July 7, 2004

A major achievement: US removes 1.7 metric tons of radioactive material from Iraq

Here are 1.7 metric tons of radioactive material that won't find their way into dirty bombs detonated in New York City. From the BBC, with thanks to Richard:

Along with 1.77 tons of enriched uranium, about 1,000 "highly radioactive sources" were also removed.

The material was taken from a former nuclear research facility on 23 June, after being packaged by 20 experts from the US Energy Department's secret laboratories.

It was flown out of the country aboard a military plane in a joint operation with the Department of Defense, and is being stored temporarily at a Department of Energy facility.