US defends use of 'shake and bake' bombs
The United States has defended the use of white phosphorus munitions against insurgents in Iraq last year but denied civilians were targeted.
The toxic agent was used during what a US army journal called "shake and bake" missions against insurgents in the battle for Fallujah last year.
"It's part of our conventional weapons inventory. We use it like we use any other conventional weapon," said Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman.
Whitman said he
had no knowledge of any civilian victims of attacks with white phosphorus.
"We don't target any civilians with any of our weapons, and to suggest US forces were targeting civilians with these weapons would be wrong," he said.
"We don't target civilian populations. We go to great lengths to do everything possible to prevent civilian casualties, and collateral damage to property," he said.
Red Cross estimate of Iraqis Killed in Fallujah-1,200 'insurgents' and 800 civilians-You cannot 'target' whole neighborhoods and say you do not 'target' civilians. When 40% of the casualties are civilians, we need to aim a little better.
US defends use of 'shake and bake' bombs
The United States has defended the use of white phosphorus munitions against insurgents in Iraq last year but denied civilians were targeted.
The toxic agent was used during what a US army journal called "shake and bake" missions against insurgents in the battle for Fallujah last year.
"It's part of our conventional weapons inventory. We use it like we use any other conventional weapon," said Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman.
Whitman said he had no knowledge of any civilian victims of attacks with white phosphorus.
"We don't target any civilians with any of our weapons, and to suggest US forces were targeting civilians with these weapons would be wrong," he said.
"We don't target civilian populations. We go to great lengths to do everything possible to prevent civilian casualties, and collateral damage to property," he said.
Red Cross estimate of Iraqis Killed in Fallujah-1,200 'insurgents' and 800 civilians-You cannot 'target' whole neighborhoods and say you do not 'target' civilians. When 40% of the casualties are civilians, we need to aim a little better.
