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Grace MacMillan Ebbtide Reporter This past November, I had the chance to hear U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott speak here at Shoreline Community College. I was disturbed when McDermott revealed alarming information regarding the use of missiles and rounds made of radioactive waste used in southern Iraq during Desert Storm. According to his sources, the U.S. exploded thousands of low-level radioactive rockets. He also said that humanitarian workers in Iraq disclosed that leukemia in children was up 600% and that some babies are being born with horrendous birth defects: no arms, eyes, mouth; the pictures are staggering.
According to The Nation, our own soldiers were not told they were using radioactive munitions. I find it unthinkable that a peace-loving nation, under the guise of liberating the oppressed and protecting democracy, should disseminate radioactive waste. These weapons were used more than once, according to UN scientists and researchers, who published a study on the wreckage in Kosovo. According to The Nation's report in Dec. 2001, "The UN fears that Depleted Uranium rounds, which unleash clouds of toxic, mildly radioactive uranium particles may be contaminating drinking water in the region...The battle created severe 'environmental hotspots' that pose 'acute health risks' to the residents of four major cities...." The Nation conducted an investigation and said, "Documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that the Pentagon has already sold the radioactive ammunition to Thailand, Taiwan, Bahrain, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Korea, Turkey, Kuwait and other countries." Is it just me, or does this just seem like a convenient way to dispose of radioactive waste? This is unbelievable; it makes you wonder who is making these decisions, what could justify this? I remember cringing as day after day our military bombed Kosovo, Serbia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Now I find that we used radioactive rocket-heads to do it! We put women, children and those fighting for our country in close proximity to radioactive materials without warning. I am angry that our government and military deceived us. I trusted, along with most Americans, that our government was doing the right thing, and would be "kinder and gentler" - an ethic espoused by former President Jimmy Carter. This atrocity undermines our credibility in the global community, and deeply saddens and disappoints me. We have struggled to dispose of toxic radioactive waste at home, and yet we have the audacity to plaster the landscapes of these countries, and explode supposedly "low level" radioactive rockets in the midst of cities. Those families were unknowing victims, not just of the atrocities of war, but of radioactive poisoning. On a hopeful note, in January 2002 Rep. Cynthia McKinney introduced H.R. 3155, which suspends of the use, sale, development, production, testing, and export of depleted uranium munitions, pending the outcome of certain studies of the health effects of such munitions. I encourage you to go to The Nation's Website and read "The Pentagon's Radioactive Bullet" and "War Without End." SCC's environmental club has information and photos. The military is proud of these tank-piercing rockets. They spiral right through armored tanks. There is an alternative product but the government cites its expense. Since when does cutting expenses justify evil? The end does not justify the means - cliche, but the simple truth. I think McDermott quietly pointed out what we need to do. All Americans need to organize and speak out against these atrocities, against human rights abuses perpetrated by our government. We may disagree on whether we should go to war with Iraq. But I think most of us agree that the use of radioactive weapons is morally wrong. Our silence implies approval and agreement. © 2003 Shoreline Community College™ |
