[ RadSafe ] Re: Bob Cherry on pyrophoric uranium munitions

[bobcherry at cox.net]

Mr. Salsman:

Why don't you try a Google search for your answers? Leave me alone.

Bob C
> 
> From: James Salsman <james at bovik.org>
> Date: 2005/04/12 Tue AM 07:37:08 EDT
> To: radsafe at radlab.nl,   bobcherry at cox.net
> Subject: Bob Cherry on pyrophoric uranium munitions
> 
> Dear Bob Cherry:
> 
> After reviewing the recent archives of the RADSAFE list, a number
> of questions arise:
> 
> 1.  Do you deny that pyrophoric uranium munitions produce poison gas?
> If so, on what grounds?
> 
> 2.  Do you deny that the use of poison gas is strictly forbidden by
> the laws of war?  If so, on what grounds?
> 
> 3.  Why has the U.S. Army never attempted to detect nitrogen compounds
> in the combustion products of pyrophoric uranium munitions?
> 
> 4.  Why has the U.S. Army never detected the UO3 species of uranium
> oxide in the combustion products of pyrophoric uranium munitions?
> 
> I believe the answer to that last question has to do with the fact
> that the less dense oxides, like the nitrogen compounds, waft up and
> disperse over a much wider area than the denser oxides.  And, sadly,
> the U.S. Army has only tested open-air, unenclosed burns of their
> pyrophoric uranium munitions.
> 
> Now, having said all that, I feel that it is important that you know
> I have not yet formed an opinion on the use of uranium in armor, but
> I fear it would be easy for a sophisticated adversary to ignite.
> 
> Sincerely,
> James Salsman
> 
> 
>