Near the beginning of this war,why did the U.S. military use white phosphorous on civilians in Iraq?

Question

This occurred in the city of Falujjah and was used for some type of crowd control or to smoke people out of their homes.It was sprayed down upon the civilians/insurgents from afar,the compound burning through clothes,skin and to the bone...Was the truly needed???...Tom Science 4

Answer 1

Interesting. I served in a Brigade HQ during the battle of Falluja and did not see any reports of this.

WP was used to drive the enemy from entrenchments and to create smoke screens for the initial breach. It was _not_ used on civilians.

I suggest that in the future you get your facts straight before you make irresponsible accusations.

Answer 2

The white phosphorus is used to light things up and to make for easier identification of targets at night.

While not used intentionally to burn civilians, they weren't all that concerned about it happening "collaterally," either.

Answer 3

Do you even know what white phosphorous is? It burns so brightly, its almost blinding. Lets think, big scary army that can spray the SCARIEST FIRE YOU'VE EVER SEEN! Works great for crowd control.

Answer 4

The military claims it was only used to lay down a smokescreen to obscure operations, but loads of civilians were horribly burnt.

Answer 5

It is easier to kill the enemy when they are running around flapping their arms and screaming in pain instead of hiding behind a building shooting at you.

Answer 6

man look one of those Urban legends made up by someone who wasn't there.

Answer 7

Cos,,,,,, Everything is fair in Love and War ,

Answer 8

don't knock til you've tried it!