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> NUCLEAR WAR IN IRAQ

27 June 2005, 02:02

FROM: Dr. Doug Rokke, Ph.D.,
Former Director of U.S. Army Depleted Uranium Project,
Former Gulf War 1 DU assessment team health physicist,
Confirmed DU casualty

In a message dated 6/26/05 5:54:54 PM Central Daylight Time, Sh0shanna writes:

<< It was the tipping of munitions - bullets, shells and bombs with so-called Depleted Uranium. ... It is just as lethal un-depleted Uranium >>

ROKKE:
When will this nonsense about tipped or coated end?

the round is solid - pure uranium

In review..

quote:

HOW IS DU USED BY THE MILITARY?

DU is used to manufacture kinetic energy penetrators- giant pencils or rods. Each kinetic penetrator consists of almost entirely uranium 238. The United States munitions industry produces the following DU munitions with the corresponding mass of uranium 238:
7.62 mm with unspecified mass
50 caliber with unspecified mass
20 mm with a mass of approximately 180 grams.
25 mm with a mass of approximately 200 grams.
30 mm with a mass of approximately 280 grams.
105 mm with a mass of approximately 3500 grams.
120 mm with a mass of approximately 4500 grams.
Sub-munitions / land mines such as the PDM and ADAM whose structural body contain a small proportion of DU.
Cruise missiles with unknown quantity of DU
Bunker buster bombs with unknown quantity of DU

Many other countries now produce or have acquired DU munitions. DU is also used as armor, counter weights, radiation shielding, and as proposed by the U.S. Department of Energy as a component of road and structural materials. All of these uses are designed to reduce the huge U.S. Department of Energy stockpiles left over from the uranium enrichment process.

It is important to realize that DU penetrators are solid uranium 238. THEY ARE NOT TIPPED OR COATED! During an impact at least 40 % of the penetrator forms uranium oxides or fragments which are left on the terrain, within or on impacted equipment, or within impacted structures.

The remainder of the penetrator retains its initial shape. Thus we are left with a solid piece of uranium lying someplace which can be picked up by children. DU also ignites in the air during flight and upon impact. The resulting shower of burning DU and DU fragments causes secondary explosions, fires, injury, and death.

All individuals must ask if they would want tons solid uranium penetrators lying in their backyard? Does anyone want any radioactive contamination of any type lying in their backyard? The answer is simple- NO ONE!

end quote.