Cluster Bombs treaty near - will the U.S. step up?

I know this has been diaried before by Cartoon Messiah, but I fear it got lost in the Mem day weekend shuffle, and it's an important issue.

Diplomats are "very close" to reaching an international treaty banning the use of cluster bombs, Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said.

In a statement, Mr Brown said: "After 10 days of intense talks in Dublin, we are now very close to agreement on a new international convention prohibiting the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians.

"In order to secure as strong a convention as possible in the last hours of negotiation we have issued instructions that we should support a ban on all cluster bombs, including those currently in service by the UK."

But countries like the US, India, Pakistan and Israel claim such munitions can be highly useful on the battlefield and want to see the treaty watered down.

There's been much hoopla about the difference between banning cluster bombs in civilian areas vs. 'the battlefield', but really whether you are talking about Kosovo or Lebanon, Kashmir or Afganistan, there's really no such thing as a non-civilian area, especially when the unexploded bombs can linger for years.

I applaud Prime Minister Brown's work on this issue - too bad there is not the same dedication on either side of the aisle on this side of the Atlantic.  We need to pressure McCain, Clinton and Obama to fight to get this ratified next year, as well as get Senate leaders on board as well.

Oh, and you can get more info and sign a petition here.