The United States military insists that cluster munitions are useful, but to the best of my knowledge, they have not used them for at least seven years. Anyone who can correct me here, with evidence that can be corroborated, is more than welcome to do so.

Since 2004, Israel, Russia, Thailand and, most recently Libya, have scored own goals by using cluster munitions in their armed conflicts. The consequence for them has been international stigmatisation, which fortunately is easier to get over than civilian death and mutilation, caused by exploding submunitions.

Cluster munitions are of limited use when they target civilian areas. Two good backgrounders on the issue, one from the USA, are linked below.

Australia has dropped the ball. We were a leader on the Mine Ban Treaty, during the Howard administration. Where are we now?


"Fatal Footprint" 2006:
http://www.mineaction.org/downloads/1/Fatal_Footprint_HI_report_on_CM_casualties.1.pdf

and
FOOTPRINTS OF DEATH, 2000

http://bit.ly/dR7zMN

Copyright (c) 2000 University of Michigan Law School
Michigan Journal of International Law
ARTICLE: FOOTPRINTS OF DEATH: CLUSTER BOMBS AS INDISCRIMINATE WEAPONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW
Fall, 2000
22 Mich. J. Int'l L. 85
Author
Virgil Wiebe*
Excerpt [from] Introduction

"Cluster bombs are indiscriminate weapons. The inherent nature of cluster bombs as wide-area munitions, at a minimum, should make their use illegal in civilian areas, as the risk of civilian casualties is prohibitively high. Unexploded bomblets act as de facto landmines after initial use, making them indiscriminate killers for decades to come. In light of these characteristics, a moratorium on the use, production, trade, and stockpiling of cluster bombs should be implemented immediately. This moratorium should lead to banning their use, production, transfer and stockpiling through international treaty."

Paul Barratt

So cluster bombs are bad and all other bombs are not bad.