A few days ago, as I do every day in Iraq([search]), I listened to the commander's battle update. The briefer calmly and professionally described the day's events. Somewhere in Iraq, on some forgotten, dusty road, an insurgent fighting an occupying army detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) under a Humvee, killing an American soldier. The briefer fielded a question from the general and moved to the next item in the update.

The day before that, in America, a 15-year-old's incredibly rich parents planned the biggest sweet 16 party ever. They will spend more than $200,000 on an opulent event marking a single year in an otherwise unremarkable life. The soon-to-be-16 girl doesn't know where Iraq is and doesn't care. That same day an American soldier died in Iraq.

Two days earlier, a 35-year-old man went shopping for home entertainment equipment. He had the toughest time selecting the correct plasma screen; he could afford the biggest and best of everything. In the end, he had it installed by a specialty store. He spent about $50,000 on the whole system. He has never met anybody serving in the military nor served himself, but thinks we should "turn the whole place into a parking lot." That day, another American soldier died in Iraq.

Three days earlier, some college students had a great kegger. There were tons of babes at the party, the music was awesome. Everybody got totally blitzed, and many missed class the next day. The young men all registered for the draft when they were 18, but even though our nation is at war, they aren't the least bit worried about the draft. It is politically impossible to conscript young people today, we are told. That day, another American "volunteer" died in Iraq.

Four days earlier, a harried housewife looked all over town for the perfect accessory for her daughter's upcoming recital. Her numerous chores wore her out, but she still found herself preoccupied. Her oldest son is having trouble in his first year of college, and he has been talking of enlisting in the Army. She is terrified that her child will go off to that horrible war she sees on TV. She and her husband decide to give their son more money so he doesn't have to work part-time; maybe that will help with his studies. That day, another soldier died.

Yesterday millions of Americans celebrated Independence Day. They attended parties and barbecues. Families came together from all across the country to celebrate the big day. Millions of dollars were spent on fireworks. At public events, there were speeches honoring the people who served and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. These words mostly fell on bored ears. While the country celebrated its own greatness, other Americans were still fighting in Iraq.

Today Americans go back to their normal business. The politicians in Washington have made sure the sacrifices of the war are borne by the very smallest percentage of Americans. They won't even change the tax rates to prevent deficits from running out of control. Future generations will pay the cost of this war.

Many Americans feel strongly about the war one way or another, but they aren't signing up their children for service or taking the protest to the streets. What can they do? It is they whom we in the military trust to influence our leaders in Washington.

Today, as on every other day in Iraq, American servicemen are in very real danger. Our country is at war. Mothers, fathers, wives, husbands and children are worrying about their loved ones in a faraway land. They all hope he or she isn't the one whose luck runs out today.

We need to follow up every military article with updated info on depleted uranium exposure and possible treatment and clean-up options..

Many people involved in anti-war protests and vets for peace groups are aware of the deadly radioactive nature of depelted uranium, specifically Uranium 238. This uranium remains radioactive despite the misnomer "depleted". The sources of DU exposure can include tank armor, bullets, guns and microscopic airborne fragments inhaled from exploded DU shells..

The inhalation of even one DU fragment can cause serious health issues for soldiers. Iraqi civilians remain at greatest risk because the DU fragments remain in the air indefinitely (4.5 billion years) and are transported and resuspended in wind/dust storms. Clean up of any remaining DU fragments (exploded tanks, etc..) is required according to Geneva Conventions. Halliburton and Bechtel can pay for cost of DU cleanup since they profit the most form the Iraqi occupation by US military..

Health effects of DU exposure;

lung cancer
luekemia
childbirth cancer, birth defects, hydrocephalus, etc.. if parents exposed
thyroid failure
death
other illness

The current VA response to any soldier asking questions about DU is that they are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. However, a new bill pushed through with much effort may begin looking at the health risks posed by DU. A little bit too late for those already suffering from DU exposure, just like Monsanto's Agent Orange sprayed over US soldiers and Vietnamese civilians decades earlier..

"
"Back then, the Pentagon denied that Agent Orange posed any danger to U.S. soldiers who were exposed. Decades later, the truth finally emerged. Agent Orange harmed our soldiers. It made thousands sick and some died. During all those years of denial, we stood by and did nothing while soldiers suffered. "If DU poses no danger, we need to prove it with statistically valid, and independent scientific studies. If DU harms our soldiers, we all need to know it, and act quickly as any doctor would, to use all of our power to heal the sick. We owe our soldiers a full measure of the truth, wherever that leads us."
"

more info @ Campaign Against Depleted Uranium;
http://www.cadu.org.uk/info/veterans/23_1.htm

Evidence already exists that DU exposure DOES POSE DANGER to humans. This scientific article states in their conclusion;

"In aggregate the human epidemiological evidence is consistent with increased risk of birth defects in offspring of persons exposed to DU."

entire article @;
http://www.ehjournal.net/content/4/1/17

If you know anyone (family, friends) in the military currently in Iraq, please, please please, encourage them to desert the US military occupation of Iraq and go AWOL and provide needed support shelter (other resources below) for them upon their completed journey home. This is most essential as returning vets are already physically ill, this current government regime (Bush/Cheney) doesn't give a rat's behind about the health of US ground troops or Iraqi civilians. Don't watch as your loved one suffers for the next several years from DU exposure until they are put down six feet under. Bring them home NOW!!

Sorry for being so blunt, but sometimes that's the only way to get people to hear me..

"Help for Unauthorized Absence (AWOL) Members of the Military

The GI Rights Hotline assists thousands of servicemembers every year who have gone AWOL or UA. We keep up-to-date information on each Service's AWOL and UA policies, provided to AWOL or UA clients in a confidential setting.

For more information, email girights@objector.org or call 800 394-9544 or 510 465-1472."

more info @;
http://girights.objector.org/awol.html

http://members.cox.net/gifightback/