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.