US reduces expenses by using depleted uranium in wars, page 1

2. BACKGROUND

a. DU is natural uranium left over after most of the U-235 isotope has been removed, such as
that used as fuel in nuclear power plants. DU possesses about 60 percent of the radioactivity of
natural uranium and is a radiation hazard primarily if internalized, such as in shrapnel,
contaminated wounds, and inhalation. In addition to its radioactivity, DU has some chemical
toxicity related to being a heavy metal (similar to lead).

b. Testing of DU for possible military use began in the early 1960’s and was first used by the
United States military in projectiles and armor for tanks during the Gulf War, which began in
1990, and continues to the present (see Title 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) § 101(33)). DU has
also been used in other conflicts, such as OIF and Bosnia. Service personnel who may have had
potential inhalation exposure to DU include those on, in, or near vehicles hit with "friendly fire;"
rescuers entering burning vehicles; individuals near fires involving DU munitions; individuals
salvaging damaged vehicles; and those near burning vehicles.

c. The medical effects of DU exposure are continuing to be evaluated. A group of GW
veterans with retained DU fragments, or DU-contaminated wounds, is being followed at a
special DU Program at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, Baltimore,
MD. While no clinically significant adverse effects of DU have been evident to date in this
group, some abnormalities have been detected on specialized testing. NOTE: As of year 2003,
the Baltimore DU Follow-up Program has seen 70 veterans.

d. The Baltimore DU Follow-up Program has determined that, for GW friendly-fire victims,
a 24-hour urine determination for uranium is a more sensitive screening test for DU than wholebody
counting.
Department of Veteran Affairs - DEPLETED URANIUM CHECKLIST AND GUIDELINES YOU WILL NEVER SEE IN COMBAT OR AFTER COMBAT OR AT ANY TIME IN YOUR MILITARY CAREER

I never saw this document after being hit with friendly fire in a vehicle, IED blasts, firing the rounds on ranges and in combat, or any other time for that matter.

I was never urine tested 24 hours after the events, nor was I ever tested for TBI related injuries at any time after the events.

I wasn't tested for anything until after I got out of the military and now I have cirrhosis, among other illnesses. The VA doesn't help veterans and this is our AGENT ORANGE.

Depleted Uranium was deemed a weapon of last resort well before the 60's by government think tanks.

It was only supposed to be a weapon of last resort because it was the perfect weapon.

You fire it, and it kills the enemy behind plate armor, and then a few decades later it kills YOU TOO.

If you are in the military, good luck with the gov keeping their end of the bargain when you start getting sick, take it from me.

Thanks for serving.

edit on 2012/2/1 by sbctinfantry because: (no reason given)