RIGHT SPEAK: Is Obama really this Stupid? Team Obama will begin Shrinking U.S. Land Mines Arsenal

The Obama Administration announced changes to U.S. policy on land mines Friday, ending its five-year review of a weapon notorious for irresponsible use but crucial to defending South Korea. The good news is that the U.S. isn't immediately abandoning all mines, but Washington will begin shrinking its arsenal to please world disarmament dreamers.

Before the announcement, the Administration offered some signals that President Obama would sign the 1997 Ottawa Treaty banning anti-personnel land mines. That would have broken with the approach of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and even Mr. Obama circa 2009, when the State Department explained that the U.S. "would not be able to meet our national defense needs nor our security commitments to our friends and allies if we signed this."

Likely because senior military officials still hold this view, the White House concluded that signing the mine ban would be untenable. Instead the Administration announced its desire to join the Ottawa Treaty "eventually," at an unspecified date, while pledging not to produce or acquire new mines.

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Washington's decision won't reduce the danger of mines acting as hidden killers in places such as Afghanistan (thanks to the Soviets) or Cambodia (thanks to Pol Pot and his rivals). The U.S. leads the world in funding de-mining programs and aiding victims—efforts the Obama Administration is continuing—and years ago the U.S. stopped using "dumb" mines that stay armed and dangerous in favor of "smart" ones that disarm after a set time. Phasing out U.S. mines will make civilians more vulnerable if North Korea invades.

Read the full story HERE.and view an interactive Map below that shows the Treaty Status of each Country:

(CLICK MAP to go to the Interactive Version)