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View Full Version : U.S. Admits Using Napalm in Iraq


Nbadan
11-30-2004, 11:29 AM
By Andrew Buncombe in Washington


American pilots dropped the controversial incendiary agent napalm on Iraqi troops during the advance on Baghdad. The attacks caused massive fireballs that obliterated several Iraqi positions.

The Pentagon denied using napalm at the time, but Marine pilots and their commanders have confirmed that they used an upgraded version of the weapon against dug-in positions. They said napalm, which has a distinctive smell, was used because of its psychological effect on an enemy.

A 1980 UN convention banned the use against civilian targets of napalm, a terrifying mixture of jet fuel and polystyrene that sticks to skin as it burns. The US, which did not sign the treaty, is one of the few countries that makes use of the weapon. It was employed notoriously against both civilian and military targets in the Vietnam war.

Independent (http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp)

Napalm? Are you kidding me? With all the destructive weapons at their disposal they use napalm.
gophergeorge
11-30-2004, 11:36 AM
Of course Napalm! It sticks to little kids....
smackdaddy11
11-30-2004, 12:01 PM
A 1980 UN convention banned the use against civilian targets of napalm,

I guess it bothers you since the dug in Iraqi military also falls under your definition of civilians.
Nbadan
11-30-2004, 12:05 PM
Of course Napalm! It sticks to little kids....

You, Machiavellian anarchists.

:lol
Nbadan
11-30-2004, 12:09 PM
I guess it bothers you since the dug in Iraqi military also falls under your definition of civilians.

What I wanna know is where the definition between 'dug-in Iraqi military' and civilian targets is drawn, and who gets to make those types of strategic decisions? Napalms sordid history in Vietnam should preclude it from even being a consideration for use in Iraq.
MannyIsGod
11-30-2004, 01:49 PM
As long as they bomb in places that hold no risk to civilian targets, I'm ok with it.
Useruser666
11-30-2004, 01:54 PM
Mmmmmm Napalm! I think I'm going to whip up a batch when I get home. :lol
Aggie Hoopsfan
11-30-2004, 02:13 PM
What I wanna know is where the definition between 'dug-in Iraqi military' and civilian targets is drawn, and who gets to make those types of strategic decisions?

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess that if someone's shooting at you, they are probably not considered a "civilian."

That probably makes too much sense for dumbasses like Dan though.
MannyIsGod
11-30-2004, 02:14 PM
It really doesn't make much military sense to use these though. Just use a damn cluster bomb.
Sec24Row7
11-30-2004, 02:33 PM
Dunno... Bullets have a pretty sordid history in wars too, lets not use them either...


WTF?
DrRich
11-30-2004, 02:46 PM
Nothin' like the smell of napalm in the morning...
Aggie Hoopsfan
11-30-2004, 02:49 PM
Manny, I'd venture this is somehow related to our fuel air explosive device. Altogether different from napalm, but it reigns down fire and death, so I guess it's bad to use in war.

If we just used tazers and bean bag guns, maybe everyone could be happy with what we're doing over there.
Nbadan
11-30-2004, 04:14 PM
If we just used tazers and bean bag guns, maybe everyone could be happy with what we're doing over there.

Just read a report that said that 70 people have died in 3 years from Police tazers, so they're out too.

:lol

Is there any weapon this administration won't use is the real question? and do we really want to put a strategic nuclear bunker-buster in their arsenal? What's next? hot oil? catapults?
Aggie Hoopsfan
11-30-2004, 04:18 PM
Yeah, what the fuck is wrong with our military? Fighting bullets with bullets, bombs with bombs. Good call Dan.

Dumbass.
sbsquared
11-30-2004, 04:18 PM
Whatever it takes to rid the world of those sorry suckers!
JoeChalupa
11-30-2004, 04:19 PM
Nothin' like the smell of napalm in the morning...

I knew this obligatory post would come. :)
Useruser666
11-30-2004, 04:20 PM
That was a good movie.
Duff McCartney
11-30-2004, 04:36 PM
Mmmmmm Napalm! I think I'm going to whip up a batch when I get home. :lol

With what? Equal parts gasoline and frozen orange juice concentrate?
Useruser666
11-30-2004, 05:14 PM
With what? Equal parts gasoline and frozen orange juice concentrate?

Isn't that a "Flamin Moe"?
Duff McCartney
11-30-2004, 05:18 PM
Nah...it's napalm from Fight Club. But it's not really napalm. I read on the trivia that it's not really a real way to make a bomb, just like with soap. They didn't want people actually making real bombs.
Useruser666
11-30-2004, 05:19 PM
Nah...it's napalm from Fight Club. But it's not really napalm. I read on the trivia that it's not really a real way to make a bomb, just like with soap. They didn't want people actually making real bombs.

Without getting technical, gasoline does not really make a (good) Napalm either.
Duff McCartney
11-30-2004, 05:23 PM
Probably the reason why they put it in the movie.
CosmicCowboy
12-01-2004, 11:01 AM
Without getting technical, gasoline does not really make a (good) Napalm either.

actually, gasoline can make a very nasty napalm when used as the solvent with some other commonly available ingredients...
Duff McCartney
12-01-2004, 04:03 PM
actually, gasoline can make a very nasty napalm when used as the solvent with some other commonly available ingredients...

*breaks out notepad*
Useruser666
12-01-2004, 04:11 PM
actually, gasoline can make a very nasty napalm when used as the solvent with some other commonly available ingredients...

Napalm is not gasoline based. Let's just say it is a petroleum product and can contain a few other chemicals depending on it's uses. "Poor mans" napalm is not the same as the military stuff and therefore not true napalm. Don't ask me how I know this!

None of this matters much considering that "napalm" that is being used in Iraq is not what most of us imagine it to be.