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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrump to reportedly allow use of landmines, reversing Obama-era policy
Source: The Guardian
Trump to reportedly allow use of landmines, reversing Obama-era policy
Defence secretary Mark Esper confirmed the policy change that would, according to a Pentagon review, increase danger to US armed forces
Julian Borger in Washington
Thu 30 Jan 2020 20.12 GMT
Last modified on Thu 30 Jan 2020 20.27 GMT
The US will end its moratorium on the production and deployment of landmines, in another reversal of Obama-era policies and a further breach with western allies, it has been reported.
The defence secretary, Mark Esper, confirmed that a policy change was imminent but refused to describe it. Vox published a leaked state department cable rescinding Barack Obamas 2014 ban on production or acquisition of anti-personnel landmines (APLs).
The 2014 directive brought US policy more in line with the 1997 mine ban treaty outlawing the weapons because of their disproportionate harm to civilians. Obama did not join the treaty, also known as the Ottawa Convention, reserving the right for the US to use landmines on the Korean peninsula. The treaty has been signed by 164 countries, including all of Americas Nato allies.
Mr Trumps policy rollback is a step toward the past, like many of his other decisions, and sends exactly the wrong message to those working to rid the world of the scourge of landmines, said Jody Williams, who won the 1997 Nobel peace prize for her work campaigning against the weapons.
-snip-
Defence secretary Mark Esper confirmed the policy change that would, according to a Pentagon review, increase danger to US armed forces
Julian Borger in Washington
Thu 30 Jan 2020 20.12 GMT
Last modified on Thu 30 Jan 2020 20.27 GMT
The US will end its moratorium on the production and deployment of landmines, in another reversal of Obama-era policies and a further breach with western allies, it has been reported.
The defence secretary, Mark Esper, confirmed that a policy change was imminent but refused to describe it. Vox published a leaked state department cable rescinding Barack Obamas 2014 ban on production or acquisition of anti-personnel landmines (APLs).
The 2014 directive brought US policy more in line with the 1997 mine ban treaty outlawing the weapons because of their disproportionate harm to civilians. Obama did not join the treaty, also known as the Ottawa Convention, reserving the right for the US to use landmines on the Korean peninsula. The treaty has been signed by 164 countries, including all of Americas Nato allies.
Mr Trumps policy rollback is a step toward the past, like many of his other decisions, and sends exactly the wrong message to those working to rid the world of the scourge of landmines, said Jody Williams, who won the 1997 Nobel peace prize for her work campaigning against the weapons.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/30/trump-policy-change-landmines-obama
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Trump to reportedly allow use of landmines, reversing Obama-era policy (Original Post)
Eugene
Jan 2020
OP
If he gets re-elected he will be putting them on the Mexican border. I look for him
doc03
Jan 2020
#1
But Jill Stein and Susan Saranwrap said there is no difference between Dems and Trump!
RhodeIslandOne
Jan 2020
#4
doc03
(35,148 posts)1. If he gets re-elected he will be putting them on the Mexican border. I look for him
to start testing that idea out in his rallies.
Karadeniz
(22,283 posts)2. Isn't there an international agreement against their use? He's a bastard.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,111 posts)3. Let's mine Mar A Lago then.
And maybe a few of his golf courses.
RhodeIslandOne
(5,042 posts)4. But Jill Stein and Susan Saranwrap said there is no difference between Dems and Trump!