Citations

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4440664.stm


http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article10907.htm


http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/doctrine/dod/fm8-9/3ch8.htm



http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-11-09-medals-fallujah_x.htm

White Phorphorus

White Phosphorus is a chemical weapon used by most major military units in the world such as the United States, Great Britain and Russia. It’s used in incendiary grenades designed to destroy equipment, buildings and as smoke screens to protect soldiers in combat. As most chemical weapons, these are designed to destroy any object that the chemical contacts. White phosphorus ignites in the atmosphere and burns until all oxygen is absorbed or it is extinguished with water or the anti agent, a copper sulfate solution. Often times, white phosphorus is used against enemy combatants who bury themselves in trenches or foxholes. Upon explosion, the smoke causes mild irritation of the eyes and nasal passages, making it difficult to see and breathe. It’s a well-engineered chemical in times of war that generates momentous gains for the military using it.

Recently, however, the use of white phosphorus by the United States has been under scrutiny by humanitarian organizations and the United Nations. The use of white phosphorus during the Battle of Fallujah caused controversy, as many died due to the adverse effects of this chemical. As white phosphorus explodes, it emits particles into the air, which ignite as they hit the atmosphere. When the chemical explodes during times of close combat with enemies, particles will lodge in skin, clothing and hair and continue to burn. The burn patterns are extremely large and erratic causing second to third degree burns. There is no doubt that the burns are severe and do cause death when not treated properly. However, this is simply a casualty of war. Imminently, people are going to die whether it’s caused by chemical weapons, bullet wounds or bombs. And unfortunately, I cannot and do not have sympathy for insurgents and terrorists who brutally slaughtered our own citizens. These combatants died because they waged war against defenseless Americans.

How can these organizations come after the United States for using a legal chemical weapon especially when we all witnessed in horror as insurgents in Fallujah immolated and slaughtered four American men employed to protect us?

In March of 2004, a convoy of Blackwater USA employees were on a mission to protect a humanitarian aid vehicle delivering food. The city was a hotspot for insurgents; however, it was pointed out as the fastest route for the mission. As they approached the city, the mercenaries were cut off by oncoming traffic and all routes were blocked. The next events were broadcast on live television. Insurgents shot the American mercenaries before the men had time to fire a single round. Their bodies were yanked from the SUVs, set on fire, and dragged through the city by towing ropes as insurgents as young as ten cheered and celebrated. Then, the charred and smoking corpses were hanged over the Euphrates River alongside the city as celebrations continued and the entire world watched in tears.

The United States Military was sent in to retrieve the corpses of their fallen brothers and to regain control of a city infested with insurgents and enemy combatants. Our military took control of a local radio station before entering the territory and warned the citizens to vacate the city or stay inside at all times. Ninety percent of the population flocked to nearby cities as the US military infiltrated the city in the cover of night and smoke screens.

The Battle of Fallujah continued brutally as the insurgents used guerilla and primitive tactics to engage combat. They ambushed our humvees and launched rockets into downed vehicles. Teams of thirty-five men were being ambushed by busloads of enemies and the enemies began to lure Marines into houses to their deaths. Incendiary grenades actually saved lives during these ambushes and allowed ample time for our military to regain control of the surroundings. However, surrounding hospitals began receiving burn victims in the morgues and in the operating rooms. The faces were sometimes unrecognizable and the flesh was absent on parts of the bodies. As bodies piled in, so did the United Nations inquiring about these burns. It was established that the burns were caused by white phosphorus.

The United States was then questioned on their tactics regarding use of white phosphorus and incendiary grenades. I believe such an inquiry was unnecessary considering that white phosphorus is a perfectly legal substance during battle. It’s not illegal under any international law or treaty. Unfortunately, it does burn people when used at close ranges and people will die from its effects. What about all our soldiers that have died by Napalm or being burned alive or slaughtered or beheaded? I haven’t seen the United Nations bring up an inquiry about the tactics of our opposition. It seems as though our soldiers and our military are trumped by terrorists and insurgents. Let’s think about our own military and how many we have lost before we begin to think about how a terrorist or enemy has died. And the entire reason we went into Fallujah was because of the brutality of the attack on our own.

The insurgents were warned to put down their arms. They had plenty of time to decide whether or not they were prepared to die or to live. And most chose death. It’s unfortunate that people are going to die, but should the US be exploited in order to appease pacifists around the world? I think not. If you’re going to play with fire, be prepared to get burned. These grenades protected our soldiers who were ambushed, shot dead or escaping from machine guns. The death of the insurgents should have been the least of anyone’s worries. They chose death and their death shouldn’t take any precedence over the death of our own men and women in battle.

A Defense for the Use of White Phosphorus During the Battle of Fallujah

****Disclaimer: This is just a draft and should not be judged for structure. It’s going to be fixed. To be solely judged for ideas. Thanks.

A four-man team of Blackwater mercenaries was sent into the city of Fallujah on March 31st, 2004 on a mission to protect a humanitarian aid vehicle delivering food. The city was a hotspot for insurgents; however, it was pointed out as the fastest route for the mission. As they approached the city, the mercenaries were cut off by oncoming traffic and all routes were blocked. The next events were broadcast on live television. The American mercenaries were shot to death before they had time to defend themselves. After, their bodies were torched and dragged by towing ropes through the city. Then, the insurgents hanged their bodies on a bridge over the Euphrates. The videos circulated to the families of the Blackwater Mercenaries.

The US military was sent in to not only retrieve the corpses, but to also regain control of the insurgent infested city. This city was surged by terrorists and one house was found to be the place where the journalist, Michael Burg, was beheaded. The goal was to reclaim Fallujah as a free territory and to allow the citizens to live without fear. The US military took control of a local radio station and warned the citizens of the upcoming attack. Citizens were allowed to leave and three hundred thousand, ninety percent of the citizens, flocked to cities outside of Fallujah. The military then began their attack on the insurgents of Fallujah.

During the combat, the military used white phosphorus as a smoke screen to protect the soldiers during their movements through the city. White phosphorus is used by most militaries in the world such as the United States, Great Britain, and Russia. Also, white phosphorus was used by the Israelis and Pakistanis in January of 2009 in the Gaza attacks. It’s used in most incendiary grenades and used as smoke screens to protect the soldiers and equipment during missions. However, the chemical does have adverse effects if it is exposed to the skin or eyes. It ignites when exposed to oxygen and burns until all the oxygen is used up. It’s a wax like substance that soaks easily into the skin and is hard to remove. Basically, it eats the flesh until it hits the bone.

As the battles of Fallujah continued, the surrounding hospitals were getting unidentifiable, burned corpses into the morgue. The corpses were burned to the bone and their faces were unrecognizable. As more of these bodies piled in, the United Nations looked into the deaths. They were caused by white phosphorus. So the United States was investigated for the use of this chemical. However, the use of this chemical is not banned or a violation of any international treaty. White phosphorus is used as a non-combatant chemical, but it does have adverse effects. It’s a known fact that people are going to die during war whether it’s by bullet wounds or by chemicals. People are going to die. White phosphorus has been established as a legal weapon during battles. When the military is in a city to regain its control and bring home the dead, exploited bodies of their comrades, it’s not appropriate to question their motives.

The military did not use excessive force to defend themselves as plenty of our own died at the hands of these radicals. White phosphorus is a legal chemical during war that does not violate any treaties or international law. The battle was actually exploited to prove a pacifist theory that chemical warfare is wrong. What about all our soldiers that have died by Napalm or being burned alive or slaughtered or beheaded? Let’s save our own military before we think about the deaths of terrorists who tortured. This is war and death is going to happen. These terrorists deserved death and that was our mission. It’s like saying that a rapist shouldn’t go to trial because he might end up being sentenced to death.

It’s a perfectly legal weapon in times of war, and no treaty is going to be signed against it. For all militaries in the world use some form of white phosphorus as a weapon. It’s an accepted use of a weapon. If you’re going to light a stove, be prepared to get burned.

Debbie Schlussel's Blog

Debbie Schlussel’s blog provides a reaction to the failure of the mainstream media as she reports the truths and the frauds involved in the case of Tasha Flowers. Ms. Schlussel regards the mainstream media as dishonest and corrupt. It shows that people should not be deceived by the media’s political agenda and look through the lies and selective reporting to find the truth as news-seekers. She cautions to be critical of news sources.

The case of Ms. Flowers is interesting in itself. It shows the dishonesty in people and proves that the children of this generation are going to suffer. Tasha Flowers imprudently occupied a foreclosed home without paying rent or a mortgage. She created a scandal claiming to be a victim of police brutality when they displayed utmost professionalism in countering foreclosure scams and drug running. Although Ms. Flowers is correct in claiming that he children are victims. They are victims of a habitual, sociopathic liar who only shows them a life of dishonesty and crime. Flowers’ use of the court systems and the Detroit police as a pawn in her game of money, drugs and fraudulent lifestyle.