Israel Asks U.S. to Ship Rockets With Wide Blast

By DAVID S. CLOUD
Published: August 11, 2006

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 — Israel has asked the Bush administration to speed delivery of short-range antipersonnel rockets armed with cluster munitions, which it could use to strike Hezbollah missile sites in Lebanon, two American officials said Thursday.

The request for M-26 artillery rockets, which are fired in barrages and carry hundreds of grenade-like bomblets that scatter and explode over a broad area, is likely to be approved shortly, along with other arms, a senior official said.

But some State Department officials have sought to delay the approval because of concerns over the likelihood of civilian casualties, and the diplomatic repercussions. The rockets, while they would be very effective against hidden missile launchers, officials say, are fired by the dozen and could be expected to cause civilian casualties if used against targets in populated areas.

Israel is asking for the rockets now because it has been unable to suppress Hezbollah’s Katyusha rocket attacks in the month-old conflict by using bombs dropped from aircraft and other types of artillery, the officials said. The Katyusha rockets have killed dozens of civilians in Israel.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/11/world/middleeast/11military.html?hp&ex=1155268800&en=8d6182e93f050d95&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Redstone

Redstone

international law. Not that Israel or the U.S. give a damn about international law.

and indeed loosing their lives with up front , close,man to man combat with the Terrorists when they could just flatten them with bombs from above and kill many, many more civilians in the process,if they disregarded `international law so`?

"But some State Department officials have sought to delay the approval because of concerns over the likelihood of civilian casualties, and the diplomatic repercussions. The rockets, while they would be very effective against hidden missile launchers, officials say, are fired by the dozen and could be expected to cause civilian casualties if used against targets in populated areas."

those weapons are practically banned by conventions, but what the fuck ? it's only muzzies...

I can imagine the outrage if the Hezbollah fired only one on an Israeli unit... But they haven't any.