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Reader comment on:
Veterans' Rare Cancers Raise Fears of Toxic Battlefields
in response to reader comment: Got WAR CRIMES?

Submitted by Craig Etchison, Aug 8, 2007 09:11

As a Vietnam vet who is one of those making up the high percentage of Viet vets who came down with prostate cancer--DDT? Agent Orange?--let me offer some thoughts on DU, something far worse, I suspect, than Agent Orange.

A recetn study at the University of Southern Maine has shown that DU damages DNA in lung cells. World repsected research scientist Dr. Rosalie Bertell points out that, "Heavy metal exposure (including uranium) can cause loss of cellular immunity, autoimmune diseases, joint disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, and diseases of the kidneys, circulatory system, and nervous system." Loss of cellular immunity also opens an organism up to viral, bacterial, and mycoplasmal invasions connected to a variety of diseases. Equally important are the findings that tiny amounts of DU that are mildly radioactive and shouldn't be large enough for heavy metal poisoning seem to reinforce each other in terms of causing cancers and risk to offspring. Even the Armed Forces Radiobiological Research Institute has admitted that DU can cause cancer. For a more complete scientific explanation, see "Depleted Uranium: All the Questions About DU and Gulf War Sydrome Are Not Yet Answered," by R. Bertell in the International Journal of Health Services, Vol. 36, #3, 2006.

I suspect our government doesn't want to know the truth about DU for a number of reasons. Think of the moral outrage by the world, not to mention our own people. Think of the costs involved in cleaning up the mess? Sadly, DU will continue to kill and maim for eternity. It's half-life is 4.5 Billion years.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
Symptoms started as not being able to eat regular meals. After endo and biopsy cancer was found to be h.... [MORE]	walt	Feb 14, 2008 09:33
This is a story that hit way to close to home. recently my daughters dad, an iraq vet, was diagnosed... [MORE]	jennifer	Dec 7, 2007 00:30
Thank you for addressing this. The troops need the truth. [MORE]	Dennis Kyne	Aug 11, 2007 14:59
Great job. The American people need to know the concerns of the variety of illnesses that are affecting our men... [MORE]	Gail Scammon	Aug 9, 2007 05:46
The reason why I have all of you gathered here is to discuss and expose the use of DEPLETED URANIUM.... [MORE]	Laura Milczanowksi-Hammons	Aug 9, 2007 01:21
Depleted Uranium Situation Worsens Requiring Immediate Action By President Bush, Prime Minister Blair, and Prime Minister Olmert Dr. Doug Rokke, PhD.... [MORE]	Dr. Doug Rokke	Aug 8, 2007 21:59
Robin, This is heartbreaking to read and yet we know what many of our soldiers are up against from being exposed... [MORE]	Lori Brim	Aug 8, 2007 20:14
Thank you Robin. My son has a very aggressive AML (Leukemia) after returning from service in Iraq. He's undergone 3... [MORE]	Lisa Rounds	Aug 8, 2007 18:25
The NY Sun is displaying independence and courage in publishing an article which suggests that it may be U.S. weapons... [MORE]	Joan Walker	Aug 8, 2007 17:47
Your article was very informative to those who have always questioned whether their illness was brought on by something in... [MORE]	Marilyn	Aug 8, 2007 09:48
I need some help here. Where have we engaged with any armored vehicles in Iraq or Afghanistan in the last... [MORE]	Robert	Aug 8, 2007 09:37
Dear Robert, Thank you for your comments. When "Shock & Awe" began in 2003, the US Military dropped pver 300... [MORE]	R. B. Stuart	Aug 8, 2007 14:21
Does anyone consider what effects this use of DU may have had upon on those who have been on the... [MORE]	Al Blutenhalbmond	Aug 10, 2007 18:38
Thanks you RB Stuart for this article. Please tell me how to access that info on the State Dept site,... [MORE]	Elaine	Aug 7, 2007 15:24
It is about time some of these horror story are made public, just like Adolph had his little secrets in... [MORE]	Gary Corb	Aug 7, 2007 14:00
As a Vietnam vet who is one of those making up the high percentage of Viet vets who came down...	Craig Etchison	Aug 8, 2007 09:11
Depleted Uranium alters your genetic makeup for life. It basically destroys your lineage or in a best case scenario only... [MORE]	Calvin	Aug 8, 2007 14:16
Robin, Thank you for telling the stories of our sick military men and women. It has been one year since... [MORE]	Dixie Lauderdale	Aug 7, 2007 01:04
stuart thank you for all you do for us, the cancer patients.its a very good report for people that dont... [MORE]	ssg frank valentin	Aug 6, 2007 22:33
This needs to be on the front pages. [MORE]	susan	Aug 6, 2007 14:54