Regretting the US Vietnam War Veterans for Throwing Cluster Munitions in Laos: Washington Should Take the Consequences for Their Actions Ammunition | Cluster | Regretting the US

[Global Times Global Network reporter Xing Xiaojing, Hu Yuwei, Wang Wenwen] John Kirby, the strategic communication coordinator of the National Security Council of the United States, confirmed that Ukraine is using cluster munitions provided by the United States in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This controversial weapon has been banned by over a hundred countries worldwide, and when the United States announced in July that it would provide cluster ammunition to Ukraine, it faced widespread criticism from the international community. Between 1964 and 1973, the United States dropped over 2 million tons of cluster ammunition in Laos. Retired American veteran Mike Burton, who had participated in the Vietnam War, said in an exclusive interview with Global Times that he regretted dropping cluster ammunition in Laos. The United States openly provided cluster ammunition to Ukraine, which would bring decades long catastrophic consequences to the people, and called on the US government to take more cautious and responsible measures.

"Bombs rained down like raindrops"

Mike Burton is currently the Chairman of the United States War Heritage Committee, an organization aimed at raising public awareness of the history of the United States bombing Laos during the Vietnam War and initiating activities related to the ban on landmines and cluster ammunition.

Cluster ammunition manufactured in the United States. Data map/surging image

Burton joined the US Air Force in 1962 and was assigned to the US 56th Air Assault Squadron in 1966. The main task of his squadron was to prevent the Vietnamese Communist Party from transporting personnel and supplies from northern Vietnam through the Ho Chi Minh Trail to southern Vietnam. More than 50 years have passed, and the scene of flying planes to drop cluster ammunition on the devastated land of Laos remains a lingering "black memory" in Burton's heart.

Public reports show that between 1964 and 1973, the United States launched a total of 580000 bombings in Laos, dropping over 2 million tons of bombs, which is equivalent to Laos being bombed every 8 minutes for a period of 9 years. Out of the over 270 million cluster bombs dropped by the United States, about 30% remained unexploded, and about 80 million small bombs were scattered and buried in Laos, causing damage to this day.

Statistics from Laos show that since the end of the Vietnam War, over 50000 people have been injured or killed in unexploded ordnance accidents in Laos. In 2021, Laos experienced 31 unexploded ordnance explosions, resulting in 11 deaths and 44 injuries. In 2022, Laos experienced 16 unexploded ordnance accidents, resulting in 5 deaths and 15 injuries.

"The bombs piled up on the ground are endless, at least 30% or 40% of cluster ammunition has not exploded, and those bombs may fall into fields or anywhere ordinary people live, some of which can never be cleared." Burton recalled to a Global Times reporter, "As a Laotian said, 'bombs fell like raindrops', villages and valleys were instantly flattened, and countless civilians died as a result."

The British Broadcasting Corporation reported that cluster ammunition is a weapon that scatters a large amount of small ammunition from rockets, missiles, or shells, and the ammunition is dispersed over a wide area during flight. Their function is to explode when they collide with external objects, but a considerable portion of them become "duds", which means they will not explode initially, especially when the shells land on damp or soft soil.

According to reports, these "duds" may subsequently explode when picked up or trampled on, resulting in the death or disability of the victims. Due to the possibility of ammunition being similar to small toys in residential or agricultural areas, it is often picked up out of curiosity, making children particularly vulnerable to becoming victims. Human rights organizations describe cluster ammunition as "detestable" and even a war crime. At present, hundreds of countries have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which stipulates that contracting parties shall never use, develop, produce, acquire, store, retain or transfer cluster ammunition under any circumstances.

In this context, in response to the United States openly providing cluster ammunition to Ukraine, Burton stated that this move will bring decades long catastrophic consequences to Ukraine and the American people, and called on the US government to take more cautious and responsible measures.

"He was right, we killed him."

The bombing operations in the United States were carried out secretly until they were gradually reported by the media after the congressional hearing in 1971. However, according to CNN, the American public still knows very little about the true extent of the damage caused to Laos by this "secret war".

"I saw a tragedy in Laos," Burton told Global Times reporters. "Cluster ammunition looks like a toy, and many children pick it up and play with it, breaking their arms, blinding their eyes, and even losing their lives. Many adults are also doomed, and I have seen too many incomplete faces in Laos."

In 1967, Burton visited a village in Laos and asked a local teacher what help he could provide to the villagers. The teacher's answer was very brief: "Leave." He said, "I hope you leave, because you will kill us." Two weeks later, when Burton returned to this village, he was taken to a square where the previous teacher was brutally killed. Burton said, "He was right, we killed him."

In 2022, Mike Burton returned to Laos as the Chairman of the United States War Heritage Committee. As he looked down on the land covered in huge craters from the plane, feelings of regret and grief surged in his heart. He said, "This land full of scars reminds us of the fatal mistakes made by the United States, reminds us of how many lives we have taken and how many historic sites we have destroyed."

The veteran told Global Times reporters that after returning from the war, he suffered mental and psychological torment due to a sense of guilt and received 14 months of treatment. The situation of many Vietnam War veterans is very bad, with alcoholism, drug abuse, broken families, and even suicide.

In 2022, Burton participated in the detonation of some cluster ammunition and also founded relevant organizations to provide services to immigrants and refugees around the world, including Ukraine. He said, "I have a lot of remorse for that period of war, and I try not to recall many things.".

The United States should bear the consequences for its actions

Statistical data shows that cluster ammunition has stronger killing power than regular ammunition and is more likely to cause civilian casualties. Since World War II, cluster ammunition has caused approximately 56500 to 86500 civilian deaths. It is estimated that over 90% of the casualties caused by cluster ammunition are civilians, many of whom are minors. The US military has used cluster ammunition in the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Kosovo War, Afghanistan War, and Iraq War, causing extensive damage to civilian facilities and numerous civilian casualties.

Today, Russian television reported that a Ukrainian official revealed that Ukraine has provided a report on the use of cluster ammunition to the United States, but refused to disclose the specific content. At least 38 human rights organizations have publicly opposed the United States providing cluster ammunition to Ukraine.

The BBC said that the act of the United States providing cluster munitions to Ukraine may lead to accusations of hypocrisy against the United States, and the moral highland of the United States in the Russia-Ukraine conflict will be greatly affected. Cluster ammunition is a terrifying and indiscriminate attack weapon that is banned in many parts of the world. The actions of the United States will inevitably lead to disagreements with its Western allies.

Al Jazeera reported that history tells us that the continued spread of cluster ammunition is likely to have a lasting impact for a long time after the end of the current war. The government's provision and use of "bombs" are causing unnecessary deaths for the next generation, and dangerous ammunition clearance is required after the war ends.

In the interview, Burton told Global Times reporters that he hoped that by the end of the war, the US government could take care of those who had lost their arms, legs, and eyes due to being bombed by cluster ammunition. He said that the US government should publicly sign a document indicating that it bears the consequences for its actions.