quote:
Originally posted by Ronn_Bman:
Tragic, horrible, deplorable coincidence. Many adjectives fit, but none truly describe it, I agree, but it wasn't done on purpose. The reason for brightly coloring the cluster bomb packets is so the ones that don't explode on impact (as they're suppose to) can be easily recogized and, theoretically, avoided. This is done to follow UN rules.
Cluster bombs are used against soft targets. That does means people, but also light vehicles, etc. They are not intended to be dropped on civilians or in civilian areas. They are used against military formations, transports and airfields. Based on what I've seen, and read there have been none dropped in cities or on civilian targets. These are not the, often reported, bombs that go astray and hit the wrong targets. Again, they are brightly colored to protect civilians and in keeping with UN rules. These are not designed to be landmines, or like landmines at all. Afghanistan has the largest amount of landmines, per square mile, of any country in the world, and certainly doesn't need any more.
The food packets are brightly colored so they can be easily identifed, and retrieved. The use of the same color was asinine, but unintentional. Regardless, the loss of innocent life is incredibly sad, even more so because they may have been killed through a method we intended to protect life. There would be no benefit and serious repercussions from purposely killing innocents in this way.
Once the problem was identified, they began to drop leaflets, in the appropriate language, describing the problem, and yes the color of the food packets has been changed.
The conditions of the refuges is horrible, but it's not entirely due to the bombing(although it doesn't help). Afghan refuges have been living in deplorable conditions for years. I continue to believe that by removing the Taliban and terrorist element, Afghanistan will have the opportunity for a government that, literally, cares for it's people. The Afghan people aren't suddenly starving and miserable because of four weeks of bombing; they've been starving and miserable for years because their own leaders don't care about innocent civilians, even their own. 
The trouble is, Ronn_Bman, that yellow is a colour that attracts children. Children will not have read the leaflets. Many adult Afghanis cannot read, either.
And very many Afghanis do not live in cities, towns or even villages, but are semi-nomadic, caring for their flocks in the countryside - whole families, not just the men and boys. It has been on the news that some of these have already been attacked and killed by our aircaft. (How many more have not been reported yet, I wonder?) So cluster bombs/food packages will be indistinguishable to these people, no matter what efforts are made. The consequence is that they will be eager for food and pick up a cluster bomb - or be too afraid it may be a cluster bomb to pick up food.
This whole bombing thing was ill-thought out in the first place, imo. We should have waited for better intelligence info and then have gone in with ground troops and got bin Laden and his cronies out or killed them in the process. The bombing is downright wicked, imo, especially the cluster bombs.
I know you don't agree with me, Ronn! [img]smile.gif[/img]