Firestorm in Baghdad

What destroyed Dresden in World War II was not the bombing, at least not directly, but rather a firestorm produced by the bombing. A firestorm is induced when the rising air heated by the bombs is replaced at ground level by air rushing in to take its place. This rush of air fans the flames, producing hotter air, creating a stronger updraft, producing a stronger inrushing wind, and so forth, in a self reinforcing cycle that created a literal storm of fire. I have seen this effect simulated in a laboratory. A growing flame in a cylindrical cage can suddenly transform into a powerful and very loud tornado of flames, driven by its self-induced draft. This is why you should never burn a Christmas tree in a fireplace. I have even seen this effect when lighting a large number of candles on a birthday cake. The onset of the firestorm was very sudden when a critical number of candles were lit. All the candles were consumed in a matter of seconds.

Now ponder the effect of 3000 cruise missiles landing within a short timeframe as has been proposed. It has been said that we dropped more explosive power in the first Gulf War than in all of World War II, and we will drop an equivalent amount in the first three days of the upcoming war. Even if those bombs are delivered with pinpoint accuracy to minimize civilian casualties, we could induce a firestorm similar to the one that destroyed Dresden. Instead of civilian casualties numbering in the 10s of thousands they could number in the hundreds of thousands or even millions.

If this scenario plays out the memory of history will not be the defeat of the "butcher of Baghdad" but our butchery in Baghdad.

--David Chandler