SCOTT BURGESS offers a pretty thorough debunking of the “U.S. used chemical weapons in Fallujah” story — though it was pretty obviously bogus on its face.
UPDATE: More on the “white phosphorus” claims here, leading to this conclusion: “I guess there is a place for ‘Mary Mapes-style’ journalism in the world after all.”
And a pretty big one, by all appearances.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Reader Fred Ray emails:
Just wanted to comment on the allegations going ’round about “indiscriminate” use of white phosphorus against civilians. I’m a former armor officer and Vietnam vet who has used WP on quite a number of occasions. So far as I know it is no longer made for tank (or Bradley) guns, but is fired by artillery and at times by mortars.
We use WP as a marking round, because it makes a nice column of white smoke that’s easy to see. The most common use is with air strikes and helicopters — you can direct them in relation to the smoke column and thus avoid hitting your own troops or civilians. I suppose you could use it as an incendiary (and it says so in the book) but I’ve never seen it used that way, because it’s not very efficient.
So did we use WP in Fallujah? Maybe — but the effects would have been quite limited because the burst radius is about 150′ (that for a 155mm shell), and it only affects people who get some particles of it on them. We also have a non-WP smoke round that we use for screening.
Now, WP is nasty stuff, no doubt. If you get it on you it will burn you badly and it’s very difficult to extinguish. But it’s not a “chemical” weapon except in the sense that any non-nuke is a chemical weapon i.e. it works by means of a chemical reaction. Nor is it in any sense banned by any sort of international convention. Some of the drivel coming from these so-called human right organizations is unbelievable — that people can be burned or “caramalized” (what does that mean?) without their clothes burning. WP will burn anything it comes in contact with.
Or…that WP creates a killing toxic “cloud.” I’m sure breathing the smoke isn’t the best thing for you, but Sarin it ain’t. Both these statements ought to be your clue that you’re dealing with pure BS.
It always amazes me what people will believe, but apparently there is a segment of the MSM that will believe anything as long as it’s anti-American.
Yes, and it’s a sizable one.
MORE: Reader Henry Gowen emails:
Look for the next breathless reporting about weapons in Iraq to include the startling news that bullets are being used, and they hurt people. White phosphorus has been around at least since World War II–and it was used as an antipersonnel weapon. Like napalm, it was useful against targets protected from conventional explosives. In my Army days, 1959-61, we fired WP (“Willie Peter”) shells from 4.2 inch mortars for practice. When the round lands, it produces a cloud of white. (Watch for this in WWII documentaries, especially from the Pacific.) Nasty stuff, we were told, because the dispersed particles stick to cloth and skin and cannot be extinguished with water. Bad, but certainly not new. This is what happens when news staffs have nobody with any military connections. Reminds me of a Wall Street Journal headline from decades ago that referred to a .30 caliber cannon. That would be an accurate descriptor, of course, only in the Lilliputian army.
Indeed.