Just a very quick note: in reference to my earlier post about the US military's claim that the Taliban are using WP munitions are being used in Afghanistan, David M at Argghhh! has this informative post that includes official press release from CENTCOM on same issue.
Today, CJTF-101 has declassified a report of 38 events in which insurgents have used or stockpiled white phosphorus munitions in the Regional Command-East area of operations.
The declassification and release are in response to claims that insurgents do not use, nor have access to, white phosphorus.
The data, obtained from incident reporting from February 2003 through the present, show that insurgents have stockpiled and used white phosphorus against personnel in both indirect fire attacks as well as Improvised Explosive Devices.
ISAF and Coalition forces use white phosphorus in compliance with rules of engagement and international law.
The declassification and release are in response to claims that insurgents do not use, nor have access to, white phosphorus.
The data, obtained from incident reporting from February 2003 through the present, show that insurgents have stockpiled and used white phosphorus against personnel in both indirect fire attacks as well as Improvised Explosive Devices.
ISAF and Coalition forces use white phosphorus in compliance with rules of engagement and international law.
Read it. That is all.
UPDATE: And of course now I find out that the Army is allegedly using WP in the rural mountains of Afghanistan...
The soldiers detected a Taliban spotter on a ridge, which was pounded with mortars and then white phosphorus rounds from a 155-millimeter howitzer.
What did the insurgents do? When the smoldering subsided, they attacked from exactly the same spot, shelling the outpost with 30-millimeter grenades and putting the soldiers on notice that the last display of firepower had little effect. The Americans escalated. An A-10 aircraft made several gun runs, then dropped a 500-pound bomb.
The valley quieted. Had the insurgents been killed? Probably not, the soldiers said.
What did the insurgents do? When the smoldering subsided, they attacked from exactly the same spot, shelling the outpost with 30-millimeter grenades and putting the soldiers on notice that the last display of firepower had little effect. The Americans escalated. An A-10 aircraft made several gun runs, then dropped a 500-pound bomb.
The valley quieted. Had the insurgents been killed? Probably not, the soldiers said.
Seriously guys? You want to drop WP on a few insurgents to scare them off? Have you really learned nothing? Stop trying to turn Afghanistan into a replica of the moon surface (too late?) and do some COIN. Cryin' out loud...
What, no slash and burn verbal tactics over here? Man, it must be nice. Maybe I'll hang over here more again, only to get run out by your regulars.
Sigh. Where's a moderate to hang his blog hat?
Posted by: ry | 20 May 2009 at 09:57 PM
My regulars are very well-behaved here, sir. Not like those ruffians over at Argghhh!
Posted by: J. | 21 May 2009 at 05:54 AM