President Clinton certainly missed an historic opportunity to provide leadership for the people of the world. They were blind to the fact that both would benefit from a treaty that stigmatizes this weapon. Not having the U.S., Russia and China signing the treaty was disappointing but not debilitating to those gathered in Ottawa. But this experience, far from being a reason for self-satisfaction, should be the basis of sober reflection. Signing a treaty to ban this horrific weapon which has killed or maimed more than a million people, mostly civilians, since 1975, is a cause for momentary celebration.
Enormous work waits to be done.
In listening to Mr. Inderfurth's pledge to increase government and private donations to the de-mining effort, I realize it is a beginning, yet seen in percentage of total Pentagon expenditures it is petty cash.