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> bio-degradable land mines in the works

Shame on those working in them, as this is solving the wrong problem. The Ottawa Treaty is signed by most the worlds countries, with the usual suspects have avoided doing so.

Your attitude is pragmatic, and likely the best that could be achieved.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa_Treaty



TABITHA You've got to sign the land mine treaty, Toby.

TOBY Whoa... What happened to the nuance of diplomacy?

TABITHA Oh, sorry, the shoes are shined.

TOBY No we-we're there now, you-you can't go back.

TABITHA Sorry.

TOBY Right.

TABITHA 142 countries have signed it, 84 have ratified, 12 destroyed there entire stock.

TOBY Yes.

TABITHA You know who hasn't signed it? Us and Cuba.

TOBY You know who initiated it? Us. And the nations of the world rallied around it in yet another impressive display of American leadership.

TABITHA And then?

TOBY We bolted.

TABITHA Right.

TOBY And the reason we did is because we love anti-personnel land mines. We love 'em. And we think the government should be in the business of selling them, like the Post Office. In fact, the Post Office is the sales venue we've been considering.

TABITHA Toby. I-I got a...

TOBY It's Korea. Tabitha. There are 900,000 North Korean soldiers in the DMZ, and the only thing stopping them from walking into South Korea are 37,000 US troops, and about a million land mines along the border. We have said over and over that we would be thrilled to sign this treaty if we could have an exemption for South Korea and we have been rebuffed. Rebuffed... I say.

From The West Wing, Season 3 – Episode 16 – “The U.S. Poet Laureate”.




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