Iran Press/ America: Providing Ukraine with cluster munitions was a "difficult decision, but Kyiv needed them," said Joe Biden, US President, in an interview with CNN on Friday.
U.S. President said: "I took the recommendation of the Defense Department to – not permanently – but to allow for this transition period, while we get more 155 weapons, these shells, for the Ukrainians."
Colin H. Kahl, the undersecretary of defense for policy, while confirming the sending of cluster munitions to Ukraine, refused to specify the exact number of the munitions, saying, "These munitions are pretty close to 1 percent, but they're not at the 1 percent level."
The United Nations have opposed the U.S. providing cluster munitions for Ukraine.
"The secretary-general supports the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which was adopted 15 years ago, and he (Antonio Guterres) wants countries to abide by the terms of that convention," said Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesman on Friday, in reaction to U.S. approval of cluster munitions for Ukraine.
Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman of the United Nations, announced that the Secretary General of the United Nations is against using cluster munitions in Ukraine.
The U.S. is willing to offer Ukraine any type of weaponry, including those previously deemed unacceptable, to end the conflict and secure victory over Russia.
It seems that Washington aims to assist Ukraine. However, it is also evident that they (Washington) are aware of Ukraine's unsuccessful counter-attack. Now, they are attempting to provide the Ukrainian army with weapons and significant support by supplying cluster munitions.
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It has been reported that the U.S. has agreed to send cluster munitions to Ukraine due to the unfavorable conditions on the battlefield. According to an analysis by Sky News, the widespread attack by Ukraine did not occur in the spring, and the signs suggest that their counterattack was unsuccessful.
"It was a very difficult decision on my part. And by the way, I discussed this with our allies, I discussed this with our friends up on the Hill," adding, "The Ukrainians are running out of ammunition," said Biden to justify the decision to provide Ukraine with cluster munitions.
Officials from the U.S. are using similar justifications to those employed during the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They acknowledge that deploying cluster munitions raises the possibility of harm to civilians, yet argue that more civilian lives would be endangered if Russia were permitted to take control of Ukrainian territories.
"I'm not going to stand up here and say it is easy," Sullivan, National Security Advisor, said. "It's a difficult decision. It's a decision we deferred. It's a decision that requires a really hard look at the potential civilian harm. And when we put all of that together, there was a unanimous recommendation from the national security team. President Biden ultimately decided, in consultation with allies and partners and in consultation with members of Congress, to move forward on this strategy."
"We recognize that cluster munitions create a risk of civilian harm from unexploded ordnance," Sullivan said. "This is why we've deferred the decision for as long as we could."
Sullivan's stance on sending cluster munitions to Ukraine is contradictory. He asserts that Ukraine has committed to using cluster bombs solely for self-defense and avoiding their use in civilian areas while claiming their adherence to this commitment is being monitored. However, it is worth noting that Ukraine is employing weapons provided by the West, such as long-range cruise missiles, to target locations within Russia.
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Canisters, known as cluster munitions or cluster bombs, contain numerous smaller bomblets, also called submunitions. These canisters can be released from aircraft, launched from missiles, or fired from artillery, naval guns, or rocket launchers. Upon reaching a specific height, the canisters split open and released the bomblets, which spread out over the intended target area. These bomblets are timed to explode on or close to the ground.
According to experts, cluster munitions often result in the loss of innocent lives. Furthermore, certain smaller munitions may remain unexploded and threaten civilians for an extended period. Opponents of cluster bombs argue that it is morally wrong to use them, as some of the smaller bombs behave like mines and fail to detonate.
During the 33-day war in 2006, the Zionist regime dropped about four million cluster bombs on Lebanon, which killed tens of people and injured hundreds more. Considering the consequences of using cluster munitions, 108 countries have stopped using them. They have declared a ban.
More than 100 countries, including the UK, France, and Germany, have outlawed the munitions under the Convention on Cluster Munitions. But the US and Ukraine are not signatories to the ban.
The Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) was created to address the devastating impact of cluster munitions on civilians. All participating states are fully committed to universalizing the Convention and promoting its principles. Implementing this Convention is crucial in advancing the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals and promoting international peace, security, human rights, and humanitarian law. According to the Universalization Status: 123 Status, 111 States, Parties, and 12 Signatories have committed to the goals of the Convention.
The Convention on Cluster Munitions was established on May 30th, 2008, signed on December 3rd, 2008, and took effect on August 1st, 2010. This global agreement involves over 100 nations and prohibits the utilization, production, transfer, and storage of cluster munitions.
U.N. human rights office spokesperson Marta Hurtado said, "The use of such munitions should stop immediately and not be used in any place."
The International Red Cross said cluster munitions "cause significant numbers of preventable civilian casualties."
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