Article

2005-03-25 Iraq-Jordan

America's Depleted Uranium Weapons Have Devastated Iraq

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Fred 2005-03-25 00:00:00|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Or next time we use the nicotine- and asbestos-filled rounds. We're not f*cking around with you mofos anymore.

Posted by BH 2005-03-25 12:13:17 AM|| 2005-03-25 12:13:17 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Severe radioactive pollution and disease have been inflicted on Iraq through the use of weapons hardened with depleted uranium,..

This is so damned ignorant that it doesn't warrant further attention.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2005-03-25 12:44:30 AM|| 2005-03-25 12:44:30 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Look on the bright side...they'd be complaining about all the glass to be picked up, if we had nuked them! The objective; pupils, was to get them to die!!

Posted by smn 2005-03-25 1:10:03 AM|| 2005-03-25 1:10:03 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Depleted Uranium is not radioactive (actually its slightly radioactive, but then lots of things are slightly radioactive). It is toxic in large enough quantities, but then so are most metals.

This is a Saddam era lie that for a while the MSM spread, that depleted uranium was causing birth defects and cancers after the 1991 war. The lie was put to bed by someone pointing out that Kuwait had much more depleted Uranium lying around than did Iraq and there were no increases in cancers and birth defects there. Ergo DU was not the cause.

Posted by phil_b 2005-03-25 1:17:51 AM|| 2005-03-25 1:17:51 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 Lucky Iraqis. I'd *love* to have some depleted uranium to make high-mass headstock overlays for guitars but I can't find any. :(

Posted by AzCat 2005-03-25 1:20:50 AM|| 2005-03-25 1:20:50 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 What a bunch of freaking idiots these posters are! I thought we were supposed to be liberating Iraq, as in helping them get their country back from a dictatorial regime. I never believed that, personally, and it looks like all you John Wayne wanna-be's couldn't give a crap about Iraqis either. You should do a little homework on DU. It's derived from the waste of nuclear reactors and has an extremely long half-life. To say that it's not radioactive, or only slightly so is just stupid, and to throw out all this phony tough talk just makes you look inhuman. I've heard more intelligent comments at my neighborhood biker bar. Wise up!

Posted by commonsensebud 2005-03-25 2:18:23 AM|| 2005-03-25 2:18:23 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 Hey Buds don't get your panties in a twist.

Posted by R 2005-03-25 2:31:02 AM|| 2005-03-25 2:31:02 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 commonsensebud, look you dimwit, our entire fu**ing planet is 'derived from the waste of nuclear reactions'. What is it with the Left and their almost religous adoration of ignorance.

Posted by phil_b 2005-03-25 2:31:02 AM|| 2005-03-25 2:31:02 AM|| Front Page Top

#9 Phil

Whats wrong with John Wayne...I love the guy. Hoot!!

Posted by R 2005-03-25 2:35:01 AM|| 2005-03-25 2:35:01 AM|| Front Page Top

#10 Lack of common sense bud:

They call it DEPLETED uranium (you idiot) because it is the WASTE that is generated by pulling out the RADIOACTIVE isotope of uranium to make reactor-stuff or bomb-stuff BEFORE it ever sees a reactor.

You clueless libs... study some science instead of fluffy sociology.

DU is no more toxic than lead. It's reality. Get a grip.

Posted by Leigh 2005-03-25 2:47:20 AM|| 2005-03-25 2:47:20 AM|| Front Page Top

#11 Following the 1999 conflict in the Balkans, some public concern has been raised about the use of depleted uranium (DU) munitions in Kosovo. Various health effects from exposure have been claimed, including a 'Balkan syndrome' in some troops stationed there, both during the conflict and afterwards. A systematic study of DU concentrations in soil has recently been published (J Uyttenhove, M Lemmens and M Zizi (2002) Health Physics, 83(4) 543-48) following a collaboration between the Belgian Ministry of Defence and the Physics Department of the University of Ghent. Using a high-resolution gamma spectrometer, 150 soil samples from 50 selected sites all over Kosovo were analysed in the laboratory. Of the 50 chosen sites, 14 were close to areas where military information had revealed the use of DU munitions. After careful analysis, the authors conclude that there is no indication of DU contamination at any of the 50 sites, with a minimum detectable activity of 15 Bq. However, the authors make it clear that their conclusion relates to hypotheses about widespread DU contamination in Kosovo.

The authors had to devise a sensitive method to distinguish DU from natural uranium because uranium is present naturally in all soils and because Kosovo is an area of relatively high uranium concentrations. The progeny isotopes of uranium are removed in the enrichment process and DU is in equilibrium with protactinium-234 and thorium-234 isotopes after a few months. The long half-life of uranium-234 (240,000 years) is then an effective barrier to equilibrium with any other isotopes. In practice, the 1001 keV line in the decay of protactinium-234m can be used to discriminate between DU and natural uranium. For typical natural concentrations of uranium (25 Bq kg-1) the 1001 keV line is in the background noise of observed spectra using the Ghent spectrometer. The authors demonstrated that only if DU is present can the 1001 keV line be seen above background, and this was confirmed by comparing with DU spiked samples.

This study indicates that while some sensitive hand-held scintillation counters might be able to detect intact or fragmented DU munitions in post-battlefield conditions, such instruments could not be used as indicators of more widespread contamination. Only careful sampling and very sensitive laboratory equipment can do this unambiguously at present.

Posted by Sobiesky 2005-03-25 2:56:59 AM|| 2005-03-25 2:56:59 AM|| Front Page Top

#12 From Defenselink:

From actual measurements, if a tank crewman were to stay continuously inside a "heavy armor" tank that uses DU armor panels, fully loaded with only DU ammunition, with the gun pointed to the rear to maximize any exposure - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year - he would receive only about 25 percent of the permitted annual dose. Since nobody sits inside such a tank 24/7 for an entire year, exposure levels from realistic times, such as 900 hours per training year, are about the same dosage you might receive from cosmic radiation on a round-trip between New York and Los Angeles.

These are proven facts. They result from actual measurements that anyone can reproduce. They are not open to discussion, argument, or conjecture. They are what they are, and nobody can change them.

That said DU does still present the problem of uranium poisoning of the sort that occurs when a piece of DU passes through one's body at extremely high speed. Of course that sort is completely avoidable, all that is required is that one not place oneself on the battlefield in opposition to that US military.

Posted by AzCat 2005-03-25 3:13:25 AM|| 2005-03-25 3:13:25 AM|| Front Page Top

#13 Ok, so phil needs to learn how to read-- I said "nuclear reactors", not "nuclear reactions"--and Leigh thinks that just because it's called 'depleted' it must be safe. Then Sobiesky pastes in an article about Kosovo, which had tiny fraction of the bombs dropped on it that Iraq had.
I'll quote Bomb-o-Rama here: This is so damned ignorant it doesn't warrant further attention.
So long, suckers.

Posted by commonsensebud 2005-03-25 3:17:54 AM|| 2005-03-25 3:17:54 AM|| Front Page Top

#14 So long!

Posted by Elmoting Granter5118 2005-03-25 3:24:35 AM|| 2005-03-25 3:24:35 AM|| Front Page Top

#15 so long asshat!

Posted by R 2005-03-25 3:26:10 AM|| 2005-03-25 3:26:10 AM|| Front Page Top

#16 bud, pedantry doesn't constitute (an) argument. Game over. You lose.

Posted by phil_b 2005-03-25 3:26:35 AM|| 2005-03-25 3:26:35 AM|| Front Page Top

#17 When they mess with John Wayne.......

Posted by R 2005-03-25 3:36:24 AM|| 2005-03-25 3:36:24 AM|| Front Page Top

#18 not-that-commonsensebud,

Sobiesky pastes in an article about Kosovo, which had tiny fraction of the bombs dropped on it that Iraq had.

I don't have time to post a map comparing areas of Iraq and Kosovo for your viewing pleasure. Go and fetch world map. The area of Kosovo is a tad smaller than Cyprus. Hope that after you do compare, you would exclaim: "Duh!"

That is, of course, dependent on working mental faculties. I may be too presumptious in your case.

Posted by Sobiesky 2005-03-25 4:19:00 AM|| 2005-03-25 4:19:00 AM|| Front Page Top

#19 I think we've been had....

Posted by Shipman 2005-03-25 5:41:30 AM|| 2005-03-25 5:41:30 AM|| Front Page Top

#20 You mean Trollus rhagio scolopacea?

Posted by Sobiesky 2005-03-25 6:45:39 AM|| 2005-03-25 6:45:39 AM|| Front Page Top

#21 The website where the story originated, it's whois info has been deliberatedly obsfucated. However, while it is hosted out of Dallas Tx, many of the services that make the thing are based in the Seattle area.

I sent an abuse claim to the hosting service for deliberately hiding the whois information.

Posted by badanov 2005-03-25 7:26:42 AM|| [http://www.rkka.org/title-boris.gif] 2005-03-25 7:26:42 AM|| Front Page Top

#22 Commonsensebud:
I have just a little bit of experience with DU ammo:

Twenty years as a Munitions Maintenance Specialist with the USAF
Munitions Line Delivery Supervisor, 21st and 55th Fighter Squadrons (A-10s) 1993-98
30mm Storage and Inspection Supervisor, Prince Sultan AB, KSA, Jan-Jul 1995
4 selections as Munitions Supervisor for Red Flag at Nellis AFB, NV (A-10, F-15, F-16, Tornado, and CF-18 ops)

I have done my homework on DU. I did it for two decades. I did it during peacetime operations and during Operation Southern Watch. It was my JOB.
I am going to tell you this just once, and that's it. If you are close enough to breathe the tiny amount of DU dust created by a round's impact, you are already dead.
Now - list the homework you've done, or shut up and get the hell out of here.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2005-03-25 7:42:48 AM|| 2005-03-25 7:42:48 AM|| Front Page Top

#23 The frontman for this 'organization' is someone named Robin Koerner. Whomever is funding/operating this website doesn't want anyone to know what they are up to, nor do they want anyone to know who is funding/operating it.

Here is an email, presumably from Ms. Koerner.

Posted by badanov 2005-03-25 7:49:52 AM|| [http://www.rkka.org/title-boris.gif] 2005-03-25 7:49:52 AM|| Front Page Top

#24 When the legend is disproved by evidence, believe the legend. Right, Bud?
Coming up next: Zionist Death Ray Earthquake Tsunami Global Warming Machines Developed From Alien Technology Captured From Crashed UFO's At Area 51. Brought to you by Halliburton...

Posted by tu3031 2005-03-25 9:02:07 AM|| 2005-03-25 9:02:07 AM|| Front Page Top

#25 WatchingAmerica.com provides translations of foreign press articles, which I consider a much-needed service. The original article was from Azzaman.com, an Iraqi paper.

Posted by Fred 2005-03-25 9:07:21 AM|| 2005-03-25 9:07:21 AM|| Front Page Top

#26 I happen to like John Wayne!

Posted by Slomorong Choque7391 2005-03-25 9:48:47 AM|| 2005-03-25 9:48:47 AM|| Front Page Top

#27 It's derived from the waste of nuclear reactors and has an extremely long half-life.

Dude, how's it feel to block punches with your face?

Posted by Raj 2005-03-25 10:01:29 AM|| 2005-03-25 10:01:29 AM|| Front Page Top

#28 Bud. Bud. Bud. DU is not derived from the waste of nuclear reactors. DU is what is left after the fissionable (and more radioactive) U-235 is removed for nuclear reactors. DU is useless in nuclear reactors, but is a very good radiation shielding material. Better than lead, with about the same biochemical effects of lead when ingested.

Average annual intakes of uranium by adults is about 0.5mg (500 μg) from ingestion of food and water and 0.6 μg from breathing air. That is the more radioactive natural uranium that exists in the environment. To avoid this, I suggest you stop eating and breathing immediately.

And Shhh. Don't tell the bud-man that babies don't come from storks. It would shatter his entire world view.

Posted by ed 2005-03-25 10:04:12 AM|| 2005-03-25 10:04:12 AM|| Front Page Top

#29 A comprehensive study about the risks of DU has been carried out by a renowned Swiss lab.

Conclusion: DU is not completely harmless (due to its toxic ingredients), but its dangerous impact on the general population would be minimal. Sure you might want to stay clear of tanks hit by DU ammunition but thats about it. Some impact on the environment can't be ruled out but that happens with most weapons and ammunition.

Posted by True German Ally 2005-03-25 11:47:40 AM|| 2005-03-25 11:47:40 AM|| Front Page Top

#30 jeez. Sleep in a little and I miss the fact-based asskicking of a troll. Damn. bud

Posted by Frank G 2005-03-25 11:49:20 AM|| 2005-03-25 11:49:20 AM|| Front Page Top

#31 The troll patrol never sleeps, Frank :-P

Posted by True German Ally 2005-03-25 11:57:58 AM|| 2005-03-25 11:57:58 AM|| Front Page Top

#32 LOL

Posted by Frank G 2005-03-25 12:02:56 PM|| 2005-03-25 12:02:56 PM|| Front Page Top

#33 I love the smell of bitch slap in the morning. Smells like......victory.

Posted by Rex Mundi 2005-03-25 12:06:00 PM|| 2005-03-25 12:06:00 PM|| Front Page Top

#34 Geez, that wasn't even close to a fair fight.

Posted by Matt 2005-03-25 12:15:58 PM|| 2005-03-25 12:15:58 PM|| Front Page Top

#35 Mr Common Budweiser told:

It's derived from the waste of nuclear reactors and has an extremely long half-life

And your bath's plug leaks and that leak will empty your bath in one thousand years. Meaning that the leak is smallll. Like U238's radioactivity, if it has a so long half-life it is because it's radiocativity is very, very low in fact smaller than the one you get from earth or the sun.

Now, if you are so interested in the causes of Iraq's devastation I suggest you look for the long term effefcts remnants of the gasses Saddam used on the Kurds, or on the WMD stocks who burned during Desert Storm or in those "insecticide" stores who were curiously, stored in or in the vicinity of Iraq's army bases and who burned during Iraqui Freedom.

Posted by JFM 2005-03-25 12:16:50 PM|| 2005-03-25 12:16:50 PM|| Front Page Top

#36 It's derived from the waste of nuclear reactors and has an extremely long half-life.

Haahahahaha, ooooooookay........

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2005-03-25 12:18:29 PM|| 2005-03-25 12:18:29 PM|| Front Page Top

#37 "has an extremely long half-life..."

like some people...

Posted by True German Ally 2005-03-25 12:38:54 PM|| 2005-03-25 12:38:54 PM|| Front Page Top

#38 I see that since "special school" is out today, the short bus decided to drop its passengers here at RB.

Posted by Pappy 2005-03-25 2:06:23 PM|| 2005-03-25 2:06:23 PM|| Front Page Top

#39 I thought most A-rabs were already born with a defect, well before depleted uranium shells came along.

Posted by Poison Reverse 2005-03-25 2:16:40 PM|| 2005-03-25 2:16:40 PM|| Front Page Top

#40 Oooh. Common Buttwiper hangs out at biker bars.

Probably trades stories about his illustrious Native American ancestors with Prof Churchill, no doubt.

Posted by Desert Blondie 2005-03-25 2:29:45 PM|| [http://azjetsetchick.blogspot.com] 2005-03-25 2:29:45 PM|| Front Page Top

#41 According to some studies, the morbid and irrational fear of contamination is more prevalent among the low IQ segment of the population. There are exceptions, of course, Howard Hughes being one. Hughes not only shared an affliction with the anti-nuke luddites, he actually played a major role in creating the modern anti-nuclear movement.
According to Citizen Hughes (based on documents stolen from a Hughes warehouse and proven in court to be authentic), Hughes paid lefty agitator Barry Commoner $100,000 to stir up demonstrations against the Nevada nuclear test site in 1968.
Commoner gave the word and thousands of brain-enslaved hippies obediently descended on Vegas, to deplore the contamination and other evil effects of underground nuke tests. This was a huge boost to a movement that had previously confined itself to Kremlin-inspired "Ban the Bomb" activities, especially in Europe.

The Vegas uprising broadened anti-nuke activism and introduced it to corporate funding. Hughes' motive, incidentally, was simply to put pressure on the Atomic Energy Commission in a dispute over some sort of business deal. The AEC refused to cave, and Hughes never called off the hippies. The movement has never looked back.

Posted by Atomic Conspiracy 2005-03-25 6:28:01 PM|| 2005-03-25 6:28:01 PM|| Front Page Top

#42 man, that whole thread reads like shooting fish-in-a-barrel. "Warning to trolls-Classix"?

Posted by An Airbus Inspector 2005-03-25 6:31:49 PM|| 2005-03-25 6:31:49 PM|| Front Page Top

#43 stale cookies

Posted by Frank G 2005-03-25 6:32:21 PM|| 2005-03-25 6:32:21 PM|| Front Page Top

#44 By the way, "Bud", my eponymous "atomic conspiracy" has just closed a deal with Iraqi Shiites to lease Fallujah as a launch site for our upcoming Project Orion launch.

"Run, little eco-wackies, run for your lives! It's ORION, Old Bang-bang, God's Own Putt-putt.

Posted by Atomic Conspiracy 2005-03-25 6:40:11 PM|| 2005-03-25 6:40:11 PM|| Front Page Top

#45 Orion will rock through all of history!

Riding a piston driven by nukes with barbershop chairs for acceleration chairs....

Posted by 3dc 2005-03-25 10:15:25 PM|| 2005-03-25 10:15:25 PM|| Front Page Top

04:14 GIOTTO
04:07 GIOTTO
04:00 GIOTTO
03:55 GIOTTO
03:48 GIOTTO
03:38 GIOTTO
03:34 GIOTTO
03:14 GIOTTO
03:08 GIOTTO
03:05 GIOTTO
03:00 GIOTTO
02:50 GIOTTO
02:19 GIOTTO
00:01 Zhang Fei
23:55 DMFD
23:49 Alaska Paul
23:43 Robert Crawford
23:39 Alaska Paul
23:25 Old Patriot
23:24 .com
23:19 .com
23:11 VRWconspiracy
22:56 Sobiesky
22:55 Old Patriot