Global Courant
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine and Democratic House Representative Barbara Lee raised concerns Sunday about President Joe Biden’s administration’s decision to supply Ukraine with cluster bombs in its fight against Russian aggression.
On Saturday, the United States announced the supply of cluster bombs, a weapon banned from more than 100 countries, to Ukraine as part of a new $800 million military aid package, bringing the total to more than $40 billion. US military aid to Kiev, since the beginning of the Russian aggression in February 2022.
Human rights groups and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have questioned Washington’s decision.
Senator Kaine said the decision by the United States to send cluster bombs to Ukraine was troubling because it could prompt other countries to avoid the international convention that bans these munitions.
“The decision could give the green light to other countries not to respect the convention,” he told the Fox News network, adding that he appreciates the fact that President Biden’s administration has considered the risks.
“These bombs will not be used against Russian civilians,” said Mr. Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
More than 100 countries have become party to a convention banning the use of cluster bombs.
Countries have agreed not to use, manufacture, transfer or stockpile these bombs. The United States, Russia and Ukraine have not signed this convention.
Cluster bombs contain a significant number of ‘smaller bombs’ spread over a wide area. Bombs that do not explode, but remain on the ground, pose a danger for decades.
House Democrat Barbara Lee called on the Biden administration to reconsider the decision.
“Cluster bombs should never be used. They are crossing the line,” she told CNN on Sunday, adding that with this decision the United States risks losing “its leading role in upholding principles.”
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby defended the decision.
“We are aware of concerns about damage to civilians or that unexploded bombs could harm civilians or children. But these munitions will be a useful aid in the fighting,” he said in an interview for the ABC network.
Aid to Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression has largely been supported by both political parties in the United States.
Mr. Biden’s administration and many U.S. lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties have defended the decision to send the controversial munitions to Ukraine, saying their use will accelerate a counterattack launched by Kiev.
House Republican lawmaker Michael McCaul, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee, said Ukraine’s counteroffensive has been slow and that the use of cluster bombs will have a significant impact on the Ukrainians’ fighting.
“Using them will have a huge impact, it will change the way battles are fought. I am very pleased that the administration finally decided to take such a step”, he told the CNN network this Sunday. / VOA
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