U.S. tries to calm Iraqis over hazardous waste

[unhappycamper]

U.S. tries to calm Iraqis over hazardous waste
By Scott Peterson | Christian Science Monitor
Posted on Friday, July 23, 2010

Tikrit, Iraq — American commanders in Iraq are working to demonstrate that they are clearing the country of tens of millions of pounds of U.S.-made hazardous waste in an effort to rebut claims that U.S. troops are leaving behind a toxic legacy as they withdraw.

Hundreds of barrels of all types and all colors — filled with everything from discarded lithium batteries and oil filters to powerful chemicals such as hydrochloric acid — are stacked in a dusty compound on a U.S. base at Tikrit, north of Baghdad.

This and a sister facility on another base have so far processed 32 million pounds of "regulated" waste — more than half of it soil contaminated with petroleum products. The material has been decontaminated, crushed or shredded, and then sold as scrap in Iraq, or recycled and shipped abroad.

"We don't use the word 'hazardous,' because in Arabic that translates into chemical, biological, and nuclear waste," U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. Stephen Lanza said during a tour of the site.

"Everything we do here, as we process these materials, is so there is no 'adverse' effect on Iraqis. No materials are left behind," Lanza said. "This highlights how we are not only good stewards here, but our relations with the Iraqi people."

[pinboy3niner]

1. "working to demonstrate ". At least the SPIN is positive.

What about the Balad Air Base burn pits (where the USAF has known about the hazards for more than four years)?

http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfdec08/decfiles/BurnPitMemo.pdf

[NC_Nurse]

2. Just shut up and eat shit like the poor do in our country...

Isn't that their usual tactic? Look for a rug to sweep it under and then, later when its exposed act all contrite and like nobody KNEW about it. Same shit, different war.

[ensho]

3. hazardous means hazardous in every language

the recycled part has me wary