550 Metric Tons of Uranium Removed From Iraq

Orion Blastar tips us to an AP report that 550 metric tons of "yellowcake" uranium has successfully been removed from Iraq. The operation lasted three months, and it required 37 separate flights and an 8,500-mile trip by boat to reach a port in Montreal. Quoting: "While yellowcake alone is not considered potent enough for a so-called 'dirty bomb' -- a conventional explosive that disperses radioactive material -- it could stir widespread panic if incorporated in a blast. Yellowcake also can be enriched for use in reactors and, at higher levels, nuclear weapons using sophisticated equipment. The Iraqi government sold the yellowcake to a Canadian uranium producer, Cameco Corp., in a transaction the official described as worth 'tens of millions of dollars.' A Cameco spokesman, Lyle Krahn, declined to discuss the price, but said the yellowcake will be processed at facilities in Ontario for use in energy-producing reactors."

Comments

Re:Protecting the oil fields in Iraq

[kenh]

What was secured promptly and securely as a top priority? The oil fields in southern Iraq.

Have you ever seen what burning oil fields look like? Ever wonder about the carbon footprint of burning geysers of crude oil - is that too inconvienient?

Ever wonder how Iraq was going to pay to rebuild all the infrastructure that was blown-up in the war to oust Saddam - the oil fields pump liquid gold to cover all damages and more...

Do you know who owns the oil fields in Iraq? The Iraqi government/people, not the U.S., not the coalition, not George Bush, Haliburton, etc... Protecting their single greatest asset is the best thing we could do for the Iraqi people.

It's fun to imply something evil, quite another to prove it.

Before you question why we went into Iraq, I suggest you review all the failed U.N. efforts to reign in Iraq, and also take a look at Saddam's actual statements about what he said he had/was planning to do... It's not so clear-cut, IMHO...