However, as could be expected, there is also bad news. The main guilty parties in their use of these indiscriminate weapons, namely India, Pakistan, the USA, and the "state of Israel", have let it be known that they will have nothing to do with any such ban. Optimists have already said that the existence of the Treaty will bring restraint to these major rogue régimes, but I have to express my doubts as to any such effect on the latter two, which are reported to have vast stocks. In any case, the said "state of Israel" refuses even to comply with a substantial number of United Nations Resolutions, and it has never shown any respect whatsoever for international law in general since its foundation sixty years ago.

Also, we are told that there are exceptions built into the agreed text, and a lengthy delay in implementation, which are factors likely to create problems in the future. For example, questions are already being asked about the status of those nasty weapons currently stored by the USA on its bases in the United Kingdom and on Diego Garcia, which all have virtual extra-territorial freedom from control by the "host" country. Such exceptions are almost certain to cause diplomatic difficulties for future British governments which are, most unfortunately, likely to remain as servile in their relations with the USA as they have been for far too many years.

The other question raised in the media is that of "allied" troops finding themselves in any action alongside forces from the USA which decide to use cluster bombs. As military experts have pointed out, they would be in as much in danger as the supposed enemy.

Whatever doubts may remain, we should hope that as many countries as much as possible will ratify this Dublin Treaty to reduce the use of this indiscriminate and unacceptable weapon.

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