Domestic Press finally reporting use of White Phosphorous

[nankerphelge]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/15/AR2005111501210_pf.html

Of course, the story is still a bit slanted compared to the way the story is being reported in Europe. I like the part about WP not being a banned weapon, and then as an afterthought they say something like "by any treaties that the U.S. has signed." No matter how they spin it, white phosphorous is a chemical weapon when it's being used in a way that burns off your flesh.

[Ilsa]

1. They need pictures of pregnant women and children

to show how disgusting and heartless this administration is. God help me, I hate these people.

Instead the big news is the steroid use punishment proposal for MLB.

[jackstraw45]

2. Graphic Photo linked...

http:// mindprod.com/images/iraqphosphorus1.jpg

[prescole]

3. I used to assist on autopsies and help embalm people

and those images still turned my stomach. NOT for the timid.

Like I said in another thread, the American people need to know what this war really looks like. I remember how the bloody footage from Vietnam helped turn public opinion against that war...

[OleDem]

8. YES!

You know you have a point. We should see video of the folks having their tongues pulled out with pliers on Sadams orders, and the others fed into shredders, too. Very good point! The American people do need to know what it really “DID” look like.

[prescole]

10. The American people don't need to know what every tyrant does

just the one we employ. Enjoy your stay, smartass.

[OleDem]

11. I see

Well, I am smart..What does that have to do with my stay?
But back on track, If as you say, "The American people don't need to know what every tyrant does" who gets to choose what people get to know, you? If they don't need to know why not? I don't get it, they need to know what you post, but NOT everything, is that it?

[chelaque liberal]

17. That kind of response is pointless.

Are you saying it's OK for us to commit atrocities because Saddam did horrible things? I thought we were the good guys.

[OleDem]

21. No,

I was agreeing with post #3. The American people should know all the facts...Do you not agree with that? Post #3 was one sided, IMO.

[stop the bleeding]

25. So the poster called "OleDem" has been tombstoned,

I had a feeling they were a freeper the minute I welcomed them to DU.

As the Governator would say - asta ala vista - or something like that.

[OzarkDem]

4. After giving the GOP enough lead time to spin the story

in the right wing news media so they can inoculate the masses and secondary media outlets against the real facts of the story.

According to an earlier post here, some right wing creeps have already fashioned their own bumper stickers supporting the Pentagon for using it.

This example alone should make everyone wary of believing the whore news media has changed its ways.

[jackstraw45]

5. Michael Moore has info/video/photos on his front page - FYI

www.michaelmoore.com

[ThomWV]

6. We Used The Shit All The Time In Viet Nam. Why Not Now?

I never had any idea that it had fallen off the list that comprises our regular arsenel. Its as common as high expolsives, and in fact it was much more likely to be carried by a guy on the ground in Viet Nam than high explosives would have been.

Why is everyone so upset about the shit now?

[bpilgrim]

9. we are more civilized

:shrug:

peace

[RazzleDazzle]

13. Perhaps because chemical weapons are

considered a war crime?

I certainly do, and I think they're against the Geneva Conventions as well.

[ThomWV]

15. Its Not A Chemical Weapon

Not by a long shot.

[RazzleDazzle]

26. That's odd. Jim Miklescewski (sp) called it a chemical weapon

last night, and tonight Keith Olbermann is talking about it as a chemical weapon.

Guess you'd better contact them immediately to correct them.

[OleDem]

7. a chemical weapon?

White phosphorus is a common allotrope of the chemical element phosphorus which has found extensive military application as a smoke-screening agent and for target marking. It is also used as an incendiary weapon (starting firers).

In a strict sense it is “chemical”, however, in the class of military “chemical” weapons it’s a stretch to include it as such at best.
A bit of research on what a "chemical" weapon is may be in order here.

[stop the bleeding]

12. Welcome to DU and

anything that melts:nuke: your skin would classify as chemical to me. No matter what vernacular you use to categorize it.

[Don Claybrook]

14. So you're ok with white phosphorous being used to kill people?

Allotropes and all of your pseudo-science aside, is this a substance whose use by our military against humans is something you support?

waiting on your answer.

[ThomWV]

16. No More Or Less Than A Bullet

Whats the difference if you hit them with enough shrapnel to bleed them to death (conventional HE) or burn them up with napalm or WP? Dead is dead.

White phosphorus has been used for decades by our military, right out there in the open. It is used in explosive shells and the effect is to rain down little pellets of the shit not much bigger than sleet. The difference is this stuff is a metal that spontaneously ignites in the presence of oxygen. Unfortunately for you if any lands on your sorry ass there is enough oxygen in your blood to sustain the reaction and so the shit keeps burning - right on trough if the fuel doesn't run out first.

[BrewerJohn]

20. I think I'd rather have a bullet though

I'm just picky that way.

Did you forget to include the sarcasm tag? If dead is dead, well, why not just torture people to death? Pull out all the stops. Who cares? Shit happens.

:wtf:

[oc2002]

23. over simplifications though do not focus on the issue of WP used in a city

By the military rules, WP should never be used directly on troops becuase once it gets on your skin it acts like a chemical reaction to get under the skin burning the fless to the bone.

Also, use of such a weapon on civilians is against the Geneva Conventions.

Lastly, its hypocracy for us to use a chemical to kill civilians and insurgents, and the critize Saddam for using them on the Kurds.

[OleDem]

19. Gee how can I break this to you?

Dead is dead..War is hell, etc, etc....

Maybe we could take their bullets too?
Whatcha think? That'll work, cept you need to be sure an get the other guys bullets too else ya got a problem. Go figure.

[ComerPerro]

22. I'm not following. Are you saying that it doesn't matter how we kill

as long as our enemies die?

[OleDem]

24. No

I'm saying that in war people die. Tis a fact.
Does how that happens change death? Nope.

[upi402]

18. Cannes award winner documentary, 'Panama Deception' -same

There were descriptions of horror weapons used that never made it onto TV news.

Gee Wally, ya think they're fuckin whores or sumthin?