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Yes, we should give Ukraine Cluster munitions and it will save lives. [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-07-13

Many on the left are objecting to the US giving cluster munitions to Ukraine which they asked for.

While it is completely true that cluster bombs are banned by many countries and should not be used in war there are a few factors in this specific case I feel many have overlooked.

Using cluster munitions in an offensive campaign is wrong and is indefensible, and Russia is dropping hundreds of them a day in Ukraine.



These Russian cluster bombs have a far higher dud rate than the US versions which is the major issue with them as undetonated bomblets are a massive danger to civilians in the country where they are used.



While wanting not to use them our of a sense of humanity there are several reasons why giving them to Ukraine not only is not a moral evil but in fact is a moral good and I will lay them out here.

1. The bombs would be used in Ukraine and the nation wanting them will also be the nation cleaning them up which is a morally important factor to consider. The people being killed and their government want these weapons to help win the war. They know that they will be cleaning up these types of weapons for years and will ensure any unexploded munitions will be cleaned up to protect civilians before they return to the affected areas.

2. The cost to Ukrainian lives is actually smaller than the cost by not supplying them. Every day this war goes on more Ukrainian civilians and soldiers are being killed and these bombs are specifically designed and effective at what Ukraine needs right now. To clear out entrenched soldiers and break lines to effect victory.

3. The sooner the Russians are pushed out the less Ukrainians die and furthermore the sooner they win the less Russian bombs with their far higher dud rate are going to be used. Every day many of these shells are already falling in the zones they will use our cluster munitions to clear so you have an effect where the shortening of the war and the resultant reduction in unexplored inferior Russian munitions outweighs the additional explosives our shells would cause. Thus less lives are lost overall versus a denial of these weapons.

4. Lastly the use of these weapons will be far more effective at killing/removing Russian entrenched forces so for every bomb they use they risk less lives due to the shortening of the fighting than any unexploded munitions would cost during their long cleanup.



In summary Ukraine will have to work very long and hard to already clean up the unexploded Russian cluster bombs and other booby traps and mines so the added ordinance from our weapon shipments is a rounding error given the year of abuse by inferior Russian munitions.

Discuss away and let me know anything I missed in the comments :-)

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/7/13/2180920/-Yes-we-should-give-Ukraine-Cluster-munitions-and-it-will-save-lives

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