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Veterans' Rare Cancers Raise Fears of Toxic Battlefields

Submitted by Dr. Doug Rokke, Aug 8, 2007 21:59

Depleted Uranium Situation Worsens Requiring Immediate Action
By President Bush, Prime Minister Blair, and Prime Minister Olmert
Dr. Doug Rokke, PhD.
Major, retired, U.S. Army
former Director, U.S. Army Depleted Uranium project
July 23, 2007

I have served our nation in the military since 1967 during Vietnam, during Desert Storm, during planning for OEF / OIF, and during many other operations. As an Army officer I was tasked by name by General Schwartzkopf to clean up the friendly fire mess caused by uranium munitions during Desert Storm. Consequently, based on my-our team reports I was recalled to active duty as the U.S. Army Depleted Uranium Project director to develop congressionally and Pentagon mandated but currently ignored Depleted uranium munitions operations training, currently ignored U.S. Army Regulation 700-48 specifying environmental remediation procedures, and currently ignored soldier common task training - Task number: 031-503-1017 "RESPOND TO DEPLETED URANIUM/LOW LEVEL RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS (DULLRAM) HAZARDS", STP 21-1-SMCT: Soldiers Manual of Common Tasks, Headquarters Department of the Army, Washington, D.C.. Consequently I became exposed, ill, and now fight along with over 400,000 other ill, wounded, and injured veterans (http://www1.va.gov/rac-gwvi/docs/GWVIS_May2007.pdf) to obtain prompt and effective medical care from the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, and Department of Veterans Affairs. Therefore I must provide this call for action "my story" to ensure that all military personnel and their families know of the adverse health risks, environmental problems, and mandatory but ignored actions associated with the use of uranium weapons. What I have learned, observed, and recommend to be completed follows:

The delivery of at least 100 GBU 28 bunker busters bombs containing depleted uranium warheads by the United States t and their use by Israel against Lebanese targets has resulted in additional radioactive and chemical toxic contamination with consequent adverse health and environmental effects throughout the middle east. Israeli tank gunners are also using depleted uranium tank rounds as photographs verify.
Today, U.S., British, and now Israeli military personnel are using illegal uranium munitions- America's and England's own "dirty bombs" while U.S. Army, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Defense, and British Ministry of Defence officials deny that there are any adverse health and environmental effects as a consequence of the manufacture, testing, and/or use of uranium munitions to avoid liability for the willful and illegal dispersal of a radioactive toxic material - depleted uranium.
The use of uranium weapons is absolutely unacceptable, and a crime against humanity. Consequently the citizens of the world and all governments must force cessation of uranium weapons use. I must demand that Israel now provide medical care to all DU casualties in Lebanon and clean up all DU contamination.
U.S. and British officials have arrogantly refused to comply with their own regulations, orders, and directives that require United States Department of Defense officials to provide prompt and effective medical care to "all" exposed individuals. Reference: Medical Management of Unusual Depleted Uranium Casualties, DOD, Pentagon, 10/14/93, Medical Management of Army personnel Exposed to Depleted Uranium (DU) Headquarters, U.S. Army Medical Command 29 April 2004, and section 2-5 of U.S. Army Regulation 700-48. Israeli officials must not do so now.
They also refuse to clean up dispersed radioactive Contamination as required by Army Regulation- AR 700-48: "Management of Equipment Contaminated With Depleted Uranium or Radioactive Commodities" (Headquarters, Department Of The Army, Washington, D.C., September 2002) and U.S. Army Technical Bulletin- TB 9-1300-278: "Guidelines For Safe Response To Handling, Storage, And Transportation Accidents Involving Army Tank Munitions Or Armor Which Contain Depleted Uranium" (Headquarters, Department Of The Army, Washington, D.C., JULY 1996). Specifically section 2-4 of United States Army Regulation-AR 700-48 dated September 16, 2002 requires that:
(1) "Military personnel "identify, segregate, isolate, secure, and label all RCE" (radiologically contaminated equipment).
(2) "Procedures to minimize the spread of radioactivity will be implemented as soon as possible."
(3) "Radioactive material and waste will not be locally disposed of through burial, submersion, incineration, destruction in place, or abandonment" and
(4) "All equipment, to include captured or combat RCE, will be surveyed, packaged, retrograded, decontaminated and released IAW Technical Bulletin 9-1300-278, DA PAM 700-48" (Note: Maximum exposure limits are specified in Appendix F).
DOD leaders are not showing the DU training tapes to military personnel. These three video tapes: (1) "Depleted Uranium Hazard Awareness", (2) "Contaminated and Damaged Equipment Management", and (3) "Operation of the AN/PDR 77 Radiac Set" are essential to understanding the hazards from the use of uranium weapons and management of uranium weapons contamination. DOD leaders must show these tapes to all military personnel involved in the use of uranium weapons and the consequent management of uranium contamination.
The previous and current use of uranium weapons, the release of radioactive components in destroyed U.S. and foreign military equipment, and releases of industrial, medical, research facility radioactive materials have resulted in unacceptable exposures. Therefore, decontamination must be completed as required by U.S. Army Regulation 700-48 and should include releases of all radioactive materials resulting from military operations.
The extent of adverse health and environmental effects of uranium weapons contamination is not limited to combat zones in the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan but includes facilities and sites where uranium weapons were manufactured or tested including Vieques; Puerto Rico; Colonie, New York; Concord, MA; Jefferson Proving Grounds, Indiana; and Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Therefore medical care must be provided by the United States Department of Defense officials to all individuals affected by the manufacturing, testing, and/or use of uranium munitions. Thorough environmental remediation also must be completed without further delay.
I am amazed that fifteen years after was I asked to clean up the initial DU mess from Gulf War 1 and over ten years since I finished the depleted uranium project that United States Department of Defense officials and others still attempt to justify uranium munitions use while ignoring mandatory requirements. I am dismayed that Department of Defense and Department of Energy officials and representatives continue personal attacks aimed to silence or discredit those of us who are demanding that medical care be provided to all DU casualties and that environmental remediation is completed in compliance with U.S. Army Regulation 700-48. But beyond the ignored mandatory actions the willful dispersal of tons of solid radioactive and chemically toxic waste in the form of uranium munitions is illegal (
http://www.traprockpeace.org/karen_parker_du_illegality.pdf) and just does not even pass the common sense test and according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, DHS, is a dirty bomb. DHS issued "dirty bomb" response guidelines, http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/fr-cont.html
, on January 3, 2006 for incidents within the United States but ignore DOD use of uranium weapons and existing DOD regulations. These guidelines specifically state that: "Characteristics of RDD and IND Incidents: A radiological incident is defined as an event or series of events, deliberate or accidental, leading to the release, or potential release, into the environment of radioactive material in sufficient quantity to warrant consideration of protective actions. Use of an RDD or IND is an act of terror that produces a radiological incident." Thus the use of uranium munitions is "an act or terror" as defined by DHS. Finally continued compliance with the infamous March 1991 Los Alamos Memorandum that was issued to ensure continued use of uranium munitions can not be justified.
In conclusion: the President of the United States- George W. Bush, the Prime Minister of Great Britain-Tony Blair, and the Prime Minister of Israel Olmert must acknowledge and accept responsibility for willful use of illegal uranium munitions- their own "dirty bombs"- resulting in adverse health and environmental effects.
President Bush, Prime Minister Blair, and Prime Minister Olmert should order:
1. medical care for all casualties,
2. thorough environmental remediation,
3. immediate cessation of retaliation against all of us who demand compliance with medical care and environmental remediation requirements,
4. and stop the already illegal the use (UN finding) of depleted uranium munitions.
References- these references are copies the actual regulations and orders and other pertinent official documents:
http://www.traprockpeace.org/twomemos.html
http://www.traprockpeace.org/rokke_du_3_ques.html
http://www.traprockpeace.org/du_dtic_wakayama_Aug2002.html
http://www.traprockpeace.org/karen_parker_du_illegality.pdf
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/fr-cont.html
http://cryptome.org/dhs010306.txt
Photo by David Silverman (Getty Images ) Image 71440735 http://editorial.gettyimages.com


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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 ActionBy President Bush, Prime Minister Blair, and Prime Minister Olmert Dr. Doug Rokke, PhD....

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... [MORE]

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

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