Over the past 40 years, the U.S. has used cluster munitions in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Iraq (during the war in 1990-1991 and the current conflict), Laos, and the former Yugoslavia (with NATO forces). It has also transferred cluster munitions to 25 countries, including countries with poor human rights records including Indonesia, Israel, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. And while the Department of Defense claims the U.S. holds a stockpile of 728.5 million sub munitions, Human Rights Watch reports that a full accounting of all reserves totals closer to 1 billion.

Click here to read a profile of U.S. production, transfer, and use of cluster munitions.

While the U.S. has thus far remained outside of efforts to regulate the weapons under international humanitarian law, some in the U.S. government have acknowledged the problems posed by cluster munitions. On January 10, 2001, out-going Secretary of Defense William Cohen issued a policy memorandum stating that beginning in FY 2005, all newly procured cluster submunitions must have a dud rate of less than 1 percent. However, that policy applies only to newly acquired submunitions, and does not affect the existing U.S. stockpile of older, unreliable, and inaccurate weapons, which the U.S. can still transfer or use. Similarly, while the Department of Defense has reported that it has developed “strict rules of engagement and targeting methodologies, intended to minimize risks to civilians in or near the zone of conflict,” the same report also makes the case for maintaining the current U.S. stockpile of submunitions.  more...