-Caveat Lector- German official criticizes U.S. for uranium weapons in Balkans By AIDA CERKEZ-ROBINSON, Associated Press SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (January 20, 2001 10:10 p.m. EST http://www.nandotimes.com) - German Defense Minister Rudolf Scharping repeated criticism of the United States over depleted-uranium weapons used in NATO missions, suggesting Saturday that Washington has kept information from its allies. Speaking at a German base near the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, Scharping said recent tests have shown the risk to German peacekeepers in the Balkans from weapons containing depleted uranium is minimal. But Scharping said he will "not be satisfied with pages of information pulled out from the Internet," which he said "our American friends" have offered as a response when asked for information about the depleted-uranium munitions. Scharping's two-day trip came amid concerns that illnesses among peacekeepers serving in NATO-led missions in Bosnia and Kosovo could be linked to weapons fired by the alliance -- primarily by U.S. warplanes -- containing depleted uranium. Australia is the latest country to announce testing of its troops who served in the Balkans. The government announced Sunday soldiers will undergo blood and urine tests to measure their possible exposure to depleted uranium. On Wednesday, Scharping demanded the United States come forward with all the information it has on the depleted-uranium weapons and initiated an investigation into whether they contain cancer-causing plutonium, which is far more dangerous than uranium. The United States was complying, but Germany's defense ministry said Friday that it was still waiting to receive more files. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the United States has been open and clear about its use of depleted-uranium ammunition and will continue extensive discussions on the issue. Depleted uranium is a slightly radioactive heavy metal used because of its ability to pierce armor. U.S. forces fired weapons containing depleted uranium in Bosnia in 1994 and 1995, and NATO used them in its 1999 bombing campaign in Yugoslavia. Scharping said Friday that U.S. Army documents show there have been numerous incidents involving depleted-uranium ammunition held by U.S. troops stationed in Germany. NATO insists there is no scientific evidence linking cancer cases to depleted uranium. Earlier this month, it rejected an appeal from Germany and Italy to impose a moratorium on its use because there is no armed conflict under way in Europe. NATO and many countries have ordered investigations into the level of radiation around the ammunition as well as of sites where it was used. German troops last week measured the level of radiation in a former military compound near Sarajevo, where boxes with such ammunition were found. The results showed "the risk is minimal," Scharping said. He also said that "so far there is not one indication plutonium is really present" in the ammunition. NATO said Wednesday the organization had always accepted that there were trace amounts of plutonium in depleted uranium but that the plutonium caused almost no additional radioactivity, pointing to test results reported by the United States last December. ANOMALOUS IMAGES AND UFO FILES http://www.anomalous-images.com <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
