Cluster Munitions to Ukraine

What are cluster munitions? Many people have no idea. Even fewer know how effective, and potentially dangerous, they can be on the battlefield.

I am going to keep this somewhat simple, so all you “Armchair Artillery Officers” keep your pants on.

Cluster Munitions are artillery rounds that, while close to impact with the ground, drop smaller explosives to cover a wider area than just a single round of high explosive artillery. The versions of these rounds being sent to Ukraine are dual-purpose, which means they have both anti-armor and anti-personnel explosives inside them. These can, depending on the type, all explode on impact OR they can deliver them as mines to create a minefield via artillery instead of placing them by hand.

Why are we sending these to Ukraine? Truthfully, these munitions can prove to be very effective against a mixed infantry and vehicle mounted force. The casualties and damage can be significant. They can also be used against troops dug into a trench system much more effectively than conventional artillery rounds.

What are the drawbacks? Well, over 100 countries around the world agreed not to use these types of munitions, including the United States. Are they officially banned? No. Did we sign a document that says we agree not to use them? Yes. So, the question is…why did we and over 100 other countries agree not to use Cluster Munitions? Well, they have a dud rate.

What does a dud rate mean? That means a certain percentage of those smaller explosives will NOT go off when it hits the ground. And the kind that lays out a minefield instead of exploding on impact? Those are supposed to self destruct after a certain amount of time (usually about 48 hours). Why is this a big deal? Because when that minefield explodes after 48 hours, or when those little explosives DON’T explode on impact, the people who usually get hurt are civilians. THAT’S why we all agreed not to use Cluster Munitions. The risk of civilian casualties is TOO HIGH for over 100 countries to stomach.

Now, we are sending them to Ukraine.

In a time when organizations are trying to de-mine significant portions of the world, we are now giving Ukraine the tools to make it worse. By the way, those duds can sit dormant on a battlefield for YEARS until someone comes and picks one up. Ask me. I saw them in Afghanistan.

So, for everyone who has been supporting our efforts in Ukraine, do you support this? Do you support the risk to civilians for potentially years to come? This isn’t conjecture or me trying to make you feel bad, this is a legitimate question. Are you OK with this?

By the way, there is the other matter of President Biden telling the ENTIRE WORLD that we have our own shortage of artillery munitions in our own stockpiles. Yeah, he told everyone we have a shortage of artillery rounds…which would be a primary need in a war with Russia, China, or North Korea. Also, that is sensitive information, possibly classified, that he stated to the entire world. This isn’t documents stored in his garage next to the Corvette, or President Trump having documents at Mar-a-Lago, this is REAL TIME intelligence he just blurted out. Nice job, Sir. Jeez.

Regardless of that, everyone needs to understand what we are doing in Ukraine and not just blindly putting flags in their front yard and changing their profile pic to a Ukrainian flag. This is the real impact of the decisions our leaders are making. We agreed not to use these munitions for a REASON and yet we are still sending them to Ukraine knowing the potential danger to civilians.

I’m not OK with this. Whether you are, or not, is up to you.

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