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BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???

03 May 11 - 02:44 PM (#3147208)
Subject: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: gnu

The lady in the clip makes a statement about Iraqi children with lukemia and cancer from depleted uranium from US missles in 1998.

I was not aware such was the case.


03 May 11 - 03:51 PM (#3147245)
Subject: RE: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: Jack Campin

http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/2009/102009Lindorff.html


03 May 11 - 04:13 PM (#3147257)
Subject: RE: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: Jack the Sailor

Depleted Uranium is not generally associated with missiles. It is used in anti tank projectiles in Vulcan cannons.

Given the parameters of the no fly zone I find it unlikely that DU was used near civilians in 1998.


03 May 11 - 04:13 PM (#3147259)
Subject: RE: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: Charley Noble

gnu-

Unfortunately this story may have a factual basis. Our military loves the effectiveness of weapons firing shells or warheads made from depleted uranium. They have for years ducked questions raised by the health and medical community about the impact of this ammunition on the civilian population and the environment.

Charley Noble


03 May 11 - 04:41 PM (#3147274)
Subject: RE: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: gnu

JtS... she's Japasnese... I said ammo... she said missiles... same thing. Missiles are things projected with (great) force and not necessarily self propelled.


03 May 11 - 04:42 PM (#3147276)
Subject: RE: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: artbrooks

There are NO shells (whatever that word means) or warheads made of DU. All DU munitions are solid slugs or one size or another. They do shed small particles when they hit something (such as a tank), and these particles may be a health hazard when/if ingested. Rather than "ducking questions", the effects of DU have been the subject of several long-term studies by the US Department of Veterans Affairs - a summary of these studies is here.


03 May 11 - 05:26 PM (#3147300)
Subject: RE: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: McGrath of Harlow

Anything thrown or propelled in any way can quite properly be described as "a missile". Bullets and shells are missiles, as are stones, for that matter.

As for Depleted Uranium - it's not a question of "may be a health hazard if ingested". If ingested the particles are a definite health hazard, and they contaminate an environment for a long time.

An attempt is in UN to ban the use of Depleted Uranium was defeated by the USA, the UK and France. It's being used in Libya "to protect civilians".


04 May 11 - 12:37 PM (#3147809)
Subject: RE: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: Donuel

DU is used specifically for armor piercing shells. They also use it in some large calibre bullets since it has more mass per volume and thereby delivers a bigger punch.

There is more Uranium now in Iraq in the form of DU than 20,000 Hiroshima bombs

There are many web sites that show the deformities of Iraqi children which are too horrific to recount here.

DU is also left behind in the Bosnia war countryside.


04 May 11 - 12:58 PM (#3147827)
Subject: RE: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: Jack Campin

Robert Fisk on DU in the Balkans


04 May 11 - 01:05 PM (#3147832)
Subject: RE: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: Charley Noble

This is another military "mistake" that will haunt the world for thousands of years.

Charley Noble


04 May 11 - 02:44 PM (#3147909)
Subject: RE: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: gnu

Yes Charley, but it only takes three rounds from a chain gun to take the turret off a Russian made tank and the guys in the air or back in the USA, the UK and France don't give a fuck about children far away. Hell, their parents are driving those tanks... it's their fault.


04 May 11 - 05:39 PM (#3148026)
Subject: RE: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: artbrooks

I find it astonishing that the US troops whose armored vehicles were damaged or destroyed by DU munitions, and who have been the subjects of scientific studies for the past 20 years, are apparently immune to the horrible effects of DU.


04 May 11 - 07:11 PM (#3148090)
Subject: RE: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: Jack Campin

They aren't. See Fisk's piece.

But a lot less US troops were exposed to this shit than local civilians and for a much shorter time.


04 May 11 - 07:22 PM (#3148098)
Subject: RE: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: Bobert

There was a VA doctor in Delaware about 10 years ago who was zeroing in on the effects of DU on our own vets and was fired because he was getting to close to the truth...

The truth is that lots of DU was fired during Gulf I and that all kinds of cancers increased afterwards, including those in our own servicemen...

The right wing says the stuff is harmless but then again the right wing doesn't seem to understand or appreciate science...

If the shit is so good for you then why isn't it bottled up and sold in health food stores???

B~


04 May 11 - 07:31 PM (#3148104)
Subject: RE: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: artbrooks

Jack, I see a feature writer who made unsupported statements in an article over ten years ago, and I see a summary of a large number of scientific studies. I choose to believe the second; please feel free to make your own choice.


04 May 11 - 07:32 PM (#3148105)
Subject: RE: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: olddude

GNU is absolutely right, It is used in a whole host of weapon systems. Everything from a 50 cal to 20mm cannon to even the tomahawk cruise. It is an extremely dense substance used for penetrating armor or concrete. Remember each weapon system has multiple uses. Like having a dozen different bullets for the 50 cal there is the same for missile system. Everything to tactical nukes to incendiary, cluster to bunker busting. Iraq and Afghanistan is littered with the stuff. What health issues I have no clue, I bet it can't be good and would indeed penetrate ground water I think anyway


04 May 11 - 10:01 PM (#3148169)
Subject: RE: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: gnu

No matter the delivery, I was aghast to learn that it is defiling children... innocent men, women and children, no matter which side is being subject to the shit. WTF is wrong? It is sickening.

How do these fuckers sleep at night???


04 May 11 - 10:07 PM (#3148175)
Subject: RE: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: Bobert

Called the military/industrial complex that Ike warned *US* against... Seems it is alive an' well an' ordering up new wars every so often so we can blow up some inventory (folks be damned) so that the military industrialists can get another bigass contract...

Normal...

Next!!!

B~


04 May 11 - 10:30 PM (#3148195)
Subject: RE: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: Jeri

You need to use a consistent, unique name if you post in BS. "No Cookie" doesn't cut it. Neither does "Anon" or "Nobody". It won't matter if you use a proxy, because it's about your lack of a consistent, unique name.


05 May 11 - 09:17 AM (#3148482)
Subject: RE: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: Jack Campin

Jack, I see a feature writer who made unsupported statements in an article over ten years ago, and I see a summary of a large number of scientific studies. I choose to believe the second; please feel free to make your own choice.

Fisk is rather a lot more than a "feature writer" and last I heard the truth doesn't go mouldy in ten years. Try this.

http://www.gulfwarvets.com/du.htm

Or just google a bit. There is as much information as disinformation out there if you use your critical faculties.


05 May 11 - 09:32 AM (#3148489)
Subject: RE: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: Jack Campin

And perhaps this might be of interest:

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=3620


05 May 11 - 10:11 AM (#3148512)
Subject: RE: BS: Depleted uranium ammo in Iraq???
From: artbrooks

Both interesting articles, but neither have any links to actual studies. I deal with disabled veterans daily. I do not know if the numbers and percentages of disabled veterans in the second article are accurate or not, but I do know that the single most prevalent medical disability from the Gulf Wars is PTSD, followed closely by issues resulting from TBI and hearing loss.