US Used Nuclear Waste in Munitions in Gulf War

The US has used Depleted Uranium in Munitions in the Gulf War.


Depleted Uranium 30mm shell

From The Campaign Against Depleted Uranium (CADU)

"What is Depleted Uranium?

The misnamed 'Depleted' Uranium is left after enriched uranium is separated from natural uranium in order to produce fuel for nuclear reactors. During this process, the fissionable isotope Uranium 235 is separated from uranium. The remaining uranium, which is 99.8% uranium 238 is misleadingly called 'depleted uranium'. While the term 'depleted' implies it isn't particularly dangerous, in fact, this waste product of the nuclear industry is 'conveniently' disposed of by producing deadly weapons.

Depleted uranium is chemically toxic. It is an extremely dense, hard metal, and can cause chemical poisoning to the body in the same way as can lead or any other heavy metal. However, depleted uranium is also radiologically hazardous, as it spontaneously burns on impact, creating tiny aerosolised glass particles which are small enough to be inhaled. These uranium oxide particles emit all types of radiation, alpha, beta and gamma, and can be carried in the air over long distances. Depleted uranium has a half life of 4.5 billion years, and the presence of depleted uranium ceramic aerosols can pose a long term threat to human health and the environment."

The few truthful statements (amidst much disinformation) from the WHO:

"Applications of depleted uranium:

• .DU is used in armour penetrating military ordnance because of its high density, and also because DU can ignite on impact if the temperature exceeds 600°C.

Exposure to uranium and depleted uranium:

• .Levels of DU may exceed background levels of uranium close to DU contaminating events. Over the days and years following such an event, the contamination normally becomes dispersed into the wider natural environment by wind and rain. People living or working in affected areas may inhale contaminated dusts or consume contaminated food and drinking water.

Intake of depleted uranium:

• . .Ingestion of small amounts of DU contaminated soil by small children may occur while playing.

Recommendations:

• .Following conflict, levels of DU contamination in food and drinking water might be detected in affected areas even after a few years. This should be monitored where it is considered there is a reasonable possibility of significant quantities of DU entering the ground water or food chain.
• .Where justified and possible, clean-up operations in impact zones should be undertaken if there are substantial numbers of radioactive projectiles remaining and where qualified experts deem contamination levels to be unacceptable. If high concentrations of DU dust or metal fragments are present, then areas may need to be cordoned off until removal can be accomplished. Such impact sites are likely to contain a variety of hazardous materials, in particular unexploded ordnance. Due consideration needs to be given to all hazards, and the potential hazard from DU kept in perspective.
• .Small children could receive greater exposure to DU when playing in or near DU impact sites. Their typical hand-to-mouth activity could lead to high DU ingestion from contaminated soil. Necessary preventative measures should be taken."

The BBC's analysis of DU munitions states:

"But it is a very heavy substance, 1.7 times denser than lead, and it is highly valued by armies for its ability to punch through armoured vehicles. When a weapon made with a DU tip or core strikes a solid object, like the side of a tank, it goes straight through it and then erupts in a burning cloud of vapour."

The vapour settles as dust, which is chemically poisonous and also radioactive."

The US DoD's interest in and use of DU munitions is due to it's efficiacy and cost-effectiveness, and, according to CADU, DU

"is now given practically free of charge to the military and arms manufacturers and is used both as tank armour, and in armour-piercing shells known as depleted uranium penetrators. Over 15 countries are known to have depleted uranium weapons in their militaray arsenals - UK, US, France, Russia, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Pakistan, Thailand, Iraq and Taiwan - with depleted uranium rapidly spreading to other countries."

One wonders if there is any movement to stop completely, or at least monitor stricly this use of weapons of mass destruction?

"A sub-commission of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights appointed a 'rapporteur' to investigate the use of depleted uranium weapons among other types of weapons, after passing a resolution which categorised depleted uranium weapons alongside such as nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, napalm, and cluster bombs as a 'weapon of indiscriminate effect'."

Ah. Investigate.

Well, has that at least curtailed the purchase and use of these weapons that are crimes against humanity???

According to CADU, as of June, 2006, no.

"The US Army has placed a US$38 million order with the arms manufacturer Alliant Techsystems (ATK) for a new type of 120-mm DU ammunition for its main battle tank.

The follow-on contract announced by ATK extends the original contract for M829A3 tank rounds and brings the total value of the rounds ordered in 2006 up to US$77 million. Once the new pact is completed, ATK will have delivered 35,000 M829A3 rounds to the military."

The idea that there are those who will risk nuclear contamination of our planet, commit crimes against humanity (against both the "enemy combatants," opposing military, and innocent civilians then and for generations to come) is completely horrifying. It is so shocking to the conscience that it is almost unbelieveable, yet there it is, published in many mainstream and specialist information outlets. But the questions must be posed - Who would do this? And, for the love of God, why?

The answer lies in this rather long and not altogether sleek interview with Mrs. Kay Griggs. It is split into seven segments, and sometimes a little confusing but well worth your time and attention. Mrs. Griggs answers the questions this author just posed towards the end.

The answer is equally disturbing. This author is in shock, literally. Sure, criminals run the US government and high levels of the military. Sure, the legislative branch has acquieced to the current administration like so many puppets... but Mrs. Griggs' interview fills in many pieces to the puzzle: who is involved, how deep and extensive it is, the timelines, the alliances and most disgustingly, the motive.

If you, dear reader, are unfamiliar with the players mentioned in the interview, make sure you visit InfoWars

Will those responsible for the conception, development, procurement, delivery and orders to deploy ever be prosecuted? Will they be held to account? Kurt Nimmo doesn't think so in his piece, "Neocons Make Excuses for Mass Murder"

"In America, instead of facing justice, criminals from up high usually write memoirs, or become “elder statesmen,” and are interviewed, settling comfortably into the historical record, either oblivious to or proud of the swathe of blood and gore that enshrouds them.
...
For instance, Richard Perle... now tells us the “levels of brutality [in Iraq] that we’ve seen are truly horrifying, and I have to say, I underestimated the depravity.” In other words, according to Perle, once the civil underpinnings were pulled out from beneath Iraq—by way of depleted uranium-enhanced bunker buster and cruise missile—the result surprised even him"