I know that people in the anti-DU movement have serious issues with efforts
aimed at banning DU, since it is ALREADY a weapon of mass murder under
international law, but I think this article has some useful information about
the concerns of the German Green Party, etc. etc.
    Hajja Romi

Depleted Uranium Ammunition in Afghan War: New Evidence
German Bundeswehr manual challenges US and UK denials over DU in Afghanistan

A
classified German Army manual has thrown doubt over US and UK
assurances that no depleted uranium munitions have been used in
Afghanistan.





21 July 2009 - ICBUW = International Campaign to Ban Uranium Weapons



A military manual that was handed over to German
campaigners has reignited allegations that the US used DU ammunition in
Afghanistan. If true, it runs counter to repeated assurances given by
the US military that no DU was used. The manual, a war-fighting guide
for Bundeswehr contigents in Afghanistan is marked classified and for
official NATO use only. It was written by the Bundeswehr's Centre for
Communication and published in late 2005.


Campaigners have long suspected that the US military
has not been entirely candid over the issue and papers have emerged
showing that DU munitions were transported to Afghanistan. The use of
A10 Warthog aircraft -- one of the main users of DU ammunition --
remains widespread to this day, although the number of armoured targets
is now much diminished. Estimates by Janes Defence in 2003 suggested
that the Taliban had at least 100 main battle tanks and 250 armoured
fighting vehicles at the beginning of the conflict. It would be unusual
if the US Army had chosen not to engage these targets with DU munitions
from the air.


The section on DU munitions begins with:


During the operation “Enduring Freedom” in support
of the Northern Alliance against the Taliban-Regime, US-aircraft used,
amongst others, armour-piercing incendiary munitions with a DU-core.
Because of its pyrophoric character, when this type of munition is used
against hard targets (e.g. tanks, cars) the uranium burns. During the
combustion, toxic dusts can be deposited, particularly at and around
the targets, which can then be re-suspended easily.


It then warns troops how to recognise contaminated
targets and of the potential health threat from DU munitions,
suggesting precautions that troops should take. It is notable that they
suggest the use of full Nuclear Chemical and Biological warfare suits:


DU-munitions can therefore induce toxic and
radiological damage to exposed personnel through heavy metal poisoning
and very low-level radiation. When it is suspected that these weapons
have been used (burnt out cars or tanks, burnt out convoys, typical
30mm bullet holes) NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) protection
suits and NBC masks have to be worn in the vicinity of the munitions’
impact, until NBC security troops can rule out any threat.


Bundeswehr precautionary measures:


- No unnecessary contact with munitions,
munitionparts, or any other potentially contaminated material -
Examination through NBC troop for possible radiation - Issuing of film
dosemeters - Putting on NBC-masks - Sealing up of clothing or wearing
personal NBC protection suit - Documenting any contact with
DU-contaminated material (who, where, when, what, how long, and dose) -
Immediate report with submission of the dosemeter - Calling in of the
responsible troop doctor

The contents of the manual raise a variety of
questions. Not least of which is that if the Bundeswehr were required
to record DU strike sites, is it possible to get access to that
information? German campaigners and the German Green Party have
submitted a Freedom of Information request asking for any data that the
military holds. Also of interest is the decision by the US to deny that
DU was used in Afghanistan -- a decision that runs counter to their
usual position, which justifies the use of DU because it is,
apparently, safe.


German campaigners call for government to support DU
ban Release of the manual comes at a time of growing political interest
in DU in Germany. In particular the Green Party has been agitating for
action on the issue, however it has come across resistance from the
country's centre and right-wing parties. The UN's repeated resolutions
on DU encouraged the Greens to propose that the German government
implement a domestic ban on DU weapons, urge other countries through
the EU, NATO and UN to agree on a moratorium and ultimately work
towards a worldwide ban. In a hearing of the Subcommission for
Disarmament, the Green proposal was dismissed after the Social
Democrats voted against the plans and the Liberals abstained. The
Conservative Union, who form part of the ruling coalition, refused to
attend. The Subcommission heard evidence from Prof. Dr. Meineke, Head
of the Institute for Radiobiology of the Bundeswehr.


German campaigners believe that government movement
towards a ban or moratorium on uranium weapons seems unlikely at the
moment; a position exemplified by Eduard Lintner of the Conservative
Union, who said that DU munitions present no hazard to civilians and
only minor threats to troops, which can easily be prevented with
appropriate safety measures.


Nevertheless, there are potential signs of support
among the Social Democrats and Liberals. The former have said that they
are generally in favour of a moratorium, although coalition agreements
meant that they dismissed the Green's proposal. Meanwhile the latter
would be interested in further commitment on the DU issue but they
abstained from a vote on the proposal because it included a clause
about the prohibition of transit and storage of DU in Germany. During
the hearing it emerged that the German Department of Defence couldn't
tell committee members how much DU is stored in, or transported through
Germany by its allies because it holds no data on shipments.


The German Parliament is now on its summer break and
when it returns in September there will be a general election. This
means that campaigners will have to wait a little longer for the
results of their inquiries into the use of DU in Afghanistan to bear
fruit. 
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=14642





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