children and minefields

[Doug Millison]

Malign:
"Has the US in fact planted mines?  Are the food drops in mined areas?
Have
any children ventured into these areas?  Are precautions being taken?
HAVE
ANY CHILDREN STEPPED ON MINES?"

What planet do you live on?  It's a well-known fact that Afghanistan has
been planted with literally millions of mines, and it's been widely
reported as well in recent days  -- I've heard it on the BBC, NPR, and
quote a UK paper to that effect in the story referenced below --  that  the
U.S. food drops are taking place over mine fields. It's also well known
that for several years now, a steady stream of children, old folks, and
every demographic cohort in between have been killed or maimed by these
mines in Afghanistan.  This has in fact been a prime motivation for the
international treaty to elminate land mines -- a treaty which the U.S. has
steadfastly refused to sign.

"Other aid workers agreed, claiming many of the packages, which are dropped
from a great height, have been scattered across Afghanistan's many
minefields. Organisation of Mine Clearance and Afghan Rehabilitation
spokesman Alhaj Fazel said: "When the food lands, these desperately hungry
people will simply rush towards it. Women and children are most
vulnerable."
http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/shtml/NEWS/P10S1.shtml



Doug Millison - Writer/Editor/Web Editorial Consultant
millison at online-journalist.com
www.Online-Journalist.com