Quote:
Originally Posted by GreenGoblin
Most Americans still do not seem to realize that we are using thousands upon thousands of tons of nuclear waste ("depleted uranium") to fight our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Even a very anti-DU article disputes this:
""They have ruined the lives of just under 300,000 people during the last decade - and numbers will increase. The reason is simple. Two hundred tonnes of radioactive material were fired by invading US forces into buildings, homes, streets and gardens all over Baghdad. "American forces admit to using over 300 tonnes of depleted uranium weapons in 1991. The actual figure is closer to 800. "This has caused a health crisis that has affected almost a third of a million people. As if that was not enough, America went on and used 200 tonnes more in Baghdad alone (last) April. I don't know about other parts of Iraq, it will take me years to document that."
And:
"Not only are there 200 tonnes of uranium lying around in Baghdad, the containers which carried the ammunition were discarded. For months afterwards, many used them to carry water ñ others used them to sell milk publicly.
It Is Already Too Late To Reverse The Effects
After his experience in Basra, Hardan says that within the next two years he expects to see significant rises in congenital cataracts, anopthalmia, microphthalmia, corneal opacities and coloboma of the iris - and that's just in people's eyes.
Add to this foetal deformities, sterility in both sexes, an increase in miscarriages and premature births, congenital malformations, additional abnormal organs, hydrocephaly, anencephaly and delayed growth. "
US WMD Have Devastated Iraq
And:
"Here is the estimate of the tons of DU the US used in Iraq: 1000-2000 tons - more than three times the amount used in the first Gulf War...only this time it was primarily spread in Iraq's cities, not on the battlefield. "
DU Spread over Iraq's Cities - As the address suggests, its not exactly balanced.
And:
"These experts, who asked not to be named, have calculated that in Iraq alone, some 150 tonnes of depleted uranium were used by the coalition during the first three weeks of the invasion.
Also, since the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, US and UK forces delivered between 500 and 600 tonnes of depleted uranium to destroy Taliban-held concrete aircraft hangers and to penetrate underground bunkers."
ISA Portal - Depleted uranium concerns
Thousands upon thousands? I'm curious where you got that idea from. You may think that this is splitting hairs, but exaggeration weakens arguments, as its suggest you're trying to prop up a weak position.