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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA link between service in Iraq and Afghanistan and cancers. Was Beau Biden exposed in Iraq?
US military burn pits built on chemical weapons facilities tied to soldiers' illness
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/16/us-military-burn-pits-chemical-weapons-cancer-illness-iraq-afghanistan-veterans
In 2007, shortly after vice-president Joe Biden learned that his eldest son would be deployed to Iraq, the then-presidential hopeful turned to a modest crowd at the Iowa state fair and admitted that he didnt want Beau to go. But I tell you what, he said, his family lined up behind him. I dont want my grandson or my granddaughters going back in 15 years and so how we leave makes a big difference.
Beau arrived in Iraq the following year, and spent the next several months serving as a Jag officer at Camp Victory, just outside of the Baghdad airport, and Joint Base Balad, nearly 40 miles north of Baghdad. Though he returned home safely in September 2009, he woke up one day a few months later with an inexplicable headache, numbness in his limbs and paralysis on one side of his body. Beau had suffered a mild stroke. His health deteriorated, and he was diagnosed with brain cancer. Less than two years later, he died at the age of 46.
This makes the Iraq War, a bigger mistake
DebbieCDC
(2,543 posts)depleted uranium
lovuian
(19,362 posts)by KBR and military
Pentagon ordered the use of open-air burn pits to dispose of the wars massive volume of waste. The military relied heavily upon these sprawling ditches, which burned around the clock to consume the tens or even hundreds of tons of junk generated daily. By May 2003, according to Hickman, there were more than 250 burn pits at US bases peppered across the two nations.
7wo7rees
(5,128 posts)Have met him and spent time with. He is as legit as it gets.
cpwm17
(3,829 posts)At the time I was very aware how unhealthy the place was. Depending on the weather, you would often be surrounded by heavy smoke that smelled like burnt plastic.
The burn pit was on the base. Also the nearby locals had to put up with that crap for years. I wouldn't be surprised if some people were harmed by it.
7wo7rees
(5,128 posts)Knew it a long time ago.
lovuian
(19,362 posts)The VA does not acknowledge a link between burn pits and long-term health problems, nor does it provide specialized care, says Torres. And of the 500 people included in Hickmans burn pit study, the VA denied disability benefits to over 90% of them. Torres started an organization to promote awareness of burn pit-related illnesses, BurnPits 360°.
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/16/us-military-burn-pits-chemical-weapons-cancer-illness-iraq-afghanistan-veterans
7wo7rees
(5,128 posts)How long did acknowledgement take then?