Editor's note: Bobby Naderi, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a London-based journalist, guest contributor in print, radio and television, and documentary filmmaker. The article reflects the author's opinions, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has decided to arm Ukraine with cluster bombs as part of a new $800 million arms package. The escalatory, counterproductive news comes after Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a report that said Ukraine has killed its own citizens using the munitions.

Looking into the long reflecting wars of the past, this should raise serious concerns among the international civil society about the moral and legal implications of their use on the Ukraine battlefield.

Cluster bombs, which can be delivered by artillery, rockets and missiles, are banned due to their indiscriminate nature and long-term threat to civilians. Even after they have been dropped, cluster munitions continue to pose a serious threat to populations. These weapons disperse small submunitions across wide distances, making them difficult to identify and leaving innocent people, especially children, maimed and killed.

The terrible examples of Vietnam and Laos, where unexploded cluster munitions from the Vietnam War still cause harm to civilians decades later, highlight their persistent effects more than any other type of weaponry. Rural communities, where agriculture is a primary source of livelihood, face immense challenges due to the inability to cultivate contaminated lands. These remnants of war impede economic development, perpetuating poverty and creating social and psychological distress for affected communities.

It's hardly mystifying that the people of Ukraine face similar risks, with unexploded submunitions threatening their lives, livelihoods, and the country's overall recovery. It is a lie that American-produced cluster munitions have a far lower failure rate than those produced by other countries.

A horror story of the first order

The world community established the Convention on Cluster Munitions, a convention that outlaws the use of cluster bombs, since they are immoral and terrible. More than 100 nations, including most of the world's major powers, have ratified this agreement. However, this consensus has not yet been reached by Ukraine or the United States.

By considering deploying cluster bombs to Ukraine, the U.S. administration is blatantly violating the international standard established by the Convention on Cluster Munitions. This contempt for international law should stun no one.

The issue of legal responsibility is brought up by the use of cluster bombs as well. It is the responsibility of the parties involved to refrain from using the prohibited weapons, to make sure no party to the conflict is committing cluster crimes. This emphasizes even more how critical it is to solve the problem without waiting for formal U.S. military statements to be made.

There will be a day before too long

In Ukraine, a significant number of failed bomblets that have fallen to the ground operate as de facto landmines. As they already struggle to rebuild their livelihoods, farmers and rural communities also have to deal with the added burden of toxic residues preventing them from using their farms effectively. It would be challenging for the nation to recover because of the loss of income, the shortage of food, and the economic instability.

Given all of this and more, consolidated efforts are required to address the U.S. government's ill-covered decision. Promoting openness and responsibility with regard to the objective and ramifications of shipping is the first step. It is reasonable to argue that the U.S., which has a staggering arsenal of these weapons, has a responsibility to clearly explain the reasons for its controversial choice.

Prioritizing actions that reduce the threats brought on by cluster bombs is also vital. International organizations can conduct detailed evaluations of the impacted areas in cooperation with the Ukrainian government. As the Biden administration has made its case, and as the war stretches into its second year, the further use of cluster munitions will have even wider bipartisan support in Washington.

Given the delicate nature of this subject, diplomatic communication between the United Nations and interested parties is essential. The potential humanitarian repercussions of cluster bombs can be brought up in productive conversations with policymakers by advocacy groups, humanitarian organizations, and other concerned parties.

With the U.S. military unwilling to tell the truth, it is also recommended that the Biden administration's choice be rethought. The emphasis must be on alternative approaches that put the safety of civilians and the long-term stability and prosperity of Ukraine first.

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