tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17909993.post6111686660594821352..comments2023-10-09T05:28:35.705-07:00Comments on Creekside: UN headquarters hit by white phosphorus shellsAlisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811694143714068436noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17909993.post-89088366527746037892009-01-17T15:09:00.000-08:002009-01-17T15:09:00.000-08:00Technical note to cover up a misunderstanding that...Technical note to cover up a misunderstanding that actually diminishes the horror of this story.<BR/><BR/>White phosphorous does not burn at a very high temperature. In fact, it burns at a very low temperature, for a burning thing (more than enough to destroy human flesh, though). That's one of the problems with its use. If you are hit with a substantial amount of something that burns hotter, say, napalm, you have a good chance of getting lucky and dying almost immediately of shock. No such luck if you get hit by white phosphorous. <BR/><BR/>The second and grimmer fact is that white phosphorous is pyrophoric; that is, it ignites itself in air in normal temperatures. This means that you can't put it out. It is going to burn until it is all burnt, unless you can reduce the temperature below its ignition point and scrape it off whatever it has hit. Since its ignition point is rather close to body heat, you can see the problem. This is also why the story mentions needing sand to put it "out" -- what they are actually doing with the sand is denying air to the phosphorous, so that it can be removed later.<BR/><BR/>So, it burns at a low temperature, and it <I>never goes out</I>. I think you can imagine what it does to human targets. <BR/><BR/>My Grade 6 teacher saw a shipmate hit by white phosphorous at sea during World War II. With great presence of mind, the victim immediately committed suicide by jumping off the ship into the freezing waters of the North Sea, to die with the minimum of pain.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17909993.post-78523611278462268892009-01-16T18:51:00.000-08:002009-01-16T18:51:00.000-08:00A kabbore.!A kabbore.!Oemissionshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15052778663890940687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17909993.post-83538007109460842712009-01-16T14:01:00.000-08:002009-01-16T14:01:00.000-08:00Did any body notice that this happened after the U...Did any body notice that this happened after the UN resolution (or whatever its called)against Israel. Did the strike in Lebanon that killed the Canadian happen after some kind of UN statement? Just wondering if they are sending a message? Bomb them, we can always apologize later!NBDUDEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18429444745994085815noreply@blogger.com