"[Depleted uranium tipped missiles] fit the description of a dirty bomb in every way... I would say that it is the perfect weapon for killing lots of people." ~ Marion Falk, chemical physicist (retd), Lawrence Livermore Lab, California, USA
In the first 24 hours of the Libyan attack, US B-2s dropped forty-five 2,000-pound bombs. These massive bombs, along with the Cruise missiles launched from British and French planes and ships, all contained depleted uranium (DU) warheads.
DU is the waste product from the process of enriching uranium ore. It is used in nuclear weapons and reactors. Because it is a very heavy substance, 1.7 times denser than lead, it is highly valued by the military for its ability to punch through armored vehicles and buildings. When a weapon made with a DU tip strikes a solid object like the side of a tank, it goes straight through it, then erupts in a burning cloud of vapor. The vapor settles as dust, which is not only poisonous, but also radioactive.
An impacting DU missile burns at 10,000 degrees C. When it strikes a target, 30% fragments into shrapnel. The remaining 70% vaporises into three highly-toxic oxides, including uranium oxide. This black dust remains suspended in the air and, according to wind and weather, can travel over great distances. If you think Iraq and Libya are far away, remember that radiation from Chernobyl reached Wales.
Particles less than 5 microns in diameter are easily inhaled and may remain in the lungs or other organs for years. Internalized DU can cause kidney damage, cancers of the lung and bone, skin disorders, neurocognitive disorders, chromosome damage, immune deficiency syndromes and rare kidney and bowel diseases. Pregnant women exposed to DU may give birth to infants with genetic defects. Once the dust has vaporised, don't expect the problem to go away soon. As an alpha particle emitter, DU has a half life of 4.5 billion years.
In the 'shock and awe' attack on Iraq, more than 1,500 bombs and missiles were dropped on Baghdad alone. Seymour Hersh has claimed that the US Third Marine Aircraft Wing alone dropped more than "five hundred thousand tons of ordnance". All of it DU-tipped.
Al Jazeera reported that invading US forces fired two hundred tons of radioactive material into buildings, homes, streets and gardens of Baghdad. A reporter from the Christian Science Monitor took a Geiger counter to parts of the city that had been subjected to heavy shelling by US troops. He found radiation levels 1,000 to 1,900 times higher than normal in residential areas. With its population of 26 million, the US dropped a one-ton bomb for every 52 Iraqi citizens or 40 pounds of explosives per person.
William Hague has said that we are in Libya " to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas".You don't have to look far for who and what are being 'protected'.
In that first 24 hours the 'Allies' 'expended' £100 million on DU-tipped ordnance. The European Union's arms control report said member states issued licences in 2009 for the sale of £293.2 million worth of weapons and weapons systems to Libya. Britain issued arms firms licences for the sale of £21.7 million worth of weaponry to Libya and were also paid by Colonel Gadaffi to send the SAS to train his 32nd Brigade.
For the next 4.5 billion years, I'll bet that William Hague will not be holidaying in North Africa.
Hooded anarchists throw paint and set off flares on Oxford Street
Police targeted with missiles and light bulbs filled with ammonia
Windows at The Ritz smashed as masked youths run wild
Anti-capitalist smash banks and cash points in city centre rampage
Five police officers injured in clashes, one seriously
Labour leader Ed Miliband likens protest to anti-apartheid movement
These are the scenes in central London tonight as riot police struggle to control anti-capitalist protesters following the TUC's national demonstration against the cuts.
Violence broke out in iconic London locations after splinter groups of activists broke away from the main demonstration and spread out across the centre of the city.
The Ritz hotel and Fortnum & Mason were among the buildings targeted in the capital as groups of rampaging youths fought running battles with riot police.
Clashes look set to continue into the night, as police use containment tactics to try to bring the mob under control.
Scroll down for our video report
Riot: Police officers stand in front of a fire lit be demonstrators in central London
Nightfall: Riot police form lines in front of burning dustbins as they try to control protesters run rampage after the TUC's anti-cuts demo
Running battles: Police officers walk past burning debris in a side road off Regent Street
Chaos: A protester smashing windows at The Ritz in London today
Civil disobedience: Demonstrators throw a road sign at a window of the Ritz Hotel
Street fighting: Hooded protesters, left, continue their attack on the Ritz hotel with bins, while a police officer, right, finds himself in the firing line of flare throwing anarchists
Earlier, around 500,000 activists and campaigners descended on London this morning to protest at the Government's drastic cuts programme.
But while the main march and rally in Hyde Park, which was addressed by Labour leader Ed Miliband, remained peaceful, splinter groups of anarchists went wild.
Hundreds of activists - many wearing masks and hoods - disrupted traffic, set off fireworks and flares in the busiest areas of the city including Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street and Regent Street.
Lightbulbs filled with ammonia and paintbombs were thrown at police as they desperately tried to keep the peace.
Topshop and HSBC had their windows smashed, while paint and glass bottles were thrown at a Royal Bank of Scotland branch. The marauders also attacked The Ritz near Green Park, where they smashed windows with bins and road signs.
UK Uncut, an anti-cuts direct action group, later occupied the Fortnum & Mason store in Piccadilly, claiming the firm had 'dodged' paying taxes.
Nine arrests were made and some police officers were injured.
Uncut: Protesters occupy Fortnum and Mason's on Piccadilly in central London
Rage: UK Uncut protesters targeted Fortnum and Mason's, which they accuse of tax evasion
A policeman splashed with paint in Oxford Street during the anti-cuts protest
Officers clashing with demonstrators in Oxford Street
Topshop's flagship store was paintbombed
The event, organised by the TUC, is believed to be the largest march since up to a million took to the streets in 2003 to oppose the war in Iraq. By 3pm, estimated participation was at 500,000.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said he 'bitterly regretted' the violence, adding that he hoped it would not detract from the massive anti-cuts protest.
'I don’t think the activities of a few hundred people should take the focus away from the hundreds of thousands of people who have sent a powerful message to the Government today,' he said.
'Ministers should now seriously reconsider their whole strategy after today’s demonstration. This has been Middle Britain speaking.'
Mr Barber said unions would now step up pressure on the Government, especially MPs in their constituencies, and launch a series of protests next week in defence of the NHS.
London Ambulance Service said 30 people were treated for injuries throughout the day, 11 of whom were taken to hospital, ranging from assault to collapsing with illness.
Commander Bob Broadhurst said: 'The main march has gone very well. Their estimates are 250,000 - maybe more - have come to central London and protested peacefully. That has gone as we expected.
'Unfortunately, we have had over 500 criminals effectively attacking premises in the Oxford Circus area, causing damage.
'We anticipated there would be some problems. We have minimised the damage caused. We’ll never have enough officers to protect every building in central London. it cannot be done.
'The actual march has gone according to plan. Those damaging buildings have had nothing to do with the TUC.'
Activists threw flares at shops on Oxford Street
Melee: Police clash with anarchist protesters in the centre of London
HSBC (above) and the Royal Bank of Scotland were targeted
Criminal damage: A masked protestor attempts to smash a window after breaking into a HSBC bank branch in Cambridge Circus
Battle: Police try to defend an HSBC branch after anti-capitalist protesters try to smash their way in with a wheelie bin
Wrestle: A police officer has an activist in his grip and then pushes him to the floor. The man in the brown hooded top appeared to be an undercover officer pushing people away from his colleague
MIKIVERSE EDITORS NOTE: ISN'T IT INTERESTING HOW THE ENGLISH PRESS SO CASUALLY DESCRIBES THE UNDERCOVER OFFICER PRETENDING TO BE A PROTESTOR/ACTIVIST. TYPICALLY THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ALMOST ALWAYS START THE VIOLENCE. IT IS ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT THIS CAPTION AND PHOTO WAS REMOVED FROM LATER EDITIONS OF THIS PAPER.
Mr Miliband defied calls to stay away in case the protest descended into anarchy and attempted to use the occasion to argue that his party offered an 'alternative'.
'This is the big society': Labour leader Ed Miliband told trade unionists he supported their struggle
The Labour leader described the gathering as 'extraordinary' and declared himself 'profoundly moved'. He even likened the action to the anti-apartheid movement.
'We come in the tradition of movements that have marched in peaceful but powerful protest for justice, fairness and political change,' he said.
'The suffragettes who fought for votes for women and won. The civil rights movement in America that fought against racism and won.
'The anti apartheid movement that fought the horror of that system and won. The cause may be different but in coming together today to realise our voice, we are standing on the shoulders of those who have marched and struggled for great causes in the past.
'Our struggle is to fight to preserve, protect and defend the best of the services we cherish because they represent the best of the country we love. We know what the government will say: that this is a march of the minority. They are so wrong.'
He added: 'David Cameron: you wanted to create the big society. This is the big society. The big society united against what your government is doing to our country. We stand today not as the minority, but as the voice of the mainstream majority in this country.'
Black bloc: An anarchist protester throws a yellow smoke bomb at police
A protestor holds a smoke flare during clashes with police
Protesters attacked a police van with metal bars
The demonstration was divided between chaos and peaceful action, with nurses, midwives, Gurkhas and teachers all on the streets.
Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, said the turnout was 'absolutely enormous and showed the anger of ordinary working people at the Government's cuts'.
As police fought with the violent fringe, the main group of marchers demonstrated peacefully and walked along the planned route without conflict.
Steel bands, choirs, performers and dancers performed while the mass of people, many with their children in tow, blew horns and whistles as they passed alongside Parliament.
Mass movement: The Trades Union Congress organised the march to Hyde Park, before holding a rally
Protesters of all ages joined the march across London as Scotland yard put 4,500 police officers on the streets
Carnival atmosphere: Despite violent clashes with police, many youths maintained a good humour
Demonstrators walk by Big Ben in central London during the protest dubbed the 'March for the Alternative'
Alternative: Labour leader Ed Miliband MP addresses thousands at the TUC Rally in Hyde Park
Earlier, Education Secretary Michael Gove acknowledged the public concerns about the planned cuts, but insisted that the Government would not be deflected from its strategy.
'Of course people will feel a sense of disquiet, in some cases anger, at what they see happening, but the difficulty we have as the Government inheriting a terrible economic mess, is that we have to take steps to bring the public finances back into balance,' he said.
Activists' websites had shown how they organised a 'huge explosion of class hatred and anger’, specifically targeting banks and shops on Oxford Street.
Trade union leaders, who put on 600 coaches and nine trains to ferry protesters to the capital, insisted they only wanted a ‘safe, well-stewarded and family-friendly event’
But Len McCluskey, leader of the country’s biggest union, ramped up the rhetoric, saying anger towards cuts in public spending ‘needs to find a release’.
Scotland Yard have 4,500 officers on the streets and have warned they will use controversial 'kettling' techniques where necessary.
Hooded anarchists throw paint and set off flares on Oxford Street
Police targeted with missiles and light bulbs filled with ammonia
Windows at The Ritz smashed as masked youths run wild
Anti-capitalist smash banks and cash points in city centre rampage
Five police officers injured in clashes, one seriously
Labour leader Ed Miliband likens protest to anti-apartheid movement
These are the scenes in central London tonight as riot police struggle to control anti-capitalist protesters following the TUC's national demonstration against the cuts.
Violence broke out in iconic London locations after splinter groups of activists broke away from the main demonstration and spread out across the centre of the city.
The Ritz hotel and Fortnum & Mason were among the buildings targeted in the capital as groups of rampaging youths fought running battles with riot police.
Clashes look set to continue into the night, as police use containment tactics to try to bring the mob under control.
Scroll down for our video report
Riot: Police officers stand in front of a fire lit be demonstrators in central London
Nightfall: Riot police form lines in front of burning dustbins as they try to control protesters run rampage after the TUC's anti-cuts demo
Running battles: Police officers walk past burning debris in a side road off Regent Street
Chaos: A protester smashing windows at The Ritz in London today
Civil disobedience: Demonstrators throw a road sign at a window of the Ritz Hotel
Street fighting: Hooded protesters, left, continue their attack on the Ritz hotel with bins, while a police officer, right, finds himself in the firing line of flare throwing anarchists
Earlier, around 500,000 activists and campaigners descended on London this morning to protest at the Government's drastic cuts programme.
But while the main march and rally in Hyde Park, which was addressed by Labour leader Ed Miliband, remained peaceful, splinter groups of anarchists went wild.
Hundreds of activists - many wearing masks and hoods - disrupted traffic, set off fireworks and flares in the busiest areas of the city including Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street and Regent Street.
Lightbulbs filled with ammonia and paintbombs were thrown at police as they desperately tried to keep the peace.
Topshop and HSBC had their windows smashed, while paint and glass bottles were thrown at a Royal Bank of Scotland branch. The marauders also attacked The Ritz near Green Park, where they smashed windows with bins and road signs.
UK Uncut, an anti-cuts direct action group, later occupied the Fortnum & Mason store in Piccadilly, claiming the firm had 'dodged' paying taxes.
Nine arrests were made and some police officers were injured.
Uncut: Protesters occupy Fortnum and Mason's on Piccadilly in central London
Rage: UK Uncut protesters targeted Fortnum and Mason's, which they accuse of tax evasion
A policeman splashed with paint in Oxford Street during the anti-cuts protest
Officers clashing with demonstrators in Oxford Street
Topshop's flagship store was paintbombed
The event, organised by the TUC, is believed to be the largest march since up to a million took to the streets in 2003 to oppose the war in Iraq. By 3pm, estimated participation was at 500,000.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said he 'bitterly regretted' the violence, adding that he hoped it would not detract from the massive anti-cuts protest.
'I don’t think the activities of a few hundred people should take the focus away from the hundreds of thousands of people who have sent a powerful message to the Government today,' he said.
'Ministers should now seriously reconsider their whole strategy after today’s demonstration. This has been Middle Britain speaking.'
Mr Barber said unions would now step up pressure on the Government, especially MPs in their constituencies, and launch a series of protests next week in defence of the NHS.
London Ambulance Service said 30 people were treated for injuries throughout the day, 11 of whom were taken to hospital, ranging from assault to collapsing with illness.
Commander Bob Broadhurst said: 'The main march has gone very well. Their estimates are 250,000 - maybe more - have come to central London and protested peacefully. That has gone as we expected.
'Unfortunately, we have had over 500 criminals effectively attacking premises in the Oxford Circus area, causing damage.
'We anticipated there would be some problems. We have minimised the damage caused. We’ll never have enough officers to protect every building in central London. it cannot be done.
'The actual march has gone according to plan. Those damaging buildings have had nothing to do with the TUC.'
Activists threw flares at shops on Oxford Street
Melee: Police clash with anarchist protesters in the centre of London
HSBC (above) and the Royal Bank of Scotland were targeted
Criminal damage: A masked protestor attempts to smash a window after breaking into a HSBC bank branch in Cambridge Circus
Battle: Police try to defend an HSBC branch after anti-capitalist protesters try to smash their way in with a wheelie bin
Wrestle: A police officer has an activist in his grip and then pushes him to the floor. The man in the brown hooded top appeared to be an undercover officer pushing people away from his colleague
MIKIVERSE EDITORS NOTE: ISN'T IT INTERESTING HOW THE ENGLISH PRESS SO CASUALLY DESCRIBES THE UNDERCOVER OFFICER PRETENDING TO BE A PROTESTOR/ACTIVIST. TYPICALLY THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ALMOST ALWAYS START THE VIOLENCE. IT IS ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT THIS CAPTION AND PHOTO WAS REMOVED FROM LATER EDITIONS OF THIS PAPER.
Mr Miliband defied calls to stay away in case the protest descended into anarchy and attempted to use the occasion to argue that his party offered an 'alternative'.
'This is the big society': Labour leader Ed Miliband told trade unionists he supported their struggle
The Labour leader described the gathering as 'extraordinary' and declared himself 'profoundly moved'. He even likened the action to the anti-apartheid movement.
'We come in the tradition of movements that have marched in peaceful but powerful protest for justice, fairness and political change,' he said.
'The suffragettes who fought for votes for women and won. The civil rights movement in America that fought against racism and won.
'The anti apartheid movement that fought the horror of that system and won. The cause may be different but in coming together today to realise our voice, we are standing on the shoulders of those who have marched and struggled for great causes in the past.
'Our struggle is to fight to preserve, protect and defend the best of the services we cherish because they represent the best of the country we love. We know what the government will say: that this is a march of the minority. They are so wrong.'
He added: 'David Cameron: you wanted to create the big society. This is the big society. The big society united against what your government is doing to our country. We stand today not as the minority, but as the voice of the mainstream majority in this country.'
Black bloc: An anarchist protester throws a yellow smoke bomb at police
A protestor holds a smoke flare during clashes with police
Protesters attacked a police van with metal bars
The demonstration was divided between chaos and peaceful action, with nurses, midwives, Gurkhas and teachers all on the streets.
Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, said the turnout was 'absolutely enormous and showed the anger of ordinary working people at the Government's cuts'.
As police fought with the violent fringe, the main group of marchers demonstrated peacefully and walked along the planned route without conflict.
Steel bands, choirs, performers and dancers performed while the mass of people, many with their children in tow, blew horns and whistles as they passed alongside Parliament.
Mass movement: The Trades Union Congress organised the march to Hyde Park, before holding a rally
Protesters of all ages joined the march across London as Scotland yard put 4,500 police officers on the streets
Carnival atmosphere: Despite violent clashes with police, many youths maintained a good humour
Demonstrators walk by Big Ben in central London during the protest dubbed the 'March for the Alternative'
Alternative: Labour leader Ed Miliband MP addresses thousands at the TUC Rally in Hyde Park
Earlier, Education Secretary Michael Gove acknowledged the public concerns about the planned cuts, but insisted that the Government would not be deflected from its strategy.
'Of course people will feel a sense of disquiet, in some cases anger, at what they see happening, but the difficulty we have as the Government inheriting a terrible economic mess, is that we have to take steps to bring the public finances back into balance,' he said.
Activists' websites had shown how they organised a 'huge explosion of class hatred and anger’, specifically targeting banks and shops on Oxford Street.
Trade union leaders, who put on 600 coaches and nine trains to ferry protesters to the capital, insisted they only wanted a ‘safe, well-stewarded and family-friendly event’
But Len McCluskey, leader of the country’s biggest union, ramped up the rhetoric, saying anger towards cuts in public spending ‘needs to find a release’.
Scotland Yard have 4,500 officers on the streets and have warned they will use controversial 'kettling' techniques where necessary.
