Depleted Uranium Weapons of War
RACHEL'S ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH NEWS #788
http://www.rachel.org/bulletin/index.cfm?St=1
The topic of depleted uranium is very much ON TOPIC for this list and I hope the defense members on this list will pass it on. – For Australian military personnel may soon be handling DU as part of their job.
There are now moves to establish a US training base in Australia where joint US and Australian military training exercises will take place - And the Australian army is purchasing some old secondhand Abrams tanks from the US. I believe ones from Gulf War I, hopefully decontaminated by now but with a half-life of 4.5 billion years is 10 years really enough???
The Abrams tanks are specifically made to use DU munitions and many of the tanks conveniently come with two tonnes of DU armour plate built in as protection. (Volvo take note!) The big question for the Aussie tank crews will be the level of radiation inside the tanks. Check em out boys before you take possession! And don't believe the bullshit the Pentagon secondhand tank dealer spins about how the radiation levels are perfectly safe.
It is likely that the purchase of Abrams tanks is part of a "harmonization" of US and Australian forces. So that in future wars of adventure over oil, the Aussies can bravely fight and die right alongside the Yanks, using the same nuclear weaponry.
Hopefully the Australian government will not bow to Pentagon pressure to go down the DU path.
Don Maisch
http://www.rachel.org/bulletin/index.cfm?St=1
The topic of depleted uranium is very much ON TOPIC for this list and I hope the defense members on this list will pass it on. – For Australian military personnel may soon be handling DU as part of their job.
There are now moves to establish a US training base in Australia where joint US and Australian military training exercises will take place - And the Australian army is purchasing some old secondhand Abrams tanks from the US. I believe ones from Gulf War I, hopefully decontaminated by now but with a half-life of 4.5 billion years is 10 years really enough???
The Abrams tanks are specifically made to use DU munitions and many of the tanks conveniently come with two tonnes of DU armour plate built in as protection. (Volvo take note!) The big question for the Aussie tank crews will be the level of radiation inside the tanks. Check em out boys before you take possession! And don't believe the bullshit the Pentagon secondhand tank dealer spins about how the radiation levels are perfectly safe.
It is likely that the purchase of Abrams tanks is part of a "harmonization" of US and Australian forces. So that in future wars of adventure over oil, the Aussies can bravely fight and die right alongside the Yanks, using the same nuclear weaponry.
Hopefully the Australian government will not bow to Pentagon pressure to go down the DU path.
Don Maisch
Starmail - 7. Apr, 09:52
