Depleted uranium
One of the most serious crimes against humanity perpetrated by the US, and to a lesser extent by Great Britain, against Iraq is the radioactive poisoning of its soil, its water, and its air through the use of ammunition containing "Depleted Uranium" (DU). This ammunition was used for the first time in Iraq in 1991 in the Gulf War and it has also been used in Afghanistan and in the Balkans.
In these areas, the incidence of congenital malformations and cancer has increased dramatically. Iraqi, American, and British soldiers who participated in the war, and UN peacekeeping soldiers in the Balkans have also been affected. They have become sick in a number of illnesses called the Gulf War Syndrome and the Balkans Syndrome. Many have died.
In April 2004, an international conference called "The Environmental Effects of War" was held in Stockholm. Scientists and medical doctors from the US, Canada, Great Britain, Iraq, and Sweden reported on the latest findings regarding DU and its effects on the environment and on human health.