- American jets killed Iraqi troops with firebombs - similar
to the controversial napalm used in the Vietnam War - in March and April
as Marines battled toward Baghdad. Marine Corps fighter pilots and
commanders who have returned from the war zone have confirmed dropping
dozens of incendiary bombs near bridges over the Saddam Canal and the Tigris
River. The explosions created massive fireballs. "We napalmed both
those (bridge) approaches," said Col. James Alles in a recent interview.
He commanded Marine Air Group 11, based at Miramar Marine
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- Corps Air Station, during the war. "Unfortunately,
there were people there because you could see them in the (cockpit) video.
... 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.
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- Musil described the Pentagon's distinction between napalm
and Mark 77 firebombs as "pretty outrageous." "That's clearly
Orwellian," he added.
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- http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20030805-9999_1n5bomb.html
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