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May 19, 2001

George W. Bush
President of the United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush:

As retired senior officers and leaders in the U.S. armed forces, we are writing to express support for the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, a total prohibition on the stockpiling, transfer, production, and use of antipersonnel landmines (APM). It is our collective belief that the United States does not need to retain any APM, even in mixed systems with anti-tank mines. We feel strongly that it is in the best interests of the American soldier and our country that you "fast-track" U.S. accession to the Mine Ban Treaty. APM are outmoded weapons that have, time and again, proved to be a liability to our own troops. We believe that the military, diplomatic, and humanitarian advantages of speedy U.S. accession far outweigh the minimal military utility of these weapons.

Current policy, Presidential Decision Directive (PDD) 64, dictates that the U.S. will not join the Mine Ban Treaty before 2006, and even then depending on "suitable" new alternatives to APM having been found and fielded. Every NATO nation except the U.S. has embraced the Mine Ban Treaty. In doing so, our allies have demonstrated that they can accomplish their missions and protect their troops with weapons systems available now.

Your predecessor, former President Clinton, portrayed APM as critical to the defense of the Republic of Korea (ROK) from the constant and real threat of North Korean invasion. Several of us are former commanders of elements of I-Corps (USA/ROK group), and believe that APM are not in any way critical or decisive in maintaining the peninsula’s security. In fact, freshly scattered mixed systems would slow a US and ROK counter-invasion by inhibiting the operational tempo of friendly armor and dismounted infantry units.

It is our understanding that the standing response plan to a North Korean attack does not call for these weapons to be used to counter an initial attack. Other, more effective and less inhibiting weapons, not newly laid APM or mixed systems, would be employed to halt the first waves of a North Korean advance into South Korea.

What’s more, the previous Administration’s "Korea Exception" wrongly implied U.S. responsibility for the landmines currently deployed in the military control zone south of the DMZ. Those mines are under the jurisdiction and control of the ROK; U.S. accession to the Mine Ban Treaty would not require their removal.

Our recommendation that you should send the treaty to the U.S. Senate for advice and consent is motivated by a deep concern for the welfare of the men and women of our armed services. As you know, Pentagon casualty reports from Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf attest to the tremendous toll that APM, many of them our own, have taken on our service men and women. Veterans across this country can testify to the devastating injuries this counterproductive weapon has inflicted on both U.S. servicemen and civilians in the countries where these weapons have been laid.

We would not be urging this course of action if we did not believe it would enhance our combat mobility and effectiveness and, most importantly, protect our nation’s sons and daughters when we send them into harm’s way. Today, Armed Forces Day, we urge you, Mr. President, to ensure that no more U.S. servicemen or civilians fall to U.S. mines. Joining the Mine Ban Treaty as soon as possible will help bring about this achievable reality. We know that the American people will support you in protecting those who defend us. We certainly will.

We look forward to hearing more about your position on the Mine Ban Treaty.

Respectfully,

Rear Admiral Eugene Carroll, USN-retired
Former Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations

Lt. General Henry E. Emerson, USA-retired
Former Commander of the XVIII Corps

Lt. General James F. Hollingsworth, USA-retired
Former Commander of I-Corps (USA-ROK Group)

Lt. General Harold Moore, USA-retired
Former Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Department of the Army and former commander of the Seventh Infantry Division, Korea

Lt. General Dave Palmer, USA-retired
Former Superintendent of West Point

Vice Admiral Jack Shanahan, USN-retired
Chairman, Military Advisory Committee To Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities

Lt. General DeWitt C. Smith Jr., USA-retired

Lt. General Walter Ulmer, USA-retired