Poisoning
The Troops Again
By Heather Wokusch
28 May, 2007
Countercurrents.org
The
Pentagon has a disturbing pattern of withholding information on the
impact of chemical/biological weapons and other toxins on US service
members. As a result, veterans are often told that their debilitating
symptoms are "in their head" and can go decades without receiving
medical help. That's not supporting our troops.
A classic example occurred
when US forces destroyed a chemical munitions dump in Khamisiyah, Iraq
in March 1991. The US Defense Department (DoD) initially denied the
dangers but backtracked in 1997 after a UN Special Commission investigation
proved that sarin gas had been released during the demolition.
Sarin is a deadly chemical
weapon estimated to be over 500 times as toxic as cyanide. Non-lethal
doses can create permanent neurological damage and symptoms such as
loss of memory, paralysis, seizures and respiratory problems. Turns
out that over eight metric tons of sarin were released during the Khamisiyah
demolitions.
Previous research has linked sarin with brain cancer, and Freedom of
Information Act requests indicate the Pentagon knew that up to 300,000
Desert Storm troops may have suffered from sarin exposure. Yet veterans
seeking support were often told that their symptoms had no physical
basis.
Just last week, a scientific
study using Pentagon data showed a "direct correlation" between
sarin exposure in Gulf War vets and brain damage. Symptoms were found
to be exacerbated by the use of bug repellant and a nerve-agent antidote
given to roughly 250,000 troops during the Gulf War.
Yet it is doubtful if even
now, over 16 years after the Khamisiyah disaster, the DoD will finally
face the issue of US-troop sarin exposure.
One obvious reason is money.
If the DoD admitted to withholding critical information connected to
their medical illnesses, tens (or even hundreds) of thousands of Gulf
War veterans could potentially become eligible for compensation.
Second, acknowledging the
sarin issue could raise further questions about the Pentagon's 2003
admission of having tested biological/chemical agents on 5,842 service
members from 1962-73. In operations called Project 112 and Project SHAD,
the Defense Department tested weapons capabilities on troops in six
states (Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Utah), Canada and
Britain. Many veterans of those operations were not informed for decades
and are still fighting for compensation and recognition.
Third, an admission of guilt
would weaken the DoD's credibility regarding controversial programs
today. For example, the anthrax vaccine is mandatory for military personnel
and civilians deploying to "high-threat" areas across the
globe, including Iraq and Afghanistan, despite being linked to serious
illnesses and even death among US service members. Quite conveniently,
the quarterly analysis of medical care data for vaccinated service members
was ended in 2002.
So as we honor our service
members and veterans this Memorial Day, we must acknowledge the continuing
battle many face to receive compensation for exposure to chemical/biological
weapons long ago and to avoid potentially harmful vaccines today. Our
troops deserve better.
*** You can see Heather talk about Project SHAD and other US WMD issues
at www.youtube.com/heatherwokusch
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