Democrat lawmakers decry Biden's decision to send cluster munitions to Ukraine

WASHINGTON

A group of Democrat lawmakers denounced US President Joe Biden's decision Friday to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine because it "undermines" Washington’s moral authority.

"The decision by the Biden administration to transfer cluster munitions to Ukraine is unnecessary and a terrible mistake," Betty McCollum, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives Appropriations Defense subcommittee, warned in a statement.

"Allowing legacy U.S. cluster munitions onto the battlefield in Ukraine undermines our moral authority and places the U.S. in a position that directly contradicts 23 of our NATO allies who have joined the Convention on Cluster Munitions," the Minnesota congresswoman added.

Barbara Lee from the state of California, said she was "alarmed" that Biden was "considering sending cluster bombs to Ukraine."

Pointing to threats the munitions have been to civilians for decades, Lee said lawmakers wrote to the president about the "need to end the use of cluster bombs."

"The Ukrainian people are engaged in a just struggle for their rights, freedom and humanity. The US and Ukraine don’t need to stoop to Putin’s level," she said.

Air Force veteran Chrissy Houlahan from Pennsylvania wrote on Twitter that she "strongly" opposes the administration's decision to provide Ukraine with cluster munitions.

"Cluster munitions can be indiscriminate and have the potential to harm civilians years after conflicts have ended. Now, there are some who will say that these weapons are necessary to level the battlefield given Russia’s reported use of them. I challenge that assessment," she wrote.

"I challenge the notion that we should employ the same tactics Russia is using. And I challenge all of us to remember that this war will end, and the broken pieces of Ukraine will need to be rebuilt. History remembers not only who wins a war but also how a war is won," she added.

Jim McGovern from Massachusetts said he would continue to "strongly support" helping Ukraine against Russia but "cluster munitions won’t help."

"I universally oppose the use of these internationally banned weapons. I urge President Biden to listen to our NATO allies, such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Spain, who oppose sending cluster munitions to Ukraine for the same reasons," he said.