Short Items From the DU Information List
08 Nov 2003
By Dr. Doug Rokke, former U.S. Army's DU team health physicist and former U.S. Army's DU Project Director; George Angus Parker, formerly Sgt with the 1st Field Laboratory Unit, Biological-Warfare Detection Unit, Porton Down. Great Britain
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Part 1: Dr. Rokke's comments The leaders of the United States and Great Britain are considering a pre-emptive military attack against Iraq.

Consequently, the potential use of military force requires the careful evaluation of the health and environmental impact of any weapon system that may be employed by U.S. or British forces in their attempts to achieve their military objectives.

Consequently, I must issue a warning against the deliberate use of any munitions containing depleted uranium.

Depleted uranium munitions (DU) have been used effectively in combat since 1973. Their destructive capabilities are absolutely superior to any other known munitions that can be fired by tanks, armoured vehicles, aircraft, and rifles. In addition the ADAM and PDM, which are land mines, are essentially conventional explosives wrapped in shell containing uranium or a "dirty bomb".

Although DU munitions are an excellent weapon, they leave a path of death, illness, and environmental contamination. The radiological and chemical toxicity are due to uranium, plutonium, neptunium, and americium isotopes within each DU bullet. We also have all of the inherent contamination from the equipment, terrain, and facilities that were destroyed.

http://www.downwinders.org/rokke.htm

Troops Going to the Gulf becoming Ill

2 and 3 parachute Regiment have been given the Anthrax vaccine and are now suffering with side effects. The American forces who have had this vaccine are also suffering the same effects; they are saying that 30% of those given the vaccine have had side effects and 6 HAVE DIED.

If you use these figures for British forces then up to 600 paras are ill and if 7,000 reserve forces are called up then 2,100 of these will become ill; there may be at least 1 death. Members of the Pioneer Corps being readied for the Gulf are receiving up to 5 vaccines in one day to bring their medical records up to date. This will also happen to the reservists thus creating Gulf war syndrome.

For further information contact Tony Flint on 0208 801 0874 More clues to Gulf War vets' illnesses

Toxic ammo is tested in fish areas

U.S. Navy uses depleted uranium in coast waters; activists may go to court

By LARRY JOHNSON SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER FOREIGN DESK EDITOR

The Navy routinely tests a weapon by firing radioactive, toxic ammunition in prime fishing areas off the coast of Washington, raising concerns from scientists, fishermen and activists. The Navy insists the use of depleted uranium off the coast poses no threat to the environment.

Depleted uranium, known as DU, is a highly dense metal that is the by-product of the process during which fissionable uranium used to manufacture nuclear bombs and reactor fuel is separated from natural uranium. DU remains radioactive for about 4.5 billion years.

Comdr. Karen Sellers, a Navy spokeswoman in Seattle, also said there are no hazards to the servicemen and women on board the ships, adding that "all crew members are medically monitored" to ensure their safety. But a coalition of northwest environmental and anti-war activists say they are considering seeking an injunction to halt the tests.