TAKING THE MINISTER TO TASK OVER THERMOBARICS - HARVEY
June 1, 2009 6:29 PM
Today in Defence Oral Questions local MP, Nick Harvey, took Defence Minister Quentin Davies MP to task over the use of enhanced blast munitions (thermobarics).
In his question he asked:
In light of reports that American-fired enhanced blast munitions may have caused over 140 civilian deaths during the airstrike of 4th May, can he confirm that British-fired weapons - which have been used 43 times in the last year - have not resulted in civilian deaths in Afghanistan? What precautions are being taken to ensure this does not happen? From the cockpit of a helicopter how can pilots possibly tell whether there are civilians in target buildings? Can he understand concerns that the use of such indiscriminate weapons can undermine efforts to win over 'hearts and minds' and popular civilian support essential to our operations?
Commenting on the Minister's reply Nick Harvey MP said:
"The Army has used these weapons over 43 times since 2008 yet the Minister refused to confirm that the use of these weapons has not incurred civilian deaths.
We have to be very careful over the use of enhanced blast munitions particularly in light of concerns expressed from many quarters about the way they work in the same way as nuclear weapons, destroying everything within a certain radius.
There are ethical implications and whilst we want to limit the threat of insurgents, we have to ask whether this is the most effective tool.
We are in Afghanistan to restore security and stability to the Afghan people, when civilians are killed by coalition forces we risk undermining our wider efforts to gain the trust and support of local populations."
Notes
Enhanced blast munitions, also known as thermobarics, work by using intense heat and pressure to get rid of anything in its path. Working like a vacuum, they are particularly effective in confined spaces such as caves, buildings and tunnels where the walls increase the impact of the pressure and enhance the shockwaves.
They are indiscriminate in nature, and will kill any civilians caught up in the pressure waves.
Written answers
Thursday, 7 May 2009
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Nick Harvey (North Devon, Liberal Democrat)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many enhanced blast munitions have been fired in Afghanistan in each year since 2007.
John Hutton (Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence; Barrow & Furness, Labour) The only enhanced blast weapons used by UK forces in Afghanistan are variants of the AGM-114N Hellfire missile. This was released into service in spring 2008 and so there were none fired prior to May 2008; however, the number of enhanced blast munitions fired on operations in Afghanistan during 2008-09 is provided in the following table.
Total fired
2008
20
2009
23
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