White Phosphorus

[vulgarian]

Please can someone clean up a wikipedia artice relating to the use of white phosphorus.

 

the article that needs attention is here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallujah%2C_The_Hidden_Massacre

 

Basically the documentary includes many images of casualties of the attack on Fallujah, attempting to make a case for crimes against humanity.

US originally claimed that WP was only used for smoke screening, later conceding that it was fired into strong holds to 'shake and bake' insurgents. However the documentary claims that WP was used in an indiscriminate manner, being fired from helicopters onto regions of the city, thus constituting crimes against humanity.

 

The film claims that many of the casualties, having horrifically burned flesh but intact clothing, is proof that WP was used indiscriminately. Critics say this is untrue and that the corpses are in an advanced state of decay.

 

One would assume that burning WP would of course burn clothing, but what about the resulting phosphorus pentoxide and phosphoric acid produced by the reaction?

 

Besides being poorly written i feel the following paragraph in the criticisms section could be infactual:

 

 

Critics also point to specific statements in the film which they say are patently untrue[citation needed]. For example, the film alleges that white phosphorus can be used to burn away human beings without damaging nearby equipment or even the target's clothing. Which is an wrong alligation, in the film it is said:"It doesn't nessecarly burn clothes", which is a fact. The explanation is accompanied by pictures of charred-looking corpses in intact clothing. Skeptics point out that white phosphorus will, in fact, burn anything it touches, and that the pictures are most likely just photos of bodies in advanced stages of decay[citation needed].

 

The disscussion for the article contains this statement:

> Munitions containing white phosphorous burn on contact with oxygen, water and organic material > and will incinerate a human being without damaging clothing, buildings or equipment.

 

This is of course utter bullshit. WP is stored under water and cannot burn without oxygen. Most organic materials do not provide oxygen (except some rare exceptions, like peroxides). WP is pretty toxic, so people might also die through that route, but the usual 'damage mechanism' is the intense heat from fire. Many of the dead bodies in that movie show signs of advanced decomposition, which is to be expected after under such climatic conditions, NOT direct effects of WP. I am very much anti-war too and think that using WP is inhumane and a war crime. But that cannot justify the semi-truths and omissions presented in that news report.

 

If anyone here can sort this out or provide accurate scientific information it'd be good!

[fishman381]

I dont know man about all this war stuff but dont let it get to ya. Just think about things that are alive and doing well