How aware are soldiers and troops in Iraq about the use and dangers of depleted uranium munitions?

This was a very real concern during my first tour. We were warned to keep away from destroyed tanks. The armor on some of the M1A1 Abrams [tanks] was constructed out of depleted uranium. Although we were somewhat ignorant about the specific dangers involved. Most of us (myself included) knew very little about Gulf War Syndrome; its causes and affects. We were actually a lot more worried about the Cipro antibiotics that were issued to us in addition to our vaccinations as an "anthrax precaution." One platoon leader used to force his Marines to swallow their Cipro pills front of him. In hindsight its probably best that we werent informed on the subject of depleted uranium. We had much more immediate dangers to worry about at that time. I cant see how this information would have served us. Marines do as they are told, always. If we had been told to drive though an area contaminated by depleted uranium, its not as if we would have had a choice. tingbudong: How would you assess the ...  more