The following is an archived copy of a message sent to the CASI Analysis List run by Cambridge Solidarity with Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of Cambridge Solidarity with Iraq (CASI).
[Main archive index/search] [List information] [CASI Homepage]
[ This message has been sent to you via the CASI-analysis mailing list ] http://www.traprockpeace.org/bunker_busters_kilpatrick.html At the MIT forum on depleted uranium (DU)* on March 6, Dr. Michael Kilpatrick, a leading US Department of Defense spokesperson on deployment health issues related to depleted uranium, responded to a point raised by a member of the audience concerning the use of DU in bunker busters. Dr. Kilpatrick said to the MIT audience: "there was an issue here earlier about bunker busters. Bunker busters are not depleted uranium. Depleted Uranium is like an anvil. I mean it does not explode. And so when you take a look at a bunker buster - that is an explosive device that goes down. So, these are, you read in the paper about all the DU in the bunker buster, it's not in that munition." Go to http://www.traprockpeace.org/bunker_busters_kilpatrick.html to hear his taped comments quoted above, and see resources which indicate that DU is indeed used, or contemplated for use, in earth penetrating 'bunker buster' bombs and missiles. Resources include Congressional testimony, cruise missile specifications (using 'reactive' metals) and research by Dai Williams on weapons patents. (The first two resources courtesy of DU-Watch.) If DU (or un-depleted uranium) were used in bunker busters in Iraq, it would increase by hundreds of tons the amount of DU expended during Gulf War II (about 340 tons were expended during Gulf War I.). Were uranium warheads used in Afghanistan as well? Dr. Kilpatrick's misstatement, and the US refusal to account for its use of DU in Iraq, fuels concerns as well as continued distrust of DoD statements. ^^^^^^^^^^ * "Fiction: DU is ³depleted² in the amount of U235 and is therefore less radioactive than the uranium in our natural environment. Fact: The term ³Depleted uranium is a misnomer. DU is ³depleted² only in the isotopes U234 and U235 which constitute less that 1% of the total uranium. The fact is that both ³depleted² uranium and ³natural² Uranium are over 99% composed of Uranium 238. Depleted uranium is almost as highly concentrated as pure uranium and may contain plutonium in trace amounts." See http://www.umrc.net/factsAndFictions.asp Charles Jenks, attorney at law President of the Core Group Traprock Peace Center 103A Keets Road Deerfield, MA 01342 413-773-1633; Fax 413-773-7507 charles@mtdata.com http://traprockpeace.org _______________________________________ Sent via the CASI-analysis mailing list To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-analysis All postings are archived on CASI's website at http://www.casi.org.uk