US view

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/16/us-japan-quake-usa-military-idUSTRE72F8W220110316?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews

U.S. forces kept away from Japan nuclear plant area

By Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON | Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:48pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. military on Wednesday ordered troops to stay at least 50 miles away from a crippled Japanese nuclear power plant and started prescribing medication ahead of higher-risk missions amid growing concerns about radiation.

The Pentagon said Japan’s escalating nuclear crisis would not stop its massive relief operation, which has seen 14 U.S. warships take position offshore to ferry food and water to survivors of last week’s devastating earthquake and tsunami.

Still, there is anxiety at U.S. bases in Japan about exposure to radiation. The U.S. Navy has advised families on two U.S. bases to limit outdoor activities and shut off external ventilation after detecting higher-than-normal — but still low — doses of radiation.

On a Facebook page for U.S. Naval Forces Japan, some Americans voiced concern. One living in Atsugi, Japan, where radiation was detected at a naval base, asked about a potential evacuation.

“Having a toddler and being pregnant, I need to know if they can get us going,”a wrote 21-year-old

Another woman, responded: “You know they will wait (until) the last (minute). Just book a flight and keep them babies safe.”

“Who knows what (they’re) not telling us,” she wrote.

Japan’s nuclear crisis appeared to be spinning out of control on Wednesday after workers withdrew briefly from the stricken power plant because of surging radiation levels and a helicopter failed to drop water on the most troubled reactor.

In a sign of desperation, police will try to cool spent nuclear fuel at one of the facility’s reactors with water cannon, normally used to quell riots.

The U.S. military gave Japanese forces firetrucks and water pumps, but stressed Americans will not operate them. It said unmanned “Global Hawk” drone aircraft would gather surveillance data of “industrial sites,” presumably including the plant.

Pentagon spokesman Colonel Dave Lapan said U.S. military personnel and their families would not be allowed within 50 miles of the plant, an area much larger than the evacuation zone of 12 miles set by Japan’s government.

Japan has asked people living between 12 miles and 18 miles to stay indoors to guard against dangerous doses of radiation.

ANY VOLUNTEERS?

Still, Lapan said, the larger no-go zone for the U.S. military was not set in stone. Exceptions could be made if necessary to carry out a mission.

Asked whether the U.S. military might need to seek volunteers to go into the danger zone — instead of just ordering them in normally — given the potential radiological hazards, Lapan said: “No. But again, we’re talking about the United States military.”
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And that’s about it from me in the context of the ongoing emergency. It really has been a severe case of Deja Vu as far as the arrogant “We define what is safe” routine. Its out of the 50s really. People need more than the phony “drifting radiation” crap. Its drifting particulate radioactive emitters than should not be breathed in thing.
Its non bomb fallout. Its nuclear emissions fallout. Not high, not all that far, yet, but it certainly is not the external hazard only scenario the “experts” are implying. There is an internalisation inherent in the reactor fuel rod particulate emissions.

Next : Teller vs Pauling on the dangers of Radium.