drawing a distinction between the terms firebomb and napalm

From: "Blackout" <blackout@sususaywhatsubgenius.com>
Date: Tue, Aug 5, 2003

Report: Marines dropped devices similar to Napalm on Iraqi troops
The Associated Press
Last Updated 11:18 a.m. PDT Tuesday, August 5, 2003
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Marine Corps fighter pilots and commanders say they dropped
firebombs similar to napalm on Iraqi troops earlier this year, according to
a report published Tuesday.
The Marines say that in March, U.S. warplanes dropped dozens of incendiary
bombs near bridges over the Saddam Canal and the Tigris River in central
Iraq to clear the way for troops headed to Baghdad.

"We napalmed both those (bridge) approaches," said Col. James Alles,
commander of Marine Air Group 11, told the San Diego Union-Tribune.
"Unfortunately, there were people there because you could see them in the
(cockpit) video.
"They were Iraqi soldiers there. It's no great way to die," Alles added.

He could not provide estimates of Iraqi casualties.

"The generals love napalm," said Alles. "It has a big psychological effect."

The firebombs were used again in April against Iraqis near a key Tigris
River bridge, north of Numaniyah, the Marines said. There were reports of
another attack on the first day of the war.

During the war, Pentagon spokesmen denied that napalm was being used, saying
the Pentagon's stockpile had been destroyed two years ago. Napalm, a thick,
burning combination of polystyrene, gasoline and benzene, was used against
people and villages in Vietnam. Its use drew widespread criticism.

The newspaper said the spokesmen were apparently drawing a distinction
between the terms firebomb and napalm.

The Marines dropped "Mark 77 firebombs," which use kerosene-based jet fuel
and a smaller concentration of benzene. Marine spokesman Col. Michael Daily
acknowledged the incendiary devices were "remarkably similar" to napalm
weapons, but said they had less of an impact on the environment.

"You can call it something other than napalm, but it's napalm," said John
Pike, defense analyst with GlobalSecurity.org, a nonpartisan research group
in Alexandria, Va.

Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Jim Amos confirmed aircraft dropped what he and other
Marines continue to call napalm on Iraqi troops on several occasions. He
commanded Marine jet and helicopter units involved in the Iraq war and leads
the Miramar-based 3rd Marine Air Wing.

Although many human rights groups consider incendiary bombs to be inhumane,
international law does not prohibit their use against military forces. The
United States has not agreed to a ban against possible civilian targets.

"Incendiaries create burns that are difficult to treat," said Robert Musil,
executive director of Physicians for Social Responsibility, a Washington
group that opposes the use of weapons of mass destruction.

Musil described the Pentagon's distinction between napalm and Mark 77
firebombs as "pretty outrageous."

Before March, the last time U.S. forces had used napalm in combat was the
Persian Gulf War, again by Marines.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "nu-monet v6.0" <nothing@succeeds.com>

Blackout wrote:
> Report: Marines dropped devices similar
> to Napalm on Iraqi troops

Well, tactically it makes a lot of sense, as
fire is less destructive to a bridge than HE,
plus it clears snipers, booby traps, and other
light infantry enough away from the bridge so
that you can zip across. It might even be used
to cook off any explosive charges hidden in the
bridge.

As somebody who has worked a lot with FFE, I
can assure you that HE is a lot more lethal,
if that is the effect you are shooting for.
Otherwise, it's just one of the "bummer"
munitions, like WP, that is "dual purpose",
not pretty to look at, but does its job well.

--
"Getting shot at was not that bad,
just the getting shot part sucked"
-- U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Villafane

----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Blackout" <blackout@sususaywhatsubgenius.com>

plus, it's just plain FUNNER to BURN THEM.

http://www.b0g.org/wsnm/uploads/thing03.jpg

http://www.officerjason.com

see? they're STILL SMILING.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Artemia Salina <y2k@sheayright.com>

Blackout wrote:
> http://www.officerjason.com

Uh, is that guy holding an olympic TORCH in that
upper photo?! Oh the irony!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Kegwasher <kegwasher@t-online.de>

Blackout wrote:
> Before March, the last time U.S. forces had used napalm in combat was the
> Persian Gulf War, again by Marines.

remember,

Napalm, it sticks to kids!

or so the song went.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "nu-monet v6.0" <nothing@succeeds.com>

I am stuck on Napalm,
'Cause Napalm's stuck on me.
I am stuck on Napalm,
As you can plainly see.

'Cause it sticks on little children,
And it sticks on APC's,
I am stuck on Napalm,
'Cause Napalm's, stuck on me!

--
"YOU BELONG TO US NOW!"
"GET DOWN WITH MY SICKNESS!!"

--Kino Beman, brand name

----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Rev. ErRoR" <error@priest.com>

It's like the Difference between poo and shit

Blackout <blackout@sususaywhatsubgenius.com> wrote:
> Report: Marines dropped devices similar to Napalm on Iraqi troops
> The Associated Press
> Last Updated 11:18 a.m. PDT Tuesday, August 5, 2003
> SAN DIEGO (AP) - Marine Corps fighter pilots and commanders say they dropped
> firebombs similar to napalm on Iraqi troops earlier this year, according to
> a report published Tuesday.
> The Marines say that in March, U.S. warplanes dropped dozens of incendiary
> bombs near bridges over the Saddam Canal and the Tigris River in central
> Iraq to clear the way for troops headed to Baghdad.
>
> "We napalmed both those (bridge) approaches," said Col. James Alles,
> commander of Marine Air Group 11, told the San Diego Union-Tribune.
> "Unfortunately, there were people there because you could see them in the
> (cockpit) video.
> "They were Iraqi soldiers there. It's no great way to die," Alles added.
>
> He could not provide estimates of Iraqi casualties.
>
> "The generals love napalm," said Alles. "It has a big psychological effect."
>
> The firebombs were used again in April against Iraqis near a key Tigris
> River bridge, north of Numaniyah, the Marines said. There were reports of
> another attack on the first day of the war.
>
> During the war, Pentagon spokesmen denied that napalm was being used, saying
> the Pentagon's stockpile had been destroyed two years ago. Napalm, a thick,
> burning combination of polystyrene, gasoline and benzene, was used against
> people and villages in Vietnam. Its use drew widespread criticism.
>
> The newspaper said the spokesmen were apparently drawing a distinction
> between the terms firebomb and napalm.
>
> The Marines dropped "Mark 77 firebombs," which use kerosene-based jet fuel
> and a smaller concentration of benzene. Marine spokesman Col. Michael Daily
> acknowledged the incendiary devices were "remarkably similar" to napalm
> weapons, but said they had less of an impact on the environment.
>
> "You can call it something other than napalm, but it's napalm," said John
> Pike, defense analyst with GlobalSecurity.org, a nonpartisan research group
> in Alexandria, Va.
>
> Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Jim Amos confirmed aircraft dropped what he and other
> Marines continue to call napalm on Iraqi troops on several occasions. He
> commanded Marine jet and helicopter units involved in the Iraq war and leads
> the Miramar-based 3rd Marine Air Wing.
>
> Although many human rights groups consider incendiary bombs to be inhumane,
> international law does not prohibit their use against military forces. The
> United States has not agreed to a ban against possible civilian targets.
>
> "Incendiaries create burns that are difficult to treat," said Robert Musil,
> executive director of Physicians for Social Responsibility, a Washington
> group that opposes the use of weapons of mass destruction.
>
> Musil described the Pentagon's distinction between napalm and Mark 77
> firebombs as "pretty outrageous."
>
> Before March, the last time U.S. forces had used napalm in combat was the
> Persian Gulf War, again by Marines.

--
Rev. ErRoR
Parish of Smite-on-the-Heath

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Original file name: drawing a distinctio#1AD16B.txt - converted on Saturday, 25 September 2004, 02:05