| Submit your comments on this article |
| Afghanistan |
| Taliban Weaponize White Phosphorus |
| 2009-05-24 |
| In Afghanistan, the Taliban have been caught, at least 38 times, using white phosphorus (for 80 years used in combat for generating smoke, light and fires) as a weapon. This is illegal, because as a weapon, white phosphorus becomes chemical weapon, which is illegal according to international treaty (which the Taliban have not signed, but no matter.) White phosphorus creates smoke (to hide troops from enemy view) and light (to illuminate the battlefield) because it burns very hot and fast. The Taliban have obtained 82mm mortar shells and 107mm rockets containing white phosphorus warheads. Both these weapons are of Russian design and are manufactured in places like Russia, China, Pakistan and Iran. The Taliban thus have easy access to these white phosphorus munitions via gunrunners and corrupt soldiers. The white phosphorus warheads are sometimes used as part of roadside bombs, but are more often fired at military or civilian targets. Since white phosphorus causes nasty burns, it is useful in terrorizing civilians. The Taliban has to do this a lot to prevent civilians from telling police where the terrorists are and what they are up to. Human rights orgs outcry in 3,2,1,0,-1,-2. Say, is anyone home? AoS note: your comments are in yellow hilite, not italic. |
| Posted by:ed |
| #2 Since there is no way they can effectively deploy WP against NATO forces more than once, and those who do *will* be killed, like other chemical weapons, its best use will be against civilians. But in that capacity, it is an effective weapon for them. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2009-05-24 20:40 |
| #1 Big deal. The US weaponized Willie Pete during Viet Nam, and we use it regularly against soft civilian targets all the time. Or at least HRW, AI, and the other usual suspects say we do. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2009-05-24 15:23 |