http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4440664.stm
White phosphorous is particularly nasty stuff. Once sprayed with it, it can dissolve flesh right down to the bone. Basically, it continues to burn until it runs out of oxygen. Which – if you’re out in the desert – there’s plenty of O2 to be had.
Constituted as an illegal chemical weapon, the White House denied using white phosphorous as a weapon in Iraq. Today, the Pentagon confirmed that once again, they were lying.