Obama Breaks From Pack Over Limitations On Cluster-Bombs

Democratic presidential hopeful Barak Obama has separated himself from the pack of his party’s contenders by supporting legislation that would limit sales of American-made cluster ammunition. Opponents, Joe Biden, Christopher Dodd and Hillary Clinton have refused to back the bill authored by senators Diane Feinstein and Patrick Leahy, presumably out of fear of losing the support of Jewish and pro-Israel voters. The bill resulted from the use of cluster bombs during last summer’s war between Israel and the Hizbullah in Lebanon, where civilians have died when previously unexploded ordinance has blown up. Human rights groups point out that Israel is not alone in using cluster ammunition even though it has become most closely associated with the issue since the Lebanon war. The Feinstein-Leahy bill limits sales of cluster ammunition to the newer versions that have less danger of unexploded bombs remaining in the drop zone. Analysts at The Media Line report that the issue is one of perception of candidates’ support for Israel rather than of any real loss of firepower by the Israelis. Feinstein-Leahy includes a presidential waiver in case of emergency need by the U.S. or its allies. Israel also manufactures its own cluster bombs, but can acquire the American version more cheaply through U.S. military aid.