Incendiary weapons: The big white lie

[DoYouEverWonder]

17 November 2005

The Iraqi government is to investigate the United States military's use of white phosphorus shells during the battle of Fallujah - an inquiry that could reveal whether American forces breached a fundamental international weapons treaty.

Iraq's acting Human Rights minister, Narmin Othman, said last night that a team would be dispatched to Fallujah to try to ascertain conclusively whether civilians had been killed or injured by the incendiary weapon. The use of white phosphorus (WP) and other incendiary weapons such as napalm against civilians is prohibited.

The announcement came as John Reid, the Secretary of State for Defence, faced mounting calls for an inquiry into the use of WP by British forces as well as what Britain knew about its deployment by American troops. Mr Reid said that he would look into the matter.

The move by the Iraqi government and the growing concern at Westminster follows the Pentagon's confirmation to The Independent earlier this week that WP had been used during the battle of Fallujah last November and the presentation of persuasive evidence that civilians had been among the victims.

The fresh controversy over Fallujah, which has raged for a full 12 months, was initially sparked last week by a documentary by the Italian state broadcaster, RAI, which claimed there were numerous civilian casualties. A Pentagon spokesman said yesterday he would "not be surprised" if WP had been used by US forces elsewhere in Iraq.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/article327543.ece


Edit: Oops didn't mean to post the whole article.

[Radio_Lady]

1. Kicked and nominated. This is just OUTRAGEOUS!

The mods might ask you to shorten this post. But it's all very timely and interesting.

[lovuian]

2. chemical weapons is a no no but torture is a no no

and yet we have used it in Iraq!!!

[daleo]

3. The Iraqi government will investigate the U.S. military

Just like Eastern European governments investigated the Soviet government in the 50's. The Pentagon must be terrified.

[oneold1-4u]

4. WE ARE THERE

Try to remember that though we and most American soldiers are not there today by a personal choice! We are there.
Most of the people there do not live in the same type of culture that US citizens do. Their culture allows pubic be headings, human dismembering and dragging bodies or hanging them out for all to see. This has been common practice in their culture for a thousand years and is an accepted means of punishment for whatever they deem a wrong. They used their own cultural means on Americans when they discovered it caused shock and awe, to attempt to create fear.
When families of women and children remain in a battle areas, it is by order of their male spouses, fathers, mullahs or military commanders. They become the fuses of the battles and are expected to die! If more intelligent officials in this government and the pentagon had had a better understanding of the total culture of the people of Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, and most all muslim dominant countries, this could have been a far different type of battle.