So, the armed forces of the country that liberated Iraqis in part because Saddam Hussein used chemical weapons on them is now being investigated for using something akin to a chemical weapon. :(
But the white phosphorus used in Fallujah was used to attack the bad Iraqis, not burn the good ones, insists the U.S. military.
An excerpt from the BBC story:
The US has now admitted using white phosphorus as a weapon in Falluja last year, after earlier denying it.
The substance can cause burning of the flesh but is not illegal and is not classified as a chemical weapon. ...
The BBC's Caroline Hawley in Baghdad says it will be some time before the (Iraqi government) human rights team reports back.
Italian TV station Rai alleged last week that the US had used phosphorus against built-up areas, and that civilians were killed.
The report sparked fury among Italian anti-war protesters, who demonstrated outside the US embassy in Rome.
The US initially said white phosphorus had been used only to illuminate enemy positions, but now admits it was used as a weapon.
BBC defence correspondent Paul Wood says having to retract that denial is a public relations disaster for the US.
A Pentagon spokesman, Lt Col Barry Venable, confirmed to the BBC the US had used white phosphorus "as an incendiary weapon against enemy combatants" - though not against civilians, he said.
He said earlier denials had been based on "poor information".
