"DU is harmful in three ways, according to Fulk: 'Chemical toxicity, radiological toxicity and particle toxicity.'
"Particles in the nano-meter (one billionth of a meter) range are a 'new breed of cat,' Moret wrote. Because the size of the nano-particles allows them to pass freely throughout the organism and into the nucleus of its cells, exposure to nano-particles causes different symptoms than exposure to larger particles of the same substance."
The level of resistance to rational discussion of the DU problem is staggering. Firstly, anyone who dares broach the subject has his or her patriotism questioned. Secondly, it's assumed that discussion of DU's toxic effects is meant to hold the Pentagon responsible for actively wanting to harm troops in Iraq when the real problem is the military's abhorrently cavalier "out of sight, out of mind" attitude.
In short: Shut up and Support Our Troops. Just as long as that means holding their commanders beyond reproach.
DU in Iraq is like Agent Orange in Vietnam. The military is definitely in denial and will probably stay that way for the foreseeable future, unfortunately. I think a lot about the people who develop this stuff and wonder how they manage to live with themselves.
ReplyDeleteIn a sense, no one "makes" it -- it's *nuclear waste*. A by-product. But hey -- it makes cool bullets so by all means let's "repurpose" it...
ReplyDeleteThey need to watch their own training film again.
ReplyDeleteThis won't succeed in actual fact, that is what I believe.
ReplyDelete