Pentagon document from '95 refers to WP as chemical weapon

[mokawanis]

The formerly classified document from the Pentagon states Hussein may have used WP, and refers to it as a chemical weapon.

Pentagon officials have insisted that phosphorus munitions are legal since they aren’t technically “chemical weapons.”

IRAQ HAS POSSIBLY EMPLOYED PHOSPHOROUS CHEMICAL WEAPONS AGAINST THE KURDISH POPULATION IN AREAS ALONG THE IRAQI-TURKISH-IRANIAN BORDERS. <…>

IN LATE FEBRUARY 1991, FOLLOWING THE COALITION FORCES’ OVERWHELMING VICTORY OVER IRAQ, KURDISH REBELS STEPPED UP THEIR STRUGGLE AGAINST IRAQI FORCES IN NORTHERN IRAQ. DURING THE BRUTAL CRACKDOWN THAT FOLLOWED THE KURDISH UPRISING, IRAQI FORCES LOYAL TO PRESIDENT SADDAM ((HUSSEIN)) MAY HAVE POSSIBLY USED WHITE PHOSPHOROUS (WP) CHEMICAL WEAPONS AGAINST KURDISH REBELS AND THE POPULACE IN ERBIL (GEOCOORD:3412N/04401E) (VICINITY OF IRANIAN BORDER) AND DOHUK (GEOCOORD:3652N/04301E) (VICINITY OF IRAQI BORDER) PROVINCES, IRAQ.

http://thinkprogress.org/2005/11/21/phosphorus-chemical/

[Rick Myers]

1. As much as I hate to fuel the fire (NO pun intended)

Under a loose definition, ALL weapons are chemical weapons. Every bullet requires a chemical reaction to function. Every bomb and artillery round employs a chemical reaction to explode.

I know it's hair-splitting, but WP is best described as an incendiary weapon, and, as such, is banned for use against civilians.

What it comes down to is, when 'they' use it, chemical weapon, when 'we' use it, not so much.

[enid602]

4. chemical

Depending on how it is administered, I imagine household bleach can be considered a chemical weapon. Wasn't Zyklon B a rat poison?

[acmejack]

6. It was a pesticide

Used a lot for delousing.

[peacetalksforall]

2. An aside to the technical talk - if the white phos. was in the country

when we entered, do you think we confiscated this weapon in addition to the gun type weapons that were identified by U.S. and U.N. investigators? If yes, could they be using what they found and collecting from the taxpayers as if purchased new? Why do I think like this? Is it because of their record? Is it because the GAO has already issued stunning criticisms of other type billing?

[tk2kewl]

3. the parade of lies

• we didn't use WP


• we only used WP for illumination


• we used WP on insurgents not civilians


• WP isn't a chemical weapon


• WP is a chemical weapon but not when we use it

[mokawanis]

5. That's pretty much the gist of it

They're talking out of both sides of their asses when they downplay the US using it, offering up all sorts of qualifiers, but have disregard for those specifics when the enemy uses the same weapon.

[stillcool]

7. I see the hypocracy....

but...when 'they' speak of Saddam gassing the kurds, aren't they referring to some other type of gas? Like..mustard, or nerve gas, or something?

[mokawanis]

8. the pentagon info from 95

actually specfied white phospherous, and said he MAY have used it. I know he used chemicals weapons on the Kurds, but don't recall exactly what kind.