The Pentagon has made a massive $210 million deal to purchase advanced cluster shells from an Israeli state-owned arms company, Tomer. This is the largest known contract between the US and Israel for such weapons, which are widely regarded as indiscriminate killers of civilians.
Cluster munitions were banned in 2008 under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, but their use continues in various parts of the world, including Ukraine, where they have already killed at least 314 civilians this year. The new shells are designed to reduce long-term danger to civilians and have a dud rate of less than 1 percent, but researchers argue that these low failure rates do not reflect real-world performance.
Experts say that cluster munitions pose a significant threat to civilians, particularly in soft soil or areas with older, degraded fuses. The use of these weapons is inherently indiscriminate, making it impossible to control where they land and the impact on civilian populations afterwards.
The deal between the Pentagon and Tomer is atypical, as it was awarded without public competition under a "public interest" exception to federal contracting law. This raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the arms trade.
Human rights organizations have long campaigned against cluster munitions, citing their devastating effects on civilians. Alma Taslidžan of Humanity & Inclusion recalls speaking with a 17-year-old boy who lost his hands when an unexploded cluster bomblet exploded in his neighbor's garden during the Bosnian War.
While the US Army claims that its new cluster shells meet performance requirements, researchers argue that real-world failure rates are likely to be much higher. Even if the XM1208 meets its 1 percent failure rate target, it would still leave large numbers of lethal duds behind, making them inherently inhumane.
The purchase of these arms comes as the Russia-Ukraine war continues, with both sides using cluster munitions on battlefields. The Convention on Cluster Munitions is under threat, and major military powers have never signed the treaty.
Critics argue that the US government's policy of developing new cluster munitions with low failure rates is a step backward for human rights. The Intercept reports that major military powers, including Russia, China, Israel, India, Pakistan, and the United States, have not signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
The Pentagon's efforts to field the XM1208 come at a time when the US government is struggling to maintain its reputation as a champion of human rights. The Intercept has long campaigned against authoritarian governments, billionaire oligarchs, and backsliding democracies around the world.
As the situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate, it remains to be seen whether the Pentagon's purchase of cluster munitions will contribute to a more peaceful resolution or further escalate the conflict.
Cluster munitions were banned in 2008 under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, but their use continues in various parts of the world, including Ukraine, where they have already killed at least 314 civilians this year. The new shells are designed to reduce long-term danger to civilians and have a dud rate of less than 1 percent, but researchers argue that these low failure rates do not reflect real-world performance.
Experts say that cluster munitions pose a significant threat to civilians, particularly in soft soil or areas with older, degraded fuses. The use of these weapons is inherently indiscriminate, making it impossible to control where they land and the impact on civilian populations afterwards.
The deal between the Pentagon and Tomer is atypical, as it was awarded without public competition under a "public interest" exception to federal contracting law. This raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the arms trade.
Human rights organizations have long campaigned against cluster munitions, citing their devastating effects on civilians. Alma Taslidžan of Humanity & Inclusion recalls speaking with a 17-year-old boy who lost his hands when an unexploded cluster bomblet exploded in his neighbor's garden during the Bosnian War.
While the US Army claims that its new cluster shells meet performance requirements, researchers argue that real-world failure rates are likely to be much higher. Even if the XM1208 meets its 1 percent failure rate target, it would still leave large numbers of lethal duds behind, making them inherently inhumane.
The purchase of these arms comes as the Russia-Ukraine war continues, with both sides using cluster munitions on battlefields. The Convention on Cluster Munitions is under threat, and major military powers have never signed the treaty.
Critics argue that the US government's policy of developing new cluster munitions with low failure rates is a step backward for human rights. The Intercept reports that major military powers, including Russia, China, Israel, India, Pakistan, and the United States, have not signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
The Pentagon's efforts to field the XM1208 come at a time when the US government is struggling to maintain its reputation as a champion of human rights. The Intercept has long campaigned against authoritarian governments, billionaire oligarchs, and backsliding democracies around the world.
As the situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate, it remains to be seen whether the Pentagon's purchase of cluster munitions will contribute to a more peaceful resolution or further escalate the conflict.
The recent $210 million deal between the Pentagon and Tomer to purchase advanced cluster shells is a concerning development that raises questions about the US government's commitment to human rights 
. While the new shells may have lower failure rates than previous models, experts argue that this only serves to further entrench the indiscriminate nature of these weapons 
. The fact that the deal was awarded without public competition under a "public interest" exception to federal contracting law raises serious concerns about transparency and accountability in the arms trade 
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. As the Russia-Ukraine war continues, it's imperative that we consider the humanitarian implications of these actions 
. The fact that researchers are still finding cluster munition remnants in conflict zones like Ukraine, with devastating effects on civilians, is a stark reminder of the need for stricter controls on the arms trade 
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. As the situation in Ukraine continues to unfold, one can only hope that this purchase will not further exacerbate the conflict, but rather contribute to a peaceful resolution 
The US is basically buying into a system that's designed to KILL CIVILIANS, and it's just WRONG! 
Those cluster munitions are like ticking time bombs, waiting to unleash destruction on innocent people. And the fact that the Pentagon can just swoop in and buy them without even going through a public competition is just a huge red flag for me... 
I'm literally shocked by this $210 million deal for cluster shells from Israel. It feels like we're taking two steps back in terms of human rights. The fact that they were bought without public competition is just red flag after red flag. Cluster munitions are basically indiscriminate killers and it's crazy we're still dealing with these. I mean, the 1% failure rate sounds good on paper but what about all those people who get caught in the crossfire? It's not like we can guarantee their safety with some fancy technology 
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. Cluster munitions are so inhumane, especially with those low failure rates that don't reflect real-world performance 
And it's not like they're even following international law anymore 
. The Convention on Cluster Munitions is basically being threatened right now, and we're just pouring more resources into these deadly weapons 
. Can't they see how this is gonna escalate the conflict in Ukraine? 
I mean, who needs transparency or accountability when it comes to selling arms to Israel? It's like we're just giving up on the whole "being a champion of humanity" thing... 
these cluster munitions are basically just indiscriminate killers in disguise... I wish we could just go back to having more peaceful resolutions, like in the good old days before all this started 
The fact that they're going above and beyond to avoid transparency and accountability in the arms trade just shows how out of touch they are with human rights 
I mean come on, what's next? Selling them drones to be used against civilians too? 
And the worst part is, it's not like anyone's even questioning this deal, everyone's just too scared or apathetic to speak out against it 
I mean, where are all the human rights organizations when it matters most? Why aren't they doing more to stop this? It's so frustrating and disheartening 
It feels like a step backward for human rights, and it raises some serious questions about the Pentagon's priorities... 
I don't get it.
It's so not cool. And the fact that they got this deal without even putting it out for bid is just shady 
I'm not sure about this $210 million deal for those cluster shells 
It's like buying a fire extinguisher that only works on paper 
Not exactly what you need when there's a real emergency happening on the battlefield 
What's going on here? Is it just another way for the Pentagon to flex its military muscle or are they really trying to solve a problem with cluster munitions? 
. Even with that 1 percent failure rate, it's still a lot of people who could get hurt. I mean, what even is the point of having a low failure rate if it just means more duds left behind? It's like playing Russian roulette with civilians' lives 
. I don't think we should be making deals like this behind closed doors without knowing what's really going on.