U.S. denies using phosphorous against civilians (Willie Pete)

MSNBC.com ^ | 11/16/05 | AP

[Airborne1986]

WASHINGTON - Pentagon officials say white phosphorous was used as a weapon against insurgent strongholds during the battle of Fallujah last November, but deny an Italian television news report that it was used against civilians.

Lt. Col. Barry Venable, a Pentagon spokesman, said Tuesday that while white phosphorous is most frequently used to mark targets or obscure a position, it was used at times in Fallujah as an incendiary weapon against enemy combatants.

White phosphorous is a colorless-to-yellow translucent wax-like substance with a pungent, garlic-like smell. The form used by the military ignites once it is exposed to oxygen, producing such heat that it bursts into a yellow flame and produces a dense white smoke. It can cause painful burn injuries to exposed human flesh.

[af_vet_rr]

This charge comes from a Eurotrash newspaper.

I would hardly call the US Army's Field Artillery Magazine a "Eurotrash newspaper".

From the USA FA Magazine (linked to above):
"WP proved to be an effective and versatile munition. We used it for screening missions at two breeches and, later in the fight, as a potent psychological weapon against the insurgents in trench lines and spider holes when we could not get effects on them with HE. We fired 'shake and bake' missions at the insurgents, using WP to flush them out and HE to take them out."

To be honest, it doesn't bother me at all that a US Army publication openly admits to it - I would much rather we use WP than suicide bombers, and I'd rather we fight them in Iraq with anything and everything including WP, than fight them in the US.

[af_vet_rr]

fyi, bottom of page 26 is where you'll find soldiers discussing it.

You'll also see that it probably saved their lives. Anything that can bring more Americans home alive is a good thing.

[68skylark]

there should be a law against journalists who don't know their ass from their elbows writing about weapon systems.

I like your idea. Of course, if journalists can't write when they're ignorant, then newspapers would be empty.

[MikeA]

"I would hardly call the US Army's Field Artillery Magazine a 'Eurotrash newspaper'."

I was referring to the claim that these weapons were used against civilians in a massive way, or in any way, that the Italian newspaper made. I never denied they were used against enemy positions. And like you, I say good! We should have used them a lot more than we did against the terrorist vermin in Fallujah.

[R. Scott]

“Civilian” – a terrorist who has accidentally dropped his weapon.

[kpp_kpp]

one of these days reporters might find out we use real bullets in our guns over there.

this shocking news has to be revealed sometime soon.