http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/index/ en U.S. Department of State 2012-02-11T15:54:03+00:00
I see there is a new land mine policy. Good. I've nothing to complain about this land mine policy.
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U.S. Landmine PolicyOn Friday, February 27, 2004, the new United States policy on landmines was announced.

This policy is a significant departure from past approaches to landmines.

It ensures protection for both military forces and civilians alike, and continues U.S. leadership in humanitarian mine action -- those activities that contribute most directly toward eliminating the landmine problem and mitigating its effects on landmine survivors. Under the new policy, the United States will:

eliminate all persistent landmines from its arsenal;

continue to develop non-persistent (self-destructing/self-deactivating) landmines that will not pose a humanitarian threat after use in battle;

continue to research and develop enhancements to the current self-destructing/self-deactivating landmine technology in order to develop and preserve military capabilities that address the United States transformational goals;

seek a worldwide ban on the sale or export of all persistent landmines;

get rid of its non-detectable mines within one year;

only employ persistent anti-vehicle mines outside of Korea between now and 2010, if needed, when authorized by the President;

not use any persistent landmines -- neither anti-personnel nor anti-vehicle -- anywhere after 2010;

begin the destruction within two years of those persistent landmines not needed for the protection of Korea;]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/afghanistan_landmine_clearance/ Thu Sep 17, 2009
Another reference in the same Field Manual:

Antipersonnel Mines
3-44. SFODs may temporarily use antipersonnel mines along likely avenues of approach into the base.

Creeks, riverbeds, and the surrounding elevations
are good locations for placing antipersonnel mines.

Personnel will warn the civilian population about the use of mines to preclude unnecessary civilian casualties. They may temporarily employ antipersonnel mines in the
following areas not used by civilians:
Near running water sources.
Around fruit and shade trees.
On little-used roads and trails.
In and around abandoned fighting positions or around abandoned uninhabited dwellings.
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Now maybe we do not authorize the sale of mines but we can hardly say we do not "export" them if we are using them on foreign battlefields.

And look how they are used - precisely where children are likely to play! Uninhabited buildings, near running water, under fruit and shade trees?

The only thing left out is playgrounds and schools.

Let's stop land mining entirely. We don't need to go out of our way to maim and kill children with our wars.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/afghanistan_landmine_clearance/ Thu Sep 17, 2009 DipNote Blogger Peter Villano writes:

Actually, the United States has not exported a single anti-personnel landmine to anyone anywhere in almost 20 years. In 1992, Congress enacted a ban on exports of all U.S. anti-personnel landmines. For more facts about U.S. landmine policy, visit http://www.state.gov/t/pm/wra/index.htm.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/afghanistan_landmine_clearance/ Thu Sep 17, 2009
What's Mine is Yours......

U.S. leads the world in arms sales....ultimately the majority of mines placed will have a U.S. source. We are willing to sell them and also fund their removal. Brilliant!!]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/afghanistan_landmine_clearance/ Wed Sep 16, 2009