Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

lovuian

(19,362 posts)
Tue Feb 16, 2016, 11:12 PM Feb 2016

A 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 didn’t want Beau to go. “But I tell you what,” he said, his family lined up behind him. “I don’t 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

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
A link between service in Iraq and Afghanistan and cancers. Was Beau Biden exposed in Iraq? (Original Post) lovuian Feb 2016 OP
Two words DebbieCDC Feb 2016 #1
Burning of Military Junk lovuian Feb 2016 #4
That too. Google Doug Rokke. 7wo7rees Feb 2016 #5
I was in Balad, Iraq in 2005, fortunately for only four months. cpwm17 Feb 2016 #2
Yes he was. It is in another post from earlier today. 7wo7rees Feb 2016 #3
Very sad to see our veterans lovuian Feb 2016 #6
Vietnam, Agent Orange all over again. 7wo7rees Feb 2016 #7

lovuian

(19,362 posts)
4. Burning of Military Junk
Tue Feb 16, 2016, 11:41 PM
Feb 2016

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.

 

cpwm17

(3,829 posts)
2. I was in Balad, Iraq in 2005, fortunately for only four months.
Tue Feb 16, 2016, 11:38 PM
Feb 2016

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.

lovuian

(19,362 posts)
6. Very sad to see our veterans
Tue Feb 16, 2016, 11:46 PM
Feb 2016

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 Hickman’s 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

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»A link between service in...