Cluster-Munitions: Background and Issues for Congress

Abstract

Cluster munitions are air-dropped or ground-launched munitions that release a number of smaller submunitions intended to kill enemy personnel or destroy vehicles. Cluster munitions were developed in World War II and are part of many nations' weapons stockpiles. Cluster munitions have been used frequently in combat, including the early phases of the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Cluster munitions have been highly criticized internationally for causing a significant number of civilian deaths, and efforts have been undertaken to ban and regulate their use. This report will be updated.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 27, 2008
Accession Number
ADA483920

Entities

People

  • Andrew Feickert

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Bomblets
  • Bombs
  • Chemical Weapons
  • Cluster Bombs
  • Cluster Munitions
  • Congress
  • Department Of State
  • Enemy Personnel
  • Governments
  • International Law
  • Military Operations
  • Munitions
  • Ordnance Laboratories
  • United States
  • Weapons
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Munitions and Ordnance Engineering
  • Strategic Security Studies