In fact, the decision for the slow track also reflects substantial opposition from the U.S. military establishment to a comprehensive ban on anti-personnel landmines. In previous negotiations, U.S. officials have sought to exempt smart self-destructing landmines and have also argued for the continuing need to use landmines for defensive purposes in Korea. The White House, while expressing support for an eventual global ban, has in practice often deferred to the Pentagon and dragged its feet in international talks. The cost of delay will be high. Over 100 million of these deadly weapons are already in the ground, causing an estimated 25,000 civilian casualties each year.
Low cost makes landmines a weapon of choice in new conflicts as well.
The momentum for comprehensive bans at global and regional levels is growing. Later this month Mozambique will host an international meeting of nongovernmental organizations engaged in the campaign, and there are proposals to declare Southern Africa a mine-free zone. There are already more countries committed to attending the Ottawa talks than the 61 countries registered at the disarmament conference in Geneva. But the Clinton Administration is unlikely to get on the bandwagon unless public pressure builds significantly. The entire world would benefit from a comprehensive ban.