Washblog

The issue of depleted uranium exposure is a lot like closing the barn door after the horses have already gone.  It's after the fact; after the exposure; after troops on the ground and several hundreds of thousands of non-combatant Iraqis have already been exposed.

Sigh, for Sen. Cantwell doing something to appease her own complicity after the fact is a little something better than nothing at all. And not to singularly focus complicity at Sen. Cantwell's doorstep, it belongs at the doorstep of all our unleaders who helped usher in this unGodly war.

To David, though, thank you for continuing to give energy and attention to this issue.    

General Paul Eaton video, May 2007If Pres. Bush Won't Listen, Congress Must

by Lietta Ruger on Fri Jun 16, 2006 at 07:06:49 PM PST

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to get this focus on DU, movement toward doing the right thing.  

DWE -- is this amendment contain what you want it to?  

At the suggestion of Chad L., I have written Senator Murray and asked her to sign on as a co-sponsor:

http://murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm

And I wrote Senator Cantwell to thank her for sponsoring this:

http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/

by noemie maxwell on Sat Jun 17, 2006 at 09:33:37 AM PST

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...true grassroots organizing.

I think this is really important. What the U.S. does in the area of munitions and weapons affects the whole world. With forces that are second to none, we should have the highest standards - the most humane, most precise weaponry in the world. Instead, the U.S. is a horror show of bad and often unacceptably brutal weapons systems. And these systems are the product of a deeply corrupt procurement process.  

There's no doubt the DU is a relatively cheap, easy way to manufacture armor-piercing ammunition. But given the technological superiority of American forces, there's just no excuse for using it if it causes more harm than that required on the battlefield.

There are almost no forces in the world that I know about whose armored weapons pose a real battlefield threat. We could stop using DU tomorrow and no troops would suffer.

by dlaw on Sat Jun 17, 2006 at 12:57:12 PM PST

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I have just been informed that Sen. Lieberman has signed on as a co-sponsor of the DU amendment. How interesting that a senator from Connecticut--the same state as House co-sponsor Chris Shays--has decided to co-sponsor. As many of you know, the State of Connecticut enacted an extensive DU bill into law. Key drivers of the state bill were members of Democracy for Connecticut.

by DWE on Mon Jun 19, 2006 at 01:20:58 PM PST

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I have just been informed that, at the request of Rep. McDermott's office, the following additional language was added to the DU amendment:

(c) REPORT.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit a report to Congress on the results of the study described in subsection (a).

This reporting requirement will aid in oversight.

As a result of the new language, the amendment now has a new number: SA4374.

by DWE on Tue Jun 20, 2006 at 06:56:18 PM PST

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My earlier comment reflects my fluctuating feelings of hope and despair.  I absolutely do recognize the need, importance and value of this piece of legislation.  Thank you for persevering, and demonstrating how the legislative process sometimes actually does work to correct a damage done.  

Would that we citizens could spend our time in promoting legislation that raises the water and lifts all our boats.   Ack, we have to spend the time trying to compensate for the sometimes felonious blunders of our legislators.  David, it takes special people like you to make it happen.

General Paul Eaton video, May 2007If Pres. Bush Won't Listen, Congress Must

by Lietta Ruger on Wed Jun 21, 2006 at 11:31:51 AM PST

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The DU amendment passed in the Senate yesterday. From here, it goes to conference committee. And after that, funding is set in the Defense Appropriations bill.

Onward!

by DWE on Fri Jun 23, 2006 at 06:34:46 AM PST

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Yesterday, the Senate decided unanimously to include in its defense funding bill, Senator Cantwell's legislation requiring a comprehensive study of the health effects of exposure to depleted uranium munitions. Senator Lieberman co-sponsored the legislation and in May, the House passed its own version sponsored by Representative McDermott.

The study, which will be led by the Secretary of Defense with input from the departments of Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services, should help close gaps in existing research. It will cover current and former members of the military who were exposed to depleted uranium, as well as their children, and the medical personnel who provided initial treatment to exposed soldiers. The study will also consider various means of exposure including inhalation of smoke from fires involving depleted uranium munitions. Within a year, the Department of Defense must report to Congress on the results of the study.

by DWE on Fri Jun 23, 2006 at 11:08:15 AM PST

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DKos.

by DWE on Sun Jun 18, 2006 at 08:59:53 AM PST

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