Border Breach? Customs Fails to Detect Depleted Uranium — Again

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/Primetime/sept11_uranium030910.html ^ | 9/10/03 | scabbage

[scabbage]

Just curious if they had a Mexican import this and if Gray Davis greeted him with a drivers license

[Admin Moderator]

Please use original titles. Thanks.

[DoughtyOne]

I've got a good idea, let's spend all our time building a file on every US Citizen so we can stop the threats against us.

DHS is a joke.

With our policy regarding terrorists in Palestine and our continued lax border security, the War on Terrorism is also a joke.

The joke is on us.

[scabbage]

That title was from drudge, (dredge?)

[glock rocks]

Oh My God... more depleted urnanium sneeking into our country. oh my, oh my.

[Admin Moderator]

I'm sorry, you are right.
Here's the original, still at Drudge when I checked about a minute ago:
THEY DID IT AGAIN: ABCNEWS SMUGGLES DEPLETED URANIUM IN TO USA; EXPOSES SECURITY BREACH

I can't stop laughing at Drudge's title.

[rudypoot]

This is completely idiotic. First off, only 1% of the containers coming into US ports are screened. Second, depleted uranium doesn't give off significant radiation to be detectable. Even if it was sitting out in the open on a counter top, the average portable radiation detector can not distiguish the background radiation from the radiation emitted by the depleted uranium.

"Shielded by a steel pipe with a lead lining, 15 pounds of depleted uranium was packed in a suitcase that sailed through customs."

The only way you are going to know that depleted uranium was in there was to open it up. Who in their right mind would open up every piece of cargo that enters this country? And just what the heck is a terrorist going to do with depleted uranium anyway?

[scabbage]

Well depleted or enriched, it`s still freggin` uranium, something you might want to keep an eye on. The point is California is an open sore for this country. It`s a state that is in absolute anarchy from liberal corruption and control and it`s putting the rest of the nation in extreme danger. If Al Qaida offered Gray Davis a deal, have no doubt that he would take it. He may look like Mr. Rodgers, but he`s one evil corrupt SOB and he needs to get the hell out of there as soon as possible.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

good points

[Joe Hadenuf]

The point is California is an open sore for this country. It`s a state that is in absolute anarchy from liberal corruption and control and it`s putting the rest of the nation in extreme danger.

How is California putting the rest of the country in extreme danger? Are not our ports federally controlled? Are not our borders, national, federal borders and ports? Is it not the federal governments constitutional duty to protect our borders?

Could you specifically state how California is putting the rest of the country in extreme danger.

[AdamSelene235]

Well depleted or enriched, it`s still freggin` uranium, something you might want to keep an eye on.

Why? You can buy uranium oxide on EBAY. Enrichment ain't exactly easy.

[glock rocks]

depleted means, well, depleated.

my dad had a 28 lb chunk of du on his desk one day when I visited his office. du is, well, depleted. heavy metal, yes. harmless? yup. very very heavy. not something you'd wanna spend otherwise useful border protection on... savvy?

[dagar]

Depleted Uranium is less reactive than water -- hence the term depleted. Depleted uranium (DU) is virtually non-radioactive; you get considerably higher amounts (hundreds, to thousands of times more) of exposure to radiation just living on the planet (sun,atmosphere and such). However, depleted uranium is incredible dense. E.g. 1 cubic metre of DU has an order of magnitude greater mas than 1 cubic metre of iron. The density of DU makes it perfect for piercing armor (small bullet make big hole and such) like from the GAU-8 on the A-10 'hogs.

IOW, big woop. My body is mostly water. Doesn't mean I'm hydrogen and will combust like the Hindenburg.

[dogbyte12]

I want to encourage everybody to send a letter of gratitude to Sen Grassley for putting the smackdown on the Homeland Security department for trying to harass ABC.

If ABC ever should be harassed because Peter Jennings is a punk, but not for this action. A news organization was attempting to check security, found what they believe was a breach, reported that fact, and the Einstein's at HS decide that the best way to respond is to try to intimidate ABC. That is just beautiful.

Kudos to Sen. Grassley, a genuine patriot.

[Chairman Fred]

"Depleted Uranium" - the isotope U-238 - is an alpha emitter. Sufficient shielding for U-238 is a manilla envelope. U-238 cannot be used to make bombs; on the other hand, it makes excellent radiation shielding - better even than lead.

ABC is scientifically illiterate, but they know enough to exploit other people's fears. This is so disgusting.

[Crossbow Eel]

Doesn't this "proove" that we can't search every briefcase, container etc. that enters the country. We can't seal the borders completely because of the cost and manpower so doesn't this "Proove" that we have to take the fight to the enemy where they are before they come here and hit us ?

[Deathmonger]

Isn't it great now that we have a consolidated secret police, and the Patriot Act gives them all these powers to intimidate people?

[Radix]

The joke is on us.

I certainly agree with you on this issue.

That ABC NEWS team, they sure go out of their way every day in order to insure us Americans just how concerned thay are about the quality of life here in the USA!

Perhaps we should change the Constitution some, and that way maybe that smug puke Peter Jennings could run for president of the United States.

[Radix]

Who in their right mind would open up every piece of cargo that enters this country?

That is exactly what they are trying to get us to do. They are aiming to foul up our Economy.

It would be a much simpler matter if we were to simply enforce the immigration laws, and treat the criminals who enter our country illegally as (dare I say it?) CRIMINALS!

[Radix]

And just what the heck is a terrorist going to do with depleted uranium anyway?

Depleted Uranium is a dense material that is well suited for missiles and other such items that are subjected to intense heat and pressure.