I see that now on CNN "the left" has become antiwar instead of pro-healthcare.  The show goes on.

1. Mine Ban Treaty
Covers anti-personnel mines only, not "anti-tank" mines. There are 156 nations that are party to this treaty, 39 that are not. Established in Ottawa in 1997.

The Mine Ban Treaty is the international agreement that bans antipersonnel landmines. Sometimes referred to as the Ottawa Convention, it is officially titled: the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction.

The treaty is the most comprehensive international instrument for ridding the world of the scourge of mines. When they join the Mine Ban Treaty, states commit to:
never use antipersonnel mines, nor to "develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer" them;
destroy mines in their stockpiles within four years of the treaty becoming binding;
clear mines in their territory, or support efforts to clear mines in mined countries, within 10 years;
in mine-affected countries, conduct mine risk education and ensure that mine survivors, their families and communities receive comprehensive assistance;
offer assistance to other States Parties, for example in providing for survivors or contributing to clearance programmes;
adopt national implementation measures (such as national legislation) in order to ensure that the terms of the treaty are upheld in their territory.

Eighty percent of the world's states are party to the treaty.

2. Convention on Cluster Munitions

A result of the so-called Oslo process, concluded in 2008. There are currently 103 countries that are party to ther convention, 92 that are not.

The Convention on Cluster Munitions is the international agreement that bans cluster munitions. When they join the Convention on Cluster Munitions, states commit to:
never use cluster munitions, nor to "develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer" them;
destroy cluster munitions in their stockpiles within eight years of the convention becoming binding;
clear and destroy cluster munitions remnants in their territory, or support efforts to clear cluster munitions remnants in affected countries, within 10 years;
in affected countries, ensure that survivors, their families and communities receive comprehensive assistance;
offer financial or technical assistance to other States Parties, for example in providing assistance to survivors or contributing to clearance programmes;
adopt national implementation measures (such as national legislation) in order to ensure that the terms of the convention are upheld in their territory;
reporting regularly on all of these activities.

Treaty Basics

Convention Basics

It is possible that no additional land mines have been deployed/placed since 1991, but afaik, the Korea DMZ is still full of them - on both sides.

Article 2
Definitions

1. "Anti-personnel mine" means a mine designed to be exploded by the presence, proximity or contact of a person and that will incapacitate, injure or kill one or more persons. Mines designed to be detonated by the presence, proximity or contact of a vehicle as opposed to a person, that are equipped with anti-handling devices, are not considered anti-personnel mines as a result of being so equipped.

2. "Mine" means a munition designed to be placed under, on or near the ground or other surface area and to be exploded by the presence, proximity or contact of a person or a vehicle.

3. "Anti-handling device" means a device intended to protect a mine and which is part of, linked to, attached to or placed under the mine and which activates when an attempt is made to tamper with or otherwise intentionally disturb the mine.

4. "Transfer" involves, in addition to the physical movement of anti-personnel mines into or from national territory, the transfer of title to and control over the mines, but does not involve the transfer of territory containing emplaced anti-personnel mines.

5. "Mined area" means an area which is dangerous due to the presence or suspected presence of mines.

Boycott, divest, sanction.

Count the noses.  How many votes to you see for "giving up American sovereignty" when it comes to land mines?

Thought so.

So why bother, with so much else on the plate?

I'm really more interested in seeing the existing land mines and anti-personnel cluster weapons cleaned up quickly from the places where they have already been deployed.

And then wait until some sanity returns to Congress.  I'm hoping that wait is not long.

50 states, 210 media market, 435 Congressional Districts, 3080 counties, 192,480 precincts