4 ms·

Most of the landmines in Cambodia were put there by the Khmer Rouge, not the Americans. When I was in Cambodia, I saw the results of what landmines did, they'

Most of the landmines in Cambodia were put there by the Khmer Rouge, not the Americans. When I was in Cambodia, I saw the results of what landmines did, they're fucking horrific. They aren't designed to kill someone, but to only blow their foot off and maim them. I believe that they're one of the most barbaric weapons of war. It's a damn shame that the USA, China, and Russia won't ratify the Ottawa Convention.

finid 10y ago
I wasn't referring to landmines, but to stuff dropped from the air, by our government.
- Godel_unicode 10y ago
  Yes, but that isn't the main problem. The no-go areas (and the random explosion in what's now someone's farm) are caused by landmines.
WalterBright 10y ago
Landmines could be built to decay into inertness after a period of time, say a year. I don't understand why this isn't done.
- lostlogin 10y ago
  It would increase sales too. Seems that would heighten interest. How would the mine know when to start degrading through? Having that happen during storage would be unfortunate.
  - krylon 10y ago
    > Having that happen during storage would be unfortunate. Actually, I think a lot of people would consider that a significant improvement.
    - lostlogin 10y ago
      Me too, good point. However I understand that some explosives degrade in such a way that they get more unstable rather than less, so the problems may remain.
      - Tempest1981 10y ago
        Reminded me of the Takata airbag recall. From this article: "A propellant made with ammonium nitrate would swell and shrink with temperature changes, and eventually the tablet would break down into powder. Water and humidity would speed the process. Powder burns more quickly than a tablet, so an air bag whose propellant had crumbled would be likely to deploy too aggressively." http://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2016-06-02/sixty-million-car-bombs-inside-takata-s-air-bag-crisis http://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2016-06-02/sixty-mill...
- Symmetry 10y ago
  That's what the US does with the landmines ready to be used in Korea and why the US opposed the landmine ban.
maxxxxx 10y ago
Yes, it's hard to believe why they don't ratify the ban. The US should take the lead there. Landmines are a crime.
- finid 10y ago
  The reason the US gave; it's not in their interests. That's just about the same reason the Clinton/Gore administration gave for not signing the climate change agreement.
avar 10y ago
I don't think it's fair to list the US on that list in the same sense as China and Russia. The US has declared that it's going to abide by the treaty except on the Korean peninsula, which is entirely about the mines in the Korean DMZ meant to stop North Korean tanks from rolling in. That's not comparable to the general use of anti-personnel landmines in warfare. It's a specific cordoned off area with big signs surrounding it saying "enter here and die".

finid 10y ago

I wasn't referring to landmines, but to stuff dropped from the air, by our government.

Godel_unicode 10y ago
Yes, but that isn't the main problem. The no-go areas (and the random explosion in what's now someone's farm) are caused by landmines.

WalterBright 10y ago

Landmines could be built to decay into inertness after a period of time, say a year. I don't understand why this isn't done.

lostlogin 10y ago
It would increase sales too. Seems that would heighten interest. How would the mine know when to start degrading through? Having that happen during storage would be unfortunate.
- krylon 10y ago
  > Having that happen during storage would be unfortunate. Actually, I think a lot of people would consider that a significant improvement.
  - lostlogin 10y ago
    Me too, good point. However I understand that some explosives degrade in such a way that they get more unstable rather than less, so the problems may remain.
    - Tempest1981 10y ago
      Reminded me of the Takata airbag recall. From this article: "A propellant made with ammonium nitrate would swell and shrink with temperature changes, and eventually the tablet would break down into powder. Water and humidity would speed the process. Powder burns more quickly than a tablet, so an air bag whose propellant had crumbled would be likely to deploy too aggressively." http://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2016-06-02/sixty-million-car-bombs-inside-takata-s-air-bag-crisis http://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2016-06-02/sixty-mill...
Symmetry 10y ago
That's what the US does with the landmines ready to be used in Korea and why the US opposed the landmine ban.

maxxxxx 10y ago

Yes, it's hard to believe why they don't ratify the ban. The US should take the lead there. Landmines are a crime.

finid 10y ago
The reason the US gave; it's not in their interests. That's just about the same reason the Clinton/Gore administration gave for not signing the climate change agreement.

avar 10y ago

I don't think it's fair to list the US on that list in the same sense as China and Russia. The US has declared that it's going to abide by the treaty except on the Korean peninsula, which is entirely about the mines in the Korean DMZ meant to stop North Korean tanks from rolling in. That's not comparable to the general use of anti-personnel landmines in warfare. It's a specific cordoned off area with big signs surrounding it saying "enter here and die".