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Afghanistan: 'Vet' Claims Canada Using White Phosphorus as Weapon
by C. L. Cook
In a letter to the editor of the Toronto Star newspaper, Corporal Paul Demetrick, a man claiming to be a Canadian veteran in the reserves, charged Canadian Forces with using White Phosphorus munitions as a weapon against "enemy-occupied" vineyards in Afghanistan.Whiskey Pete, as it's colloquially known in the U.S. military, has such a gruesome impact on human physiology, (some of those horrors famously recorded during and after the second Battle of Falluja in 2005) its use is "restricted" to "illumination" and providing "smokescreen" cover for troops.
In Falluja, the U.S. military finally admitted it had deployed White Phoshorus into the city with predictable effect to the population there.
The American military initially denied W.P. had been used, but following the release of graphic images captured by an Italian documentary crew, among others, the U.S. admitted bombing the city with burn agent.
American freelancer, Dahr Jamail produced some of the bravest English language reportage from Iraq, and was too in Falluja during the terrible siege. Pictures that made it past the American cordon revealed sacks of clothing laying in the streets, melted remnant bodies, oozing liquid and fat.
Doctors who had served during the long war with Iran said they recognized the casualties coming in, and those in the streets as having suffered the chemical burns consistent with a phosphorus attack. It was another of the litany of disgrace America wears now as a mantle.Canada is not generally thought of as a rogue state, practicing war crimes around the world, but if Corporal Demetrick is correct, and Canada has, and/or still is using White Phosphorus as a weapon, it too crosses the threshold leading to the new century's Nuremberg.
The corporal writes:
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Soldier: 'The war in Afghanistan is a lie'
Letter to the editor, The Toronto Star
Letter to the editor, The Toronto Star
I love my country just like anybody else. But when I hear of things our troops have done in Afghanistan, I have to ask, "What kind of legacy do we wish to leave behind?"
Some examples: we respond to hostile fire by indiscriminate bombing and shelling of villages, killing innocent men, women and children; we fire white phosphorus shells (a chemical weapon outlawed by the Geneva Conventions due to the horrific way it burns human beings) into vineyards where it was known Afghan insurgents were deployed; we hand over prisoners of war to Afghan authorities, who torture them; and we shoot and kill a 2-year-old Afghan boy and his 4-year-old sister. Do we want to be remembered for hating, killing and destroying, or caring, healing and helping with reconstruction?
The war in Afghanistan is a lie. How can we inspire the Afghan people to respect liberty, democracy, equality for women, education for children, human rights and respect for life when we are maiming and murdering them and destroying their homes, communities, the economy and their country? If mothers and fathers keep on sending our youth to Afghanistan, then our sons and daughters will keep on fighting and dying and will keep on killing and injuring the sons and daughters of the Afghan people. And mothers and fathers of Canada and Afghanistan will keep on crying.
Soldiers are trained to operate military equipment and vehicles. A weapon is put in one hand and ammunition in the other, and we are taught the fine art of killing our fellow human beings. If we wish to end this cycle of death, injury, destruction, hate, sorry and despair, then we must stop war. So, when in future, our maimed soldiers walk down the street and our children ask, "Why?" we will say "Afghanistan" and mean a place where Canada turned against war and for peace, and not an obscene memory.
My fellow citizens, help me and soldiers like me end the war. Let's hear your voices. Let's do something we can all be proud of. If we achieve peace in Afghanistan, then the deaths of 97 of my "comrades in arms" and of unreported thousands of innocent Afghans will not have been in vain.
Support the troops. Support peace. Bring our troops home now.
Corporal Paul Demetrick, Canadian Army (Reserve), Penticton, B.C.
Comments (4)
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written by cc, October 11, 2008
I share your concern for what has become of my Canada. There was a time when the military in this nation did not practice the American approach to warfare. The peacekeepers were not perfect (remember Somalia?) but they were at least directed by some of the standards you still believe to be in place; but that is not the case today. "Canada's" forces are under U.S. command, and they have adopted U.S. 'Rules of Engagement,' the same developed by murderous Israel in Occupied Palestine.
Every point you make in your piece was previously trotted out by the U.S. military, and each and every one of them later proved to be lies. The same will happen with the bogus claims maintained by Canadian Forces spinmeisters.
You mention research should be done, but I see no footnotes, or citations within your comment, though it is heavily laden with "fact-like" assertions. The real fact is: Canada has been dragged into a perpetual war, one that has already cost uncounted thousands of Afghani lives, and the near one hundred the CF admits to, and you cite. Tell me CC, how could some of you concern for your country been alleviated with the 18 odd billion the Harper government admits to having been spent so far (another bogus lie that will soon prove out to be less than half the actual monies spent - and still not including the years of physical and psychological rehab. returning soldiers will require)?
Out Now!
Every point you make in your piece was previously trotted out by the U.S. military, and each and every one of them later proved to be lies. The same will happen with the bogus claims maintained by Canadian Forces spinmeisters.
You mention research should be done, but I see no footnotes, or citations within your comment, though it is heavily laden with "fact-like" assertions. The real fact is: Canada has been dragged into a perpetual war, one that has already cost uncounted thousands of Afghani lives, and the near one hundred the CF admits to, and you cite. Tell me CC, how could some of you concern for your country been alleviated with the 18 odd billion the Harper government admits to having been spent so far (another bogus lie that will soon prove out to be less than half the actual monies spent - and still not including the years of physical and psychological rehab. returning soldiers will require)?
Out Now!
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written by Concerned Civilian #2, October 11, 2008
For all you know "cc", Concerned Civilian is either a regular force member, or a reserve force member. Which could mean they have serve in Afghanistan. Which would mean again, that he has unimaginably more information and first hand experience than you do on the topic. Your ignorance is evident when you don't know the proper title of Afghanistan's citizenry...They are Afghans, not Afghanis...that is their currency.
Keep up the good work, and I wish the media would report the successes over there more often, and not just the errors/blunders.
Keep up the good work, and I wish the media would report the successes over there more often, and not just the errors/blunders.
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written by ape, October 11, 2008
If that's the case, then CC#1 would be a liar. If you read carefully the very first sentence of his/her comment you'll agree.
As for currency, you attribute a great deal to the anonymous commentator...An Afghan is also a sweater...If you do as CC#1 suggests, research, you'll find both Afghan and Afghani are acceptable reference to the peoples of current day Afghanistan. Although it would do you, and Canada's military leadership, well to recall "Afghanistan" is an entirely artificial creation of another foreign occupation...they didn't fare well either...
To future commentators: Why not man up and use your real name?
Mine is Chris Cook, and I publish this site.
As for currency, you attribute a great deal to the anonymous commentator...An Afghan is also a sweater...If you do as CC#1 suggests, research, you'll find both Afghan and Afghani are acceptable reference to the peoples of current day Afghanistan. Although it would do you, and Canada's military leadership, well to recall "Afghanistan" is an entirely artificial creation of another foreign occupation...they didn't fare well either...
To future commentators: Why not man up and use your real name?
Mine is Chris Cook, and I publish this site.
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I think that before publishing an article in the media, some research should be done. The original article, by Cpl. Paul Demetrick, contains many untruths.
Canada DOES NOT indiscriminately bomb and/or shell. Artillery personnel have refused to fire on a target because of the slim chance that there may be civilians in the way.
In regards to White Phosphorus - this weapon is used by Canadian Forces to clear brush. It is NOT used as an offensive weapon. Also, White Phosphorus is NOT outlawed!
Prisoners of War - If Canadians capture prisoners, it is true that they are handed over to afghan authorities. For a time this was stopped, because of concerns over torture. The handing over of prisoners was eventually resumed. The handling of prisoners is ultimately not our responsibility. Canada is not in Afghanistan to take over, but to help rebuild. We have to place some form of trust in the Afghanistan Police.
Unfortunately, accidents happen. An example would be where there were children killed by Canadian Forces. The way it is portrayed in the letter, readers may assume this was on purpose. This is defiantly not true. Yes, children were killed. When a vehicle does not obey orders, yes it may be fired upon. One of the threats to troops in Afghanistan is the Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device. This is a long title for such a simple device. Essentially, these are bombs on wheels. Bombers drive them to a target, and detonate them, hoping to achieve large casualties of troops and civilians alike. There is no way to know if a vehicle is carrying a bomb. If it does not stop, it could be a bomb.
Many accounts are published of mistakes made, or people killed, by Canadian Forces in Afghanistan. What is not published is the good side. Schools are being built, families are being helped. The Afghanistan National Army is being trained, so it can eventually support it's self. The country is slowly being rebuilt, and it could not be done without Canadian Forces. Should we pull out? That is not the point of this comment. The reader may decide that for themselves.
In conclusion, Canadian Troops are doing much more than you may think. One should not always believe what one reads, and that would even include this, if you so wish. Articles like the one written by Cpl. Demetrick are hurtful to the Canadian Forces, and they may cause Canadians to stop caring, or lose trust or faith in the Canadian Forces. If we can't trust, or have faith in, or support the Canadian Forces, why have 97 Canadian lost their life in Afghanistan?