Al-Muhajabah's Islamic Blogs: firebombing Fallujah

firebombing Fallujah

Date: November 08, 2005 | 6 Shawwal 1426 Hijriah

Subjects: fallujah, chemicalweapons, warcrimes, iraq

There's a lot (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, for example) of attention on an Italian news documentary alleging that the U.S. used white phosphorus on the city of Fallujah during its assault there a year ago (November 2004). See reports here and here.

This is not new. As early as November 9, 2004, a report in the British Telegraph newspaper mentioned its use:

White phosphorus shells lit up the sky as armour drove through the breach and sent flaming material on to suspect insurgent haunts. Soldiers expressed the fear that with so much firepower the biggest danger was friendly fire.

Reports appeared in the Arab press by November 10 of chemical weapons and poison gas, and covered more extensively by independent journalist Dahr Jamail later that month. It also appeared in the alternative media.

But this isn't the first time the issue of incindiery or chemical weapons has come up. As early as August 2003, the U.S. admitted it had used napalm. Later it lied to the UK in claiming that it had not used new-generation napalm weapon MK-77. A good discussion of these issues is Fire Bombs in Iraq: Napalm By Any Other Name.

A curious twist is that Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena, whose convoy came under fire from U.S. troops in March 2005 after she had been released as a hostage, was apparently investigating the use of "unusual weapons" in Fallujah:

At the time of her abduction, Giuliana was heading to an area of Baghdad where witnesses from Fallujah are staying to interview Fallujah refugees about the US assault on their city last year. Says Sermonti: "She had some information about the use of illegal weapons by US forces in Fallujah that was very sensitive. A very hot topic. There were rumors of some use of chemicals and a number of weapons that are not legal -- like [napalm] and phosphorus."

Finally, Juan Cole has an excellent legal analysis and historical background.

Update: George Monbiot provides a good summary of the evidence - from official American government and military sources - that white phosphorus and napalm were indeed used. Dahr Jamail has a follow-up, and the Independent provides a good summary of the state of play (more here). The British have WP too but claim it's only used for creating smokescreens.

~ Posted by Al-Muhajabah, a member of the reality-based community, at 09:31 PM

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