But the ICBL does not recognize the legitimacy of any security or military consideration.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: A Political Minefield

There are nowhere near as many mines being laid as the ICBL claims--certainly nothing approaching two million a year.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: A Political Minefield

The ICBL pays lip service to the idea of clearance, but only as secondary to their main bureaucratic, legislative and publicity initiatives.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: A Political Minefield

In the seven countries where the HALO Trust (Britain's largest demining charity) works, the ICBL's figure for the number of mines is 40 million.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: A Political Minefield

The ICBL claims that there are 119 million mines laid world-wide, and therefore that at the current rate of clearance it will take 1, 000 years to clear them.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: A Political Minefield

If it is true that more mines are being lifted annually than are being laid, then by Ms. Williams's own logic there is no justification for the ICBL's focus on political activities, and every reason to shift the emphasis to the practical tasks of clearance, medical aid and rehabilitation of the wounded and of their land.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: A Political Minefield