The use of cluster bombs, banned by 123 countries, has not helped the Russians achieve their objectives in their brutal war in Ukraine. Neither did the US profit from their use, along with other anti-civilian weapons, in protracted wars in south‑east Asia, nor did either the Soviet Union or the US in their Afghanistan campaigns, against less well‑equipped enemies. Joe Biden’s decision (Joe Biden defends ‘difficult decision’ to send cluster munitions to Ukraine, 8 July) seems more likely to provoke escalation, rather than hasten victory over Russia in what looks increasingly like an unwinnable war for either side.
In the context of attempts to sanitise these appalling weapons, your editorial on the spoken word (The Guardian view on spoken word poets: powerful voices that are needed today, 7 July) brought to mind the late, great performance poet Adrian Mitchell. His famous poem To Whom It May Concern (Tell Me Lies About Vietnam), inveighing against the 1960s American bombing campaign, contains the memorable lines: “I smell something burning, hope it’s just my brains. They’re only dropping peppermints and daisy-chains.” In these fractured times, and with Labour’s new emphasis on oracy, the need for a resurgence of political performance poetry has never been greater.
Dr Anthony Isaacs
London
• While agreeing with your leader (The Guardian view on supplying cluster bombs: not just a ‘difficult’ decision, but the wrong one, 11 July), the same is equally true of the UK plan to supply depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine. When these munitions are exploded, they release a radioactive and toxic dust that can be blown for miles. If it is ingested or inhaled, it is carcinogenic and poisonous.
At the same time, the land is contaminated. Depleted uranium dust will affect the military and civilians alike. Just as with cluster bombs, there will be long-term consequences. The government knows this full well after the use of these munitions in Iraq and the Balkans.
Rae Street
Littleborough, Lancashire
• The latest move by the US to provide cluster bombs to the Ukrainian forces is simply wrong, not just because they are banned by more than 100 countries, not just because the Russian forces are using them, but because of the impact they have on civilians. It’s not just one bomb to avoid but potentially hundreds, and, though smaller, they are still deadly.
President Joe Biden has called it a “very difficult decision” but it is the wrong decision. There must be other options to find some peaceful end to this conflict. You can’t bomb a country into peace.
Dennis Fitzgerald
Melbourne, Australia
• I am deeply disappointed by your editorial on cluster munitions being supplied to Ukraine. Your article observes how the indiscriminate use of cluster munitions in the Vietnam war led to terrible consequences for civilians.
Well, yes … quelle surprise. The indiscriminate use of any weapon risks terrible consequences for civilians. This is what Russia does on a daily basis in Ukraine, with cluster and other munitions. It isn’t the weapon itself that poses a threat to civilians, it is how it’s used – there’s a big difference. A car can be a terrible weapon if driven down a busy pavement.
These munitions will be used against Russian military targets on Ukrainian soil; soil that is already peppered with Russian landmines, and which will need to be cleared afterwards in any case. There is no comparison between this and any historical or indiscriminate use of any weapon, including Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian civilians every day.
It is easy to sit in a comfortable office and pontificate about virtues. It is very hard to fight a bloody war against a brutal and ruthless invader with huge military resources.
Per G Bilse
London
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