White phosphorus (known colloquially as 'Whisky Peter' to US troops) is a chemical which burns producing a thick white smoke. Traditionally white phosphorus is used to lay down smoke screens to hidetroop movements and to mark targets for aerialattack. In 2005 it was revealed that the US army also use white phosphoris rounds as anti-personnel incendary rounds. White phosphorus upon contact with flesh sticks firmly to it and quickly burns the flesh through to the bone, and when inhaled burns the throat and lungs from the inside out making it a very effective terror weapon, even more so than napalm. The use of chemical weapons was banned by international law during the 20th century, but the American government continue to use white phosphorus as a chemical weapon, notably during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the subsequent siege of Fallujah. Research White Phosphorus
Abbreviations
Warfare
Research White Phosphorus