Pentagon knowingly exposed troops to cancer-causing chemicals, document shows

[MiaCulpa]

Source: Raw Story - John Byrne

A newly leaked military document appears to show the Pentagon knowingly exposed US troops to toxic chemicals that cause cancer, while publicly downplaying the risks exposure might cause.

The document, written by an environmental engineering flight commander in December of 2006 and posted on Wikileaks (PDF) on Tuesday, details the risks posed to US troops in Iraq by burning garbage at a US airbase. It enumerates myriad risks posed by the practice and identifies various carcinogens released by incinerating waste in open-air pits.

Because of the difficulties in testing samples, investigators could not prove that chemicals exceeded military exposure guidelines. But a military document released last December found that chemicals routinely exceeded safe levels by twice to six times.

The leaked report was signed off by the chief for the Air Force's aeromedical services. Its subject is Balad Airbase, a large US military base about 70 kilometers north of Baghdad.

"In my professional opinion, the known carcinogens and respiratory sensitizers released into the atmosphere by the burn pit present both an acute and a chronic health hazard to our troops and the local population," Aeromedical chief Lt. Colonel James Elliott wrote.


Read more: http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Pentagon_knowingly_exposed_troops_to_cancercausing_0310.html

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Full article at the link...

-Diane

[fascisthunter]

1. This is How the Penatgon Feels about the Troops

these right wing fuckers can preach all they want, but behind all those regurgitated sycophantic praises for our military is garbage. These sociopaths could care less....

[acmavm]

2. The brass have always felt the enlisted guy was born and raised

to be a sacrifice on their altar to their war gods.

[LynnTheDem]

3. Electrocution. Recalled body armor. Contaminated water.

Contaminated food. Lack of water. Lack of food. Lack of body armor.


"Fungible. Pawns."

With such rightwing "patriots", our troops don't need foreign enemies.

[Solly Mack]

4. SSDW

K&R

Course, could be argued that it's SSSW

[MiaCulpa]

5. Update on this article

The Wikileaks document -- the Curtis Memo -- had been obtained in Dec.'08 by Larry Scott of VAWatchdog.org, and reported there. The update reflects this oversight.

-Diane Sweet

[dgibby]

6. Thanks for the web site. I didn't know about that organization.