What Is Depleted Uranium?

1.What is Depleted Uranium (DU)?
1. What is Depleted Uranium (DU)?
2. Purpose of DU Weapons
3. Impact of DU Weapons
4. Iraq
5. Balkans War
6. Afghanistan
7. Puerto Rico
8. War Veterans and Peacekeepers
9. Other Areas
(Illustrations from http://www.balkansyndrome.com/)	1.What is Depleted Uranium Depleted uranium (U-238) is made from uranium hexaflouride, which is the non-fissionable by-product of the uranium enrichment process completed at facilities in Tennessee, Ohio, and Kentucky. The process removes fissionable U-234 and U-235 to make nuclear bombs and reactor fuel. The remaining uranium, which is 99.8% uranium 238, is called depleted uranium. The term depleted implies it isn't dangerous, when in fact, it is deadly. This waste product is disposed of by producing weapons, armor, and concrete (DUCRETE). For more information, see: A good description of DU: http://cadu.members.gn.apc.org/whatisdu.htm DU - Hysteria or Real Health Threat? by Judy Blyth http://www.anawa.org.au/weapons/du.html Use of DU: A Crime Against Humanity by Doug Rokke http://prop1.org/2000/du/00du/000413dr.htm A description of DU: http://www.balkansyndrome.com/ <top>
2. Purpose of DU Weapons Ever since the first Gulf War the U.S. military and NATO forces have increasingly used radioactive Depleted Uranium (DU) munitions. Against Iraq in 1991 they proved very effective at penetrating enemy tanks and bunkers. More recently in the Afghan campaign they were used extensively for destroying underground facilities and caves. All these weapons will be heavily used should Gulf War II take place. DU burns intensely and is very hard. DU is also much cheaper than the substitute metal, tungsten. In effect, the U.S. military is trading off lower costs for increased health hazards. The health dangers of using DU-munitions have now been widely recognized. (From http://www.cursor.org/stories/uranium.htm) Uranium metal is autopyrophoric and can burn spontaneously at room temperature in the presence of air, oxygen and water. Friction caused by bullet or missile entry into a tank or armored car, for example, can cause the uranium to ignite, forming a concentrated ceramic aerosol capable of killing most personnel in the vehicle. (From http://www.ccnr.org/du_hague.html) The following links provide details about DU weapons: Uranium Wars: The Pentagon Steps Up its Use of Radioactive Munitions by Marc W. Herold http://www.cursor.org/stories/uranium.htm Description of DU Weapons. http://www.balkansyndrome.com/ Depleted Uranium In Bunker Bombs: America's big dirty secret by Robert James Parsons http://MondeDiplo.com/2002/03/03uranium A Treatise on Military Weapons Containing the Radioactive Material: Depleted Uranium by Dr. Albrecht Schott, Director of the World Depleted Uranium Center, Germany; Damacio A. Lopez, Director, International Depleted Uranium Study Team (IDUST), United States; and John M. LaForge, Editor, Nukewatch Pathfinder, United States. http://www.tacomapjh.org/atreatiseonmilitaryweapons.htm Use of Radioactive Materials in Military Weapons: Depleted Uranium by Damacio Lopez, Director, IDUST (International Depleted Uranium Study Team). http://www.tacomapjh.org/depleteduranium.htm Bioterror a book edited by Ellen Ray and William H. Schaap. This well-documented book backgrounds numerous cases of the development and use of chemical-biological warefare by the United States, including anthrax, Agent Orange, nerve gas, dioxin, and depleted uranium. Such action has endangered US citizens and armed forces personnel as well as 'target populations', who will continue to suffer if Washington's belligerence remains unchecked. http://www.oceanbooks.com.au/index.html <top>
(Illustrations from http://www.balkansyndrome.com/)
3. Impact of DU Weapons Madeleine Albright, when she was asked on television whether she thought the deaths of half a million children was a price worth paying, said: "This is a very hard choice, but we think the price is worth it, yes." According to Professor Doug Rokke, ex-director of the Pentagon's Depleted-Uranium Project, “numerous US Department of Defense reports have stated that the consequences of DU were unknown. That is a lie. They were told. They were warned.” Furthermore, Rokke's assessment of the consequences of DU, consequences that are part of the astronomical increase in varieties of cancers among Iraqi children, provides chilling evidence of the lethal impact of depleted uranium: “DU is the stuff of nightmares. It is toxic, radioactive and pollutes for 4500 million years. It causes lymphoma, neuro-psychotic disorders and short-term memory damage. In semen, it causes birth defects and trashes the immune system.” Dirty Bombs, Blowback, and Imperial Projections by Fran Shor The effects of DU weapons is being studied in veterans, United Nations peace keepers, children, and civilians. The effects in veterans and United Nations peacekeepers has been called Balkans Syndrome. The effects on American and British veterans is called Gulf War Syndrome. For example, A study in Mississippi showed that 67% of the children born to Gulf War veterans had birth defects. The effects on civilians and children have appeared in birth defects, cancer, leukemia, and other radiation-related diseases. More Information The following links describe some of the scientific evidence from studies and personal accounts of the horrors of DU weapons. This is a limited list. Please search the Internet for more information: General Articles: Use of DU: A Crime Against Humanity by Doug Rokke. Ph.D. http://prop1.org/2000/du/00du/000413dr.htm The New Enlightenment Journal article: The Depleted Uranium Cover-up by Michelle Mairesse. http://www.hermes-press.com/depluran.htm Dirty Bombs, Blowback, and Imperial Projections by Fran Shor http://commondreams.org/views02/0612-05.htm Reaching Critical Will is a project of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. The page contains information about the DU weapons manufacturers and the dirty nuclear fuel cycle. http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/dd/ddindex.html Philip Berrigan's final statement on nuclear horrors: http://commondreams.org/news2002/1206-01.htm Depleted Uranium In Bunker Bombs: America's big dirty secret by Robert James Parsons http://MondeDiplo.com/2002/03/03uranium Review of Radioactivity, Military Use, and Health Effects of Depleted Uranium compiled by Vladimir S. Zajic: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/europe/2001/depleted_uranium/default.stm Military Toxics Project campaign against depleted uranium weapons. http://www.miltoxproj.org/DU/DU_Titlepage/DU_Titlepage.htm <top>
4. Iraq This is a list of articles and sites that deal with DU and other war related topics in regards to Iraq and the Gulf War. Iraq links cancers to uranium weapons―U.S. likely to use arms again in war by Robert Collier http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/01/13/MN233872.DTL More clues to Gulf War Vets' illnesses: Insecticides, anti-nerve gas drug linked to infertility in soldiers by Kathleen Sullivan http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2003/01/10/MN124084.DTL Iraqi Cancers, Birth Defects Blamed on U.S. Depleted Uranium by Larry Johnson http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/iraq2002/95178_du12.shtml copy at: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/1112-01.htm The National Gulf War Resource Center Inc. http://www.ngwrc.org/Dulink/du_link.htm Uranium Medical Research Centre http://www.umrc.net/ DU Link of the National Gulf War Resource Center: http://www.ngwrc.org/Dulink/du_link.htm Birth Defects Research for Children Inc.―View the slide show highlighting the different patterns of disability for Bendectin, Agent Orange, and Gulf War exposure groups. http://www.birthdefects.org On-line book, Discounted Casulaties, on the Gulf War and the effects of DU. http://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/abom/uran/index_e.html Dirty Bombs, Blowback, and Imperial Projections by Fran Shor http://commondreams.org/views02/0612-05.htm UK to study DU and cancer: Veterans of Gulf War welcome new DU tests http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=2921 These children had cancer. Now they are dead. I believe they were killed by depleted uranium by Robert Fisk. http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=27009 A special report on life in Baghdad 10 years after the Gulf War (and the half a million children with cancer) by Kim Sengupta http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=20004 The evidence lies dying in Basra by Robert Fisk. http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=19371 Iraqis and former GIs to sue in US over depleted uranium by Kim Sengupta. http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=19978 Campaign Against Depleted Uranium: Iraqi victims of cancer and former American soldiers suffering from Gulf war syndrome are joining forces to sue the American government. http://www.cadu.org.uk/ <top>
5. Balkans War This is a list of articles and sites that deal with DU and other war related topics in regards to Kosovo and the Balkans War. Balkans Syndrome. Amnesty International Action Report http://web.amnesty.org/web/ttt.nsf/june2001/balkans Tirana: the Balkans Syndrome - a Political Syndrome Albania and the Problem of Depleted Uranium http://www.aimpress.org/dyn/trae/archive/data/200102/10212-003-trae-tir.htm Several articles on the Greek Military use of DU weapons and Balkans Syndrome in the Macedonian Press Agency. http://www.hri.org/news/greek/mpab/2001/01-01-08.mpab.html Description of the Balkan Syndrome: http://www.balkansyndrome.com/ <top>
6. Afghanistan This is a list of articles and sites that deal with DU and other war related topics. Marc Herold asks that this link be distributed far and wide. It is his gathering and selection of photographs for his new book on the US bombing of Afghanistan. A Dossier on Civilian Victims of United States' Aerial Bombing of Afghanistan: A Comprehensive Accounting http://pubpages.unh.edu/~mwherold Afghanistan: The Nuclear Nightmare Starts by Davey Garland http://www.truthout.org/docs_02/011103E.dpltd.urnim.htm Baltimore Chronicle article: Central Asia Concern Grows that U.S. Has Used Depleted Uranium (but US denies it is harmful) http://baltimorechronicle.com/duranium_dec01.html <top>
7. Puerto Rico This is a list of articles and sites that deal with DU and other U.S. Navy related topics affecting the health of the inhabitants of Puerto Rico. Vieques Cancer Rate Increase Confirmed by the Puerto Rico Health Department. http://www.forusa.org/Programs/puertorico/PR_Update_1002-2.html People Struggle to Save Their Children From Being Casualties of Navy War Games http://www.forusa.org/Programs/puertorico/ViequesSi_Conteris.html Navy Lies About Its Sunken, Radioactive Ship near Vieques http://www.forusa.org/Programs/puertorico/PR_Update_1002-3.html <top>
8. War Veterans and Peacekeepers This is a list of articles and sites that deal with DU and other war related topics in regards to war veterans and Peacekeepers. The illnesses that have appeared in war veterans and Peacekeepers is now called Gulf War Syndrome, Balkans Syndrome, and other terms. More clues to Gulf War Vets' illnesses: Insecticides, anti-nerve gas drug linked to infertility in soldiers by Kathleen Sullivan http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2003/01/10/MN124084.DTL Tests needed for Balkans Syndrome―BBC report. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1104065.stm More clues to Gulf War Vets' illnesses: Insecticides, anti-nerve gas drug linked to infertility in soldiers by Kathleen Sullivan http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2003/01/10/MN124084.DTL The National Gulf War Resource Center, Inc. http://www.ngwrc.org/Dulink/du_link.htm DU Link of the National Gulf War Resource Center: http://www.ngwrc.org/Dulink/du_link.htm Birth Defects Research for Children, Inc.―View the slide show highlighting the different patterns of disability for Bendectin, Agent Orange, and Gulf War exposure groups. http:// www.birthdefects.org On-line book, Discounted Casulaties, on the Gulf War and the effects of DU. http://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/abom/uran/index_e.html Dirty Bombs, Blowback, and Imperial Projections by Fran Shor http://commondreams.org/views02/0612-05.htm UK to study DU and cancer: Veterans of Gulf War welcome new DU tests http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=2921 Iraqis and former GIs to sue in US over depleted uranium by Kim Sengupta. http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=19978 Campaign Against Depleted Uranium: Iraqi victims of cancer and former American soldiers suffering from Gulf war syndrome are joining forces to sue the American government. http://www.cadu.org.uk/ Europe to debate 'Balkans syndrome'. CNN Report. The usual government denial http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/01/17/defence.uranium/ Peacekeepers' deaths linked to 'Balkans syndrome'―CNN report http://europe.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/europe/italy/12/30/balkans/ Daily "Der Morgen": Belgian soldiers victims of "Balkans syndrome" from Serbia Info http://www.serbia-info.com/news/2000-09/12/20531.html <top>
9. Other Areas This is a list of articles and sites that deal with DU and other war related topics in regards to other areas around the world. Toxic Ammo is Tested in Fish Areas - U.S. Navy uses depleted uranium in coast waters; activists may go to court by Larry Johnson http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/103402_fife09.shtml copy at: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0109-02.htm Arcata asks for ban on depleted uranium by James Faulk The Times-Standard http://www.times-standard.com/Stories/0,1413,127%257E2896%257E1117754,00.html Coalition: End use of depleted uranium from the Associated Press http://www.tribnet.com/news/local/story/2439749p-2487619c.html <top>
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