Depleted Uranium Munitions to be used in Lebanon.

[reprehensor]

(Moderators, I have the permission of Dr. Rokke to post this open letter in full. -r.)

Depleted Uranium Situation Worsens Requiring Immediate Action By President Bush, Prime Minister Blair, and Prime Minister Olmert

Dr. Doug Rokke, PhD., former Director, U.S. Army Depleted Uranium project

July 24, 2006

The delivery of at least 100 GBU 28 bunker busters bombs containing depleted uranium warheads by the United States to Israel for use against targets in Lebanon will result in additional radioactive and chemical toxic contamination with consequent adverse health and environmental effects throughout the middle east.

Today, U.S., British, and now Israeli military personnel are using illegal uranium munitions- America's and England's own "dirty bombs" while U.S. Army, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Defense, and British Ministry of Defence officials deny that there are any adverse health and environmental effects as a consequence of the manufacture, testing, and/or use of uranium munitions to avoid liability for the willful and illegal dispersal of a radioactive toxic material - depleted uranium.

The use of uranium weapons is absolutely unacceptable, and a crime against humanity. Consequently the citizens of the world and all governments must force cessation of uranium weapons use. I must demand that Israel now provide medical care to all DU casualties in Lebanon and clean up all DU contamination.

U.S. and British officials have arrogantly refused to comply with their own regulations, orders, and directives that require United States Department of Defense officials to provide prompt and effective medical care to "all" exposed individuals. Reference: Medical Management of Unusual Depleted Uranium Casualties, DOD, Pentagon, 10/14/93, Medical Management of Army personnel Exposed to Depleted Uranium (DU) Headquarters, U.S. Army Medical Command 29 April 2004, and section 2-5 of U.S. Army Regulation 700-48. Israeli officials must not do so now.

They also refuse to clean up dispersed radioactive Contamination as required by Army Regulation- AR 700-48: "Management of Equipment Contaminated With Depleted Uranium or Radioactive Commodities" (Headquarters, Department Of The Army, Washington, D.C., September 2002) and U.S. Army Technical Bulletin- TB 9-1300-278: "Guidelines For Safe Response To Handling, Storage, And Transportation Accidents Involving Army Tank Munitions Or Armor Which Contain Depleted Uranium" (Headquarters, Department Of The Army, Washington, D.C., JULY 1996). Specifically section 2-4 of United States Army Regulation-AR 700-48 dated September 16, 2002 requires that:

1. "Military personnel "identify, segregate, isolate, secure, and label all RCE" (radiologically contaminated equipment).
   
   
2. "Procedures to minimize the spread of radioactivity will be implemented as soon as possible."
   
   
3. "Radioactive material and waste will not be locally disposed of through burial, submersion, incineration, destruction in place, or abandonment" and
   
   
4. "All equipment, to include captured or combat RCE, will be surveyed, packaged, retrograded, decontaminated and released IAW Technical Bulletin 9-1300-278, DA PAM 700-48" (Note: Maximum exposure limits are specified in Appendix F).
   

The previous and current use of uranium weapons, the release of radioactive components in destroyed U.S. and foreign military equipment, and releases of industrial, medical, research facility radioactive materials have resulted in unacceptable exposures. Therefore, decontamination must be completed as required by U.S. Army Regulation 700-48 and should include releases of all radioactive materials resulting from military operations.

The extent of adverse health and environmental effects of uranium weapons contamination is not limited to combat zones but includes facilities and sites where uranium weapons were manufactured or tested including Vieques; Puerto Rico; Colonie, New York; Concord, MA; Jefferson Proving Grounds, Indiana; and Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Therefore medical care must be provided by the United States Department of Defense officials to all individuals affected by the manufacturing, testing, and/or use of uranium munitions. Thorough environmental remediation also must be completed without further delay.

I am amazed that fifteen years after was I asked to clean up the initial DU mess from Gulf War 1 and over ten years since I finished the depleted uranium project that United States Department of Defense officials and others still attempt to justify uranium munitions use while ignoring mandatory requirements. I am dismayed that Department of Defense and Department of Energy officials and representatives continue personal attacks aimed to silence or discredit those of us who are demanding that medical care be provided to all DU casualties and that environmental remediation is completed in compliance with U.S. Army Regulation 700-48. But beyond the ignored mandatory actions the willful dispersal of tons of solid radioactive and chemically toxic waste in the form of uranium munitions is illegal ( http://www.traprockpeace.org/karen_parker_du_illegality.pdf ) and just does not even pass the common sense test and according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, DHS, is a dirty bomb. DHS issued "dirty bomb" response guidelines, on January 3, 2006 for incidents within the United States but ignore DOD use of uranium weapons and existing DOD regulations. These guidelines specifically state that: "Characteristics of RDD and IND Incidents: A radiological incident is defined as an event or series of events, deliberate or accidental, leading to the release, or potential release, into the environment of radioactive material in sufficient quantity to warrant consideration of protective actions. Use of an RDD or IND is an act of terror that produces a radiological incident." Thus the use of uranium munitions is "an act or terror" as defined by DHS. Finally continued compliance with the infamous March 1991 Los Alamos Memorandum that was issued to ensure continued use of uranium munitions can not be justified.

In conclusion: the President of the United States- George W. Bush, the Prime Minister of Great Britain-Tony Blair, and the Prime Minister of Israel Olmert must acknowledge and accept responsibility for willful use of illegal uranium munitions- their own "dirty bombs"- resulting in adverse health and environmental effects.

President Bush, Prime Minister Blair, and Prime Minister Olmert should order:

1. medical care for all casualties,
   
   
2. thorough environmental remediation,
   
   
3. immediate cessation of retaliation against all of us who demand compliance with medical care and environmental remediation requirements,
   
   
4. and stop the already illegal the use (UN finding) of depleted uranium munitions.

References- these references are copies the actual regulations and orders and other pertinent official documents:

http://www.traprockpeace.org/twomemos.html
http://www.traprockpeace.org/rokke_du_3_ques.html
http://www.traprockpeace.org/du_dtic_wakayama_Aug2002.html
http://www.traprockpeace.org/karen_parker_du_illegality.pdf
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/fr-cont.html
http://cryptome.org/dhs010306.txt

(Dr. Rokke's letter ends.)

-----------------------------------------------------

Do you need an introduction to Depleted Uranium? Here you go.

EDIT: the link to Leuren Moret's article is dead, here is a working link;
http://www.lonestaricon.net/2005/News/2005/11-20/19news03.htm

[Monkeyman]

1. Have you seen the review from the University Arizona

Depleted Uranium has been found in the DNA of Gulf War Vets One. It attached to the DNA string. I think if you use the search engine on va wachdog .org it is still there

[JohnyCanuck]

11. As a heavy metal uranium binds to & damages DNA

Northern Arizona University biochemist Diane Stearns and her Navajo students are not only gaining knowledge, they are adding to that knowledge with new discoveries about uranium.

The fact that uranium, as a radioactive metal, can damage DNA is well documented. But what Stearns and her collaborators recently have found is that uranium can also damage DNA as a heavy metal, independent of its radioactive properties.

Stearns and her team are the first to show that when cells are exposed to uranium, the uranium binds to DNA and the cells acquire mutations. When uranium attaches to DNA, the genetic code in the cells of living organisms, it can change that code. As a result, the DNA can make the wrong protein or wrong amounts of protein, which affects how the cells grow. Some of these cells can grow to become cancer.

"Essentially, if you get a heavy metal stuck on DNA, you can get a mutation," Stearns explained. Other heavy metals are known to bind to DNA, but Stearns and her colleagues are the first to identify this trait with uranium. Their results were published recently in the journals Mutagenesis and Molecular Carcinogenesis.

http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/DotNet/Newsroom/Query.aspx?SiteName=nau&Entity=PRAsset&SF_PRAsset_PRAssetID_EQ=107192&XSL=PressRelease

[JohnyCanuck]

12. This reserach sounds like it validates the concerns

expressed by Thomas Fasy MD PhD of Mt Sinai Medical School as expressed in his presentation on depleted uranium linked above by reprehensor.

From Dr Fasy's presentation:

Uranyl ions bind to DNA; they bind in the minor groove of DNA. While bound to DNA, uranyl ions are chemically reactive and can give rise to free radicals which may damage DNA. Chemically mediated DNA damage of this type may contribute to the ability of uranium to induce cancers.

I would now like to present some epidemiologic data from the Basra governate in the south of Iraq. In February 1991, more than 300 tons (possibly much more than 300 tons) of D.U. weapons were used in South of Iraq. After 5-6 year latent periods, increases in childhood cancers and birth defects were documented in the Basra governate. The most recent data indicate a four fold increase in pediatric malignancies and a seven fold increase in congenital malformations compared to 1990, the year preceeding the war.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/reprehensor/14

[acmavm]

2. Oh my God, there is no justification, none whatsoever, that anyone will

ever be able to come up with for using DU weaponry on the civilian population of Lebanon.


This website's formation can be traced back to the loss of the 2000 election to a completely immoral and corrupt cabal of some of the most evil bastards ever to hijack a government. People who have no scruples about committing mass murder to enrich themselves and obtain more and more power over people.

Well, they have joined up with another bunch as corrupt and bloodthirsty as thet are. And they are worried that they might have their wings clipped come November so they have to hurry and kill as many as they can while the killing's good.

[Igel]

3. I ran across this, but suprisingly there's little

actual evidence for DU in the bunker busters. Lots of suspicion and claims, but little actual evidence.

There were attempts to claim it was in the tip, but that's unlikely. Best suspicion is that it's used to line the tube that constitutes the body. But if so, it appears it's only really there for its mass.

[Monkeyman]

4. It was reported its the Tank Shells

Bunker Busters have very little but smart bombs carry a lot

[JohnyCanuck]

5. In the "for what it's worth" department

U.S. Colonel Admits 500 Tons of D.U. Were Used in Iraq

By Jay Shaft
Coalition For Free Thought In Media
5 May 2003

In three separate interviews a U.S. Special Operations Command Colonel admitted that the U.S. and Great Britain fired 500 tons of D.U. munitions into Iraq.

He has also informed me that the G.B.U.-28 BLU 113 Penetrator Bunker Buster 5000 pound bomb contains D.U. in the warhead. Until now, as far as I know, the materials used to make the warhead of the G.B.U-28 have remained shrouded in mystery.

He also admitted that privately the Pentagon has acknowledged the health hazards of D.U. for years.

Continued at:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0305/S00050.htm

[Monkeyman]

6. Thats has a lot to it I will look deeper into that one

We have about 40 vets right now who are showing signs

[Tesha]

17. It could serve several purposes

> There were attempts to claim it was in the tip, but that's unlikely.
> Best suspicion is that it's used to line the tube that constitutes
> the body. But if so, it appears it's only really there for its mass.

No doubt. But its pyrophoric properties are also useful as
a way to weaken the (presumed) concrete hardening of a bunker.
But I'd bet along with you that mass is the big deal.

Tesha

[lumpy]

23. Does using DU to line the tube

decrease it's potentcy? Does it really matter what part of the weapon may contains DU? I am not being facetious asking this question..I believe in recyling, but this sounds like it's over doing it.

[Tesha]

24. Mass is mass, assuming it's well-coupled to the penetrating head.

The idea of a ground penetrator is mostly brute force --
couple a huge amount of kinetic energy (stored as the
bomb's momentum) into a hard penetrator that can bash
its way through reinforced concrete without destroying
itself too early in the process.

Momentum is stored by having lots of mass and DU is a
very massive (dense) metal. There are some other choices
(such as tungsten or osmium), but they're all much more
expensive than DU (which is a sort of "free gift" from
the nuclear power/nuclear weapons industry and which
they would otherwise need to pay to get rid of). So the
idea is to pack lots of DU into a form that can easily
transfer its momentum into the hardened penetrator. I'd
imagine this could be done any number of ways depending
on the cleverness of the weapon designer.

DU also has the beneficial effect that it carries enough
momentum (kinetic energy) that it can melt itself on
impact. DU anti-tank rounds are designed to convert into
a jet of molten DU which then pierces the tank armor. And
when separated into small enough particles or droplets,
DU will ignite in air and burn. So the anti-tank round
produces a jet of flaming metal that pierces its way
into the cabin, promptly killing the tank's occupants.
I could imagine that this same effect might be useful
for destroying the steel reinforcing rods in reinforced
concrete.

Personally (and based on the few videos I've seen of ground
penetrators and concrete-piercing missiles), I think this
whole thing is just another example of Military Men Masturbating
over bigger "gee-whiz" weapons. There is no way that kinetic
energy alone will get you through more than a few feet of
correctly-built, correctly-reinforced concrete and concrete
and steel is a lot cheaper than advanced bombs and missiles.
So unless we start talking about nuclear bunker busters, then
the bunkers will win each time.

(Well, unless they're built by Halliburton, or Bechtel Parsons
Brinkerhoff with Modern Continental as the construction
subcontractor, in which the bunkers will probably cave-in
completely on their own, no bombs required.)

Tesha

[ladjf]

7. I don't believe that Israel is dumb enough to use depleted uranium

weapons so close to their country. My guess is that these new weapons will be used against Iran.
There are no known underground structures operated by the Hezbollah that warrant the use of "bunker busters". Iran, on the other, has placed it's most sensitive nuclear facilities very deep underground.

Here's how it will work. The U.S. will refuel the Israeli fighters mid-air so that they can hit targets in Iran. This is looking bad.

[reprehensor]

8. Da bunkers.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HG26Ak02.html

"...Meanwhile, Hezbollah's asymmetrical war effort is absorbing everything thrown at it. Resistance is fueled by a mix of beggar's banquet anger, creative military solutions and Shi'ite martyr spirit. Hezbollah fighters are using olive-green uniforms to confuse the Israelis. According to Jane's Weekly, Hezbollah has done a perfect Vietcong - its fighters operating in a network of underground reinforced bunkers and command posts near the Lebanese-Israeli border almost unassailable by Israel Defense Force bombs. ..."

[ladjf]

9. I don't think that the Hezbollah bunkers are deep and strong

enough require the use of the huge "bunker busters". Iran's concrete and steel underground facilities may be over 70 ft deep under the ground.

The radio activity from the depleted uranium will effect the health of the area for maybe thousands of years.

[mom cat]

10. Dirty bombs ... now we give them to Israel to use!

This is evil incarnate!

[JohnyCanuck]

13. If you ever wonder why no one in authority

seems to give a rat's ass about the soldiers being exposed to depleted uranium, it's probably safe to assume the US elites have the same attitude as Henry Kissinger who was quoted in the book "The Final Days" by Woodward and Bernstein as saying military men are "dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns for foreign policy." See http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2003/06/266114.shtml

J.S.: So how do you feel about the fact that you exposed your own men to D.U.?

U.S.C.: F�k you!! What do you know about my job? I did what I had to do to take out the targets I was given. If it was necessary to use D.U., than I put it in my target analysis reports. I didn�t actually fire the rounds myself; I work in a remote office.

J.S.: So you�ll never have to worry about being exposed to D.U. huh? Very brave.

U.S.C.: (lot�s of profanity) this interview is over with (more profanity, followed by the phone slamming down)

I never did get to finish the third interview, but I think what I got out of the colonel is very telling.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0305/S00050.htm

[rman]

14. "bunker busters" - i doubt Hezbollah has many bunkers in Lebanon

Though the UN sure does.

What's next, ship-to-ship missiles?

[spanone]

15. The gift that keeps on giving.

Sad humans one and all.

[MGD]

16. When DU burns, it atomizes into radioactive dust which is then breathed in

The results are, invariably, fatal. What's more, it defeats charcoal filter gas masks. I would hate to see this stuff used ever again in any capacity. Furthermore, I'm not sure leaving chunks of it laying around on a battlefield crawling with terrorists is such a good idea either as they may be inclined to gather up a few pounds of it and light it on fire above New York City...with invariably fatal results.

[cyberpj]

18. K&R - Let's move this up the line.

Been trying for years to get SOMETHING ANYTHING about Depleted Uranium in the news. Nothing works.

[reprehensor]

20. Keep tryin'.

It's obviously no damn good.

[JohnyCanuck]

26. And it is not hard to understand why that is. n/t

[54anickel]

27. K&R

on edit - well a kick anyway. Can't recommend any longer.

[SammyWinstonJack]

19. !

:grr: :mad: :cry: WHY!

[MardiGras Bandit]

21. To be fair

Have you ever seen depleted uranium in action? Look up videos of A-10's destroying tanks with their Gatling gun. The stuff devastates armor.

I do wonder if we would use it in a war on US soil.

[Selatius]

22. Hezbollah doesn't have heavy armor.

You could do the same with non-radioactive Tungsten rods instead of uranium rods.

[Tesha]

25. Tungsten costs far more than DU.

> You could do the same with non-radioactive Tungsten rods
> instead of uranium rods.

Tungsten's actually better for the job than DU, but tungsten's
far more expensive than DU because DU is a sort of "free gift"
from the nuclear power/nuclear weapons industry. If we didn't
take it and build weapons and Boeing 747 tail counterweights
and fork-lift truck counterweights out of it, then they'd
have to *PAY* to dispose of that shit. As it is, they produce
far more than anyone can figure out any peaceful uses for, so
an occasional war comes in very handy.

Also, tungsten actually has many of the same health risks as
DU, it just doesn't have the (very mild) radioactivity of DU.

Tesha