Congressman Seeks Data on Chemical Pollution in Iraq—and Whether or not the U.S. Should Respond

Where is Iraq? It’s 7000 miles away from here. And so for most people, it’s out of sight, out of mind.”

So says Congressman Jim McDermott in a recent interview that calls for more data on the effects of depleted uranium used in war zones.

Depleted uranium, a waste product of nuclear energy, possesses the powerful ability to both penetrate metals and prevent metals from being penetrated. According to McDermott, the US military has used depleted uranium in its weapons since the Gulf War in 1991.

In the aftermath of the Iraq War, Iraq experienced a severe increase in the rate of children born with birth defects. McDermott has petitioned the American government to research the causality of this increase, and, if necessary, take responsibility for any connection between the chemical pollution and the high number of Iraqi babies born with physical deformities.

Currently, there isn’t enough data available to draw any conclusions. “My view is that people don’t want to look, because if you find something, then you have to do something about it,” McDermott says.

We’ve shared this video because we want to look—will you join with us in doing something about whatever it is we find?