NATO Using Nuclear Weapons in Libya (enemy, Obama, speech, ammunition)

[psulions2007]

I suppose since conventional weapons are made up of elements, we can consider those nuclear weapons too.

[Voyageur]

Originally Posted by ted08721

In all forms, DU is radioactive and chemically toxic, thus conforming to Hague's poisonous weapons definition. Using them is thus a war crime.

NATO Using Nuclear Weapons in Libya | War Is A Crime .org

This is the logical equivalent of calling gunpowder a chemical weapon because gunpowder contains chemicals. You don't really think your local police, and the duck hunter who lives down the road, are using chemical weapons, do you?

The Hague Convention of 1907 prohibits weapons intended to poison or asphyxiate, not weapons which may incidentally do so. (were the latter true, gunpowder -- which is poisonous, after all -- would be a banned chemical weapon). However, depleted uranium is a kinetic-force weapon designed to penetrate heavy armor through sheer physics. Indeed, there is virtually no military utility to its potential toxicity, as such resulting effects would almost certainly occur long after the battlefield is left (and very likely long after the conflict itself concludes), thus providing no tactical benefit to the user.

[Voyageur]

Originally Posted by Toyman at Jewel Lake

Mechanical engineering degree, 25 years in the engineering field and some amount of effort researching military weapons. Not that any high school junior that didn't sleep his way through science class wouldn't see through that article.

[JordanJP]

I think OP has a nasty case of "The Sky Is Falling"-itis.

[Voyageur]

Originally Posted by psulions2007

I suppose since conventional weapons are made up of elements, we can consider those nuclear weapons too.

Of course!

Even fists are nuclear weapons, since every atom in ones hand has a nucleus!

Side note -- and some of those will be nuclei of radioactive atoms, which exist in trace amounts in virtually everything, including life (ex: carbon-14, often used for dating bones, shells, wood, etc.).

[summers73]

I would for anyone to tell Gulf War Syndrome patients that DU is not a weapon.

A family member of mine suffers from Agent Orange and cannot produce natural tears. Pretty f'ed up.

[outbacknv]

Originally Posted by jwm1964

Depleted Uranium?
I've never heard of this before reading this article.
Is it a violation of the Geneva Convention to use DU?

No, it's use is not against the Geneva Convention.

[subsound]

Depleted Uranium is not a fission weapon. Anyone who even thinks that it is has more teeth then brain cells. This is the most idiotic article I have ever witnessed that hasn't referenced shape shifting lizard people that you fight with cotton candy.

It is a low level alpha emitter that can chemically damage your lungs/kidneys if you inhale it. Since it settles to the ground very fast due to it's density, if you are close enough to breathe it in you are probably going to be more worried about being hit with the projectiles.

[Bulldawg82]

DU is not radioactive and isn't a problem. Unless you are on the dead man's end of the projectile.

[GTOlover]

Originally Posted by subsound

Depleted Uranium is not a fission weapon. Anyone who even thinks that it is has more teeth then brain cells. This is the most idiotic article I have ever witnessed that hasn't referenced shape shifting lizard people that you fight with cotton candy.

It is a low level alpha emitter that can damage your lungs if you inhale it. Since it settles to the ground very fast due to it's density, if you are close enough to breathe it in you are probably going to be more worried about being hit with the projectiles.

you aare correct it can be used as fuel in a reactor but cannot be made into weapons grade so Uranium is only useful as fuel rods in fact Canada has The Bruce nuclear power station contains eight CANDU nuclear reactor units. With all units in service the station has a net output of over 6,200 MW of electricity, which places it as the second largest nuclear complex in the world.

The name CANDU is a reference to the reactors' use of deuterium-oxide (heavy water) as the moderator and coolant, and uranium as fuel. This is a particularly effective solution for Canada’s power needs, as the country is the world's largest producer of uranium. The power reactors in Canada are currently all of the CANDU type, and the reactor is also marketed around the world.

which is funny because we are a non-nuclear armed country and sell uranium fuel rod bundles because they cannot be made into weapons grade and are only useful as fuel for power production