Depleted Uranium
The use of depleted uranium is an issue that concerns all of us.
It crosses party lines since the Pentagon through both Republican and Democrat
administrations has attempted to cover up the dangers of its use to the
detriment of innocent civilians, our American troops and our planet.
Since its use in the first Gulf War in 1991, according to a 2002 UN Sub
Committee report, the incidence of cancer in Iraq rose 1000% and birth defects
are up 600%. This updates the figures from 1998 which showed increases of 700%
and 300% respectively. The report also states that it rendered Iraq land
infertile and contaminated the food chain and ground water. In this latest war
with Iraq, we used many times the tons of DU munitions as we did in 1991. What
will the percentages be in another decade and what effect will it have on our
American occupation troops who continue to be exposed just by breathing?
When exploded, DU releases uranium oxide micro particles which if ingested or
inhaled will attach to organs and release radiation to the surrounding organs
producing cellular changes. Many cases of Gulf War Syndrome can be attributed to
DU, and in Serbia where it was used, there is an increase of cases of leukemia
in troops who served there.
For years the Pentagon has denied any connection, however in Sept. 1990, a Dept.
of Army Technical Bulletin, TB 9-1300-278, "Guidelines For Safe Handling,
Storage and Transportation Accidents Involving Army Tank Munitions or Armor
Which Contain Depleted Uranium" called for service men and women to be provided
with protective equipment, including respirators. If it were not perceived as
dangerous, this would not be necessary and special guidelines would not have
been given specifying protective gear.
A memo from the Los Alamos National Laboratory by Lt. Col. Ziehmn in March 1991
stated in part, "There has been and continues to be concern regarding the impact
of DU on the environment."
On Aug. 16, 1993, the Office of the Surgeon General, US Dept. of the Army,
issued its "Depleted Uranium (DU) Safety Training" document. In it they state,
"the expected effects from exposure include possible increase of cancer (lung
and bone) and kidney damage."
We expected the effect to be an increase in cancer and we knew there was a
concern about the effects on the environment. In spite of this knowledge we
continued to deny it and to deny care and benefits to our Gulf War veterans.
Uranium oxide can be detected in the urine, but even this simple screening was
not done for our veterans, except for 24 patients whose samples and test results
were "lost".
The disdain for the health and safety of American troops and innocent civilians
and the "scorched earth" contamination of our planet is criminal, immoral and
barbarous. The deformities it causes are horrendous, with babies frequently born
without eyes or limbs that resemble those of the Thalidomide babies of the 60s.Â
These were seen both in Iraq and in the babies born to Gulf War veterans when
they returned home since DU is found in semen and affects DNA.
This is not a short term issue. The half life of depleted uranium is 4.5 billion
years!
In those countries where we have left DU debris, it will continue to kill
generation after generation until the end of time. How far will the winds of war
carry those micro particles across our planet? Every citizen, regardless of
party affiliation, must demand the world wide ban of depleted uranium munitions
for the safety of our planet and the continuation of our human species.
10-21-03