January 12, 2005

Be aware of uranium

The "Top 10 Censored Stories of 2004" published in Utne Reader's January-February 2005 issue includes one about the Defense Department's on-going use of so-called "depleted" uranium to harden bullets and bombs in Iraq.

Peace House in Ashland ran a full page ad in the Medford Mail-Tribune on Sunday, May 4, 2004 about Depleted Uranium. Rogue Valley readers had the opportunity to read how hazardous to our military and to Iraqi children and adults this radioactive material is. It stays in soil or sand for 45 billion years and can lead to cancer, sexual dysfunction, severe birth defects in offsprings, and many other serious health problems

Quoting Utne: "Radiation in Iraq equals 250,000 Nagasaki bombs reports Bob Nichols of Dissident Voice. The U. S. military uses depleted and nondepleted uranium in ammunition that, when it is detonated, creates a radioactive dust that easily enters the body and damages DNA. As a result, both American troops and civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan have been testing high for radiation that causes cancer and birth defects."

It's understandable the Defense Department would want to prevent media from reporting this information. If it were widely known recruitment of future military would be even more difficult. And our government could be liable for medical care of persons suffering from depleted uranium induced illness.

Major Doug Rokke, former director of the Army's Depleted Uranium Project, says at least 320 tons of DU munitions used during the Gulf War in 1991 contaminated the region and there are now 221,000 Gulf War Vets on disability plus 10,000+ Gulf vets dead. Gas masks don't work because the particles are too fine and cannot be cleaned up or disposed of. Iraqi children play in the tanks left in the desert after the Gulf War and now have cancer.

Canadian researchers have documented that tungsten can harden ammunition nearly as well as depleted uranium and is not radioactive. The Defense Department continues to use DU because they have to dispose of it some way, it is free, and they would have to pay for tungsten. Better to let people die, it would seem, and save some money.

In any event, readers are urged to write and call the TV and radio news programs and urge them to publicize this seemingly censored information. As citizens of a free country, don't we still have a right to know what is being done to the world in our name? Crucial information and links can be found at www.traprockpeace.org

Marguerite Craig
Ashland