Almost 20 years ago, world leaders agreed: Anti-Personnel Mines are a military anachronism that seriously risk thousands of children and raise other humanitarian concerns. But the United States never signed the Mine Ban Treaty.
Our country has engaged in both high and low-intensity conflicts, but last used mines during conflict in 1991. The Obama Administration already recognizes the military futility of mines. American diplomats even recently announced that we would discontinue production and acquisition of mines, while grandfathering our remaining, rusting stockpile.
Why waste the money keeping up a stockpile we likely won't, and definitely shouldn't, use? Why not demonstrate global leadership and take the final step? Why not sign the treaty?