusty memory...
But Jeroen, this was during the Korean war. Perhaps a more interesting
statistic would be the number of soldiers and civilians killed or
injured by landmines after the cease-fire. Or in the last 20 years.
Let's step back a minute. What is the purpose behind the campaign to
ban landmines? Obviously to reduce or eliminate the threat to
civilians after a conflict is over. And I agree, left over landmines
are a serious problem. But, are they a serious problem today on the
Korean peninsula? I agree they are a serious problem all over SE Asia,
all over Africa, all over the Middle East. But are they a problem in
Korea? I would imagine not, just like landmines are not a serious
problem in North America or Europe (outside of yugoslavia).
So...what would be the consequences if the treaty was approved, but
with the compromise asked for by the US? Do you feel that the treaty
would be significantly harmed? Would the goal of preventing landmine
deaths, maimings, and injuries worldwide be significantly degraded?
And if the goal would be significantly harmed, would this be because
the compromise would weaken the spirit of the treaty and cause it to be
taken less seriously, or because lots of people would be injured by the
remaining minefields in Korea?
One more thing. Yes, I do agree that the citizens of the US are
responsible for the actions of our elected and appointed
representatives. So, if the CIA asassinates or tortures people, then
absolutely the populace of the US is ultimately responsible, although
to a lesser degree than the people who actually carried out the crimes.
See, we live in a representative democracy over here. The people are
sovreign. Our elected and appointed officials can only act as our
representatives. Sometimes they do things we don't like, but it is our
fault for electing and appointing them. We take both the blame and the
credit.
=====
Darryl
Think Galactically -- Act Terrestrially
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