""They neither make nor supply them, so it was not a chemical weapon and it is hyped up propaganda to call it that.""


White Phosphorus, when exposed to air, is so reactive that it instantly rips the oxygen out of the air and undergoes an exothermal chemical reaction (for Keith's benefit, that is a chemical reaction which gives out heat! Lots of it!)

It continues to burn, as long as it has access to oxygen (not necessarily air - once it is burning it will rip oxygen from most liquids), or until it is totally combined and the reaction ceases.

I have seen a small piece of White Phosphorus burn completely through a human arm, and continue to burn into a table top beneath.

However the US military may conveniently choose to classify it, Injury caused by White Phosphorus is a chemical process, so it is disingenuous in the extreme to continue to deny that it is a chemical weapon.

Anybody in close proximity to an exploding WP shell, or grenade, will almost certainly suffer at best severe permanent disfigurement and internal damage, and at worst, a long drawn out and agonising death.

I'd like to understand why you would set yourself up as an apologist for any state which authorises its use against civilians, and pleae don't insult my intelligence by claiming that a house to house operation requres a smoke screen. Such a screen would be as much to the advantage of defenders, as to attackers.

Don T