# News source:"Hussein has given the order..."; mole in the elite guard?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-source-hussein-has-given-the-order-mole-in-the-elite-guard/163961>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 25, 2003, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-source-hussein-has-given-the-order-mole-in-the-elite-guard/163961 "2003-03-25T04:44:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-source-hussein-has-given-the-order-mole-in-the-elite-guard/163961/21 "2003-03-27T02:37:31Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by The Scrivener \*  
> \*\*I dunno about the Tomahawks; I was referring to the “bunker busters,” which rely in part on their incredible density (depleted uranium, or “DU,” works as an armor penetrator due to its very heavy mass) to do their stuff. I can’t remember where I read it (and I’m reading tons about the war), but I came across that detail just the other day.  
> \*\*

Well, a slight hi-jack.

I know a woman who worked on designing the bunker busters back in the early 90’s. Her name is Luba and she worked at Sandia labs.

I talked to her at the time about what she was doing. She didn’t provide many details[#1] but basically, as **Declan** said, they are shaped charges. IIRC they also have two sets of charges. The first set explodes on impact while the second explodes a very short while later.(Think milliseconds)

Also, as **Bookkeeper** stated, DU is pretty tame stuff. My understanding is that DU is only really dangerous if it is inhaled or handled for long periods of time. I’ll double check with my Dad[#2] about that and report back if I am wrong.

Slee

#1. Luba, my Mom, Dad and all their friends worked at Sandia Labs. They all had high security ratings which made discussing some of their work difficult.

#2. My Dad ran the Nuclear Reactor Saftey Division at Sandia and dealt with nasty radioactive materials all the time. Heck, he had a uranium source in one of his buildings at the bottom of a 30 foot pool to test components.

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**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-source-hussein-has-given-the-order-mole-in-the-elite-guard/163961/22 "2003-03-27T02:50:51Z")

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If you’re inhaling DU, wouldn’t you have to worry about the shell in your lungs more than anything?

😃

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**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2003, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-source-hussein-has-given-the-order-mole-in-the-elite-guard/163961/23 "2003-03-27T03:30:18Z")

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The speculation that I’ve read is that Saddam’s bunker was hit by bunker buster(s), followed by cruise missiles.

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