U.S. helps remove uranium from Iraq

American and Iraqi officials have completed nearly the last chapter in dismantling Saddam Hussein's nuclear program with the removal of hundreds of tons of natural uranium from the country's main nuclear site. The uranium, which was removed several weeks ago, arrived in Canada over the weekend, according to officials. The removal was first reported by The Associated Press. Although the material cannot be used in its current form for a nuclear weapon or even a so-called dirty bomb, officials decided that in Iraq's unstable environment, it was important to make sure it did not fall into the wrong hands. There are also health dangers associated with concentrated forms of natural uranium, and since little is secure in Iraq, officials wanted to remove it. American military personnel helped move about 600 tons of uranium in the... [read full story]