On the other hand, using a weapon that will predictably -- if unfairly -- generate negative media coverage, hurt our image even more, etc, may not be the wisest choice, even if fully allowable within international law and our own ROE. Nor is WP considered a weapon of choice in our urban warfare doctrine, but again, not prohibited either.
Use of WP is a commander's judgement call based on perceived ability to help in the tactical situation vs the broader consequences. Different commanders make different calls about what's the smartest course of action. You'd probably find that some brigades as a deliberate choice never unloaded their WP shells from the containers, while others were quite willing to use it. Whether this incident will cause a higher level policy on the use of WP to be made, I have no clue.
(*) To be clear since I'm a DoD employee, these are my personal opinions and should not be taken to represent official US policy.
Current Events » in reply to dtp caught this a week ago.
re: dtp caught this a week ago.
The whole thread (25 posts)
- Pentagon Acknowledged White Phosphorous Used in Iraq
- dtp caught this a week ago.
- unspeakable
- But it's such an effective weapon.
- re: unspeakable
- The Bush administration...
- Until the Italians - "The US earlier denied it had been used in Falluja at all."
- Fine with me...
- And Another Deabcle: Iraq detainees found starving