http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/index/ en U.S. Department of State 2012-02-11T15:54:03+00:00
Contrary to some earlier comments, land mines laid extensively by the Tamil Tigers were not imported. They were manufactured by them in their own workshops, both in Sri Lanka and in South India. Most of the fairly sophisticated land mines used by terorists in South Asia and the Middle East are locally manufactured. Terrorist movements like the LTTE were making fairly sophisticated arms, torpedo boats and heavy multi-barrelled mortars on their own.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/sri_lanka_humanitarian_mine_action/ Tue Oct 13, 2009 DipNote Blogger Emma Smith writes:

@ Zharkov in U.S.A. -- 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 our Web page.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/sri_lanka_humanitarian_mine_action/ Thu Sep 17, 2009
Ron in New York has a valid argument.

Land mines kill indiscriminately and it is hypocrisy on our part to sell them around the world and then boast about our effort to remove them.

It is more likely that guerilla forces will use our mines against us. We would not have to remove them if we stopped selling landmines and persuaded other arms dealers to do the same.

One might use an analogy of the spring-gun trap set by homeowners to kill a burglar. Courts have held the homeowner personally liable for damages when the trap actually shoots someone, because the trap kills anyone, regardless of their intent. In similar fashion, one could argue that the seller of landmines should be held liable for civilian deaths and injuries caused by leftover landmines which explode long after a war had ended because that result is completely foreseeable.

The seller of landmines has a duty to render them safe after they are no longer needed for war. Failure to do so could be considered negligence per se. This could entail some sort of RFID chip placed in the mines to allow them to be located, or an explosive charge that deteriorated at a known rate to become inert and harmless after a year or two.

It should be legally inexcusable for a seller to sell landmines capable of killing and injuring people years after the war had ended.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/sri_lanka_humanitarian_mine_action/ Tue Sep 08, 2009
After the parade.....

U.S. leads the world in arms sales..."conventional arms" such an ironic classification....as the global economy tanks....US increases arms sales to the world....

Then, we launch demining projects....just nuts!

The analogy fits, "first you cripple us, then you donate wheelchairs".....No kidding, we need to see ourselves clearly if we are to make any progress at all.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/sri_lanka_humanitarian_mine_action/ Tue Sep 08, 2009
Dear to ...

it`s tragedy to Southeast Asia

why?

simple,

Probably is forecast with the fact that will do the food warehouse reverse of Southeast Asia.Are like that, now the State Department and Asia nations.Has a many interest about the land mine of Republic of Sri Lanka and is a cold night, thinks.

Persuades a circumference country, be difficult with humane attention in thought, Like this writes the sentence which is impolite. it`s very slow than my predict.

and, why?

bye....

P.S. Visited India and Africa,

With in future prospect and course of development the small book there isn't an intention which will publish about the practical plan which is concrete?

Thinks with the thought which is personal and that is important, aproaches carefully.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/sri_lanka_humanitarian_mine_action/ Sun Sep 06, 2009
Hi, Netizens of the Department of States :)

I'm happy to see Hillary is back from her Vacation, and hopfully was able to get some rest. I know she must have needed some rest after all her traveling and work she has been doing lately .:)

It's good to know our country is working to help clear mines in countries whos citizen need a safe place to live after a conflict in there countries. I hope more people will be able to return too there homes in the future.

I also like to congratulate Ambassador Susan Rice on her presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the Month of September. :) I thought her video conference on Nuclear nonproliferation was Very Good hope to see more of her videos on the Department of States web site.

..Have a Great Labor Day weekend Cya :) :)]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/sri_lanka_humanitarian_mine_action/ Fri Sep 04, 2009
Mining the Intelligence......

Who built them?
who shipped them?
Who sold them?
who bought them?
Who armed them?
who placed them?
Who profited from them?

How much money is in the mine business?

What does the world look like when you Google-Mines?]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/sri_lanka_humanitarian_mine_action/ Thu Sep 03, 2009