NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS - The White Phosphorus Follies

The Israeli military recently announced they are phasing out the use of white phosphorus and doing so as soon as they can introduce an unspecified replacement. White phosphorus is a chemical which in powder form in bombs and shells is used to create smoke (to hide troops from enemy view) and light (to illuminate the battlefield) because it burns very hot and fast. For nearly a century armies have used white phosphorus like this, but never as a weapon. The Israelis are replacing it because they keep getting accused by Arab media (and pro-Arab media in the West) of waging chemical warfare on Palestinians because of the use of white phosphorus for smoke and illumination. Many Arab and leftists in the West keep calling for white phosphorus to be banned as a chemical weapon. The logic here is that anyone using white phosphorus is guilty of chemical warfare. 

 

Actually, the only ones to actually use white phosphorus as a weapon are the Taliban, who have been caught, at least 50 times, using white phosphorus in their bombs to increase the casualties. This is illegal, because when used deliberately to hurt people white phosphorus becomes chemical weapon, which is illegal according to international treaty (which the Taliban have not signed, but no matter.)

The Taliban 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 do this a lot to prevent civilians from telling police where the terrorists are and what they are up to. Since the Taliban are on a mission from God they do not consider this use of white phosphorus to be a war crime. Actually, because of their divine mission the Taliban do not consider anything they do a war crime. For many Moslems anything that Israel does is a war crime.