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Born at the Crest of the Empire

Monday, January 05, 2009

Picture of the Day - Weapons over Gaza

The bottom two pictures appear to be flares, but I don't know what the top two are.

Corrected: Per a link supplied by Lew, the top two pictures appear to be white phosphorous munitions.




13 Comments:

  • Those photos look more dispersed than I would think cluster bombs would be. Plus, I can't imagine they'd be dropping cluster bombs into the city.

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 8:29 AM  

  • Apparently Israel is using cluster bombs in Gaza.

    Horrible.

    By Blogger Todd Dugdale , at 8:44 AM  

  • That just surprises me because of the likely international blowback.

    I'm not surprised they'd be using them, I'm just surprised they'd be dumping them into the cities.

    In less developed areas I could see it, but with the international outcry against cluster bombs, I'm just surprised.

    I may link you and it, and rewrite.

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 8:49 AM  

  • The last two are just flares. Low-flying aircraft fire them when they think there is a threat from heat-seeking missiles. The missiles will (they hope) be fooled and go for the missile instead of the aircraft.

    By Blogger Patrick, at 9:27 AM  

  • Speaking of pictures, I can't believe you missed this one. It's right up your alley.

    By Blogger Libby Spencer, at 10:20 AM  

  • Could be phosphorus. It was quite used quite effectively in Fallujah.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:57 PM  

  • Patrick, yeah. I got those two as flares. It's kinda beautiful in a strange way.

    ....

    Anon, I don't think so. I know you tend to think the worst, but those just look like flares to me.

    ...

    Libby, that's not a bad one. I stopped looking for Bush photos a little after Christmas. He just disappeared from view when the Israel attacks began. (I'm guessing so he wouldn't have to comment.)

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 1:29 PM  

  • I meant the first ones look like phosphorus. The last ones are flares for sure designed to deflect missiles.

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5447590.ece

    As for thinking the worst I just call it like I see it.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:19 PM  

  • Got it. Misunderstood. I thought you were talking about the white phosphorous used as weapon that got so little attention when the US used it illegally as antipersonnel in Iraq.

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 3:35 PM  

  • The top two pictures are of Israel using white phosphorus. And they are using cluster bombs as well. On civilian areas.

    Remember, the Arab world hates us because we're free and not because we veto any attempt to hold Israel accountable in the UN security council.

    By Blogger Lew Scannon, at 7:18 PM  

  • I stand deeply corrected.

    I'm sorry Anon.

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 9:34 PM  

  • It's OK. I wish I could be more optimistic. It's difficult for me.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:21 PM  

  • By Blogger raybanoutlet001, at 8:28 PM  

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