[William McKinley]

Pretty weak analysis here. Beta radiation generally can only penetrate the skin so far- down to the germinal layer. Long term effects can happen from external exposure to beta radiation, but for acute effects there would need to be some internalization of the material (assimilation or uptake, or dust inhaled and lodging itself in the lungs, for example). But just saying "no one has had immediate health effects so it must be alpha" is quite silly.

[walden]

You sound like you know what you're talking about-- is the rest of the technical information here correct?

[The Westerner]

"It also means that United States will hardly want to depend upon the United Nations or the International Atomic Energy Agency for global nuclear security, for if it cannot prevent proliferation in the relatively cut-and-dried case of Iraq, it will be next to useless in cases where the subject has more international standing."

I know little about the scientific analysis, but this article was a long wind-up for the above shattering revelation. Say what?