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'Iraq used chemical arms against US forces during Gulf War'
WASHINGTON. May 25: Strong evidence exists that Iraq attacked US troops with chemical weapons during the Gulf War. spreading contami-riants that have sickened thousands of Americans, according to a congressional report, says AP.
The 160 page report, re leased Wednesday by Sen. Donald Rlegle. lists more than a dozen incidents where American troops appear to have been exposed to chemical agents mainly from rocket at tacks.
It disputes Pentagon contentions that there Is no evidence of Iraqi chemical at tacks during the 1991 war and criticizes the Defence De partment for not having the capability to confirm whether
troops were exposed to biological agents
The report also says that, contrary to Pentagon claims that nerve agent levels detected by the Czechs and other allies during the war were not harmful, monitoring equipment only picks up nerve agents when levels are 1.000 times higher than what is deemed to be hazardous
The report includes testl mony from 30 Gulf War veter ans who say that apparent Iraqi missile attacks were followed by the sounding of 'chemical agent detectors, the air filling with fumes and burning senna tions on their skin
Almost all are now suffering from the debilitating symp toms of what has come to be
known as Persian Gulf syn drome.
There are multiple wit nesses to what appear to be best explained as chemical or mixed agent attacks." the report said. "Symptoms appeared simultaneously with alarms going off and Patriots intercepting Scuds’
Rjegle said his' yearlong In vestigatlon inclufled interviews with 600 American troops many of whom corroborated reports of chemical expo sums.
One soldier stationed in Saudi Arabia reported a loud explosion early in the morning of January 17 1991 followed by a sounding of alarms and a burning sensation on his face Of the unit s 110 soldiers 85
now suffer from medical prob iems.
Two days later, in another part of Saudi Arabia, witnesses reported a sharp odour of ammonia after a ‘real bad explosion" and more alarms going off.
Ai another location that day. a naval construction worker said his mouth, lips and face became numb after a loud explosion
A soldier based near King Fahd International Airport on January 20 said he saw what he believed to be a Scud mis sile shot down by a Patriot missile. He experienced "a very strong raunchy taste, like very bitter burnt toast" In his mouth. He- now suffers from bleeding, dizziness, hair loss, joint pain. Insomnia and
blurred vision, symptoms common to many returning from the Gulf.
Despite the numerous chemical alerts, troops were told by their commanding officers that they explosions came from sonic booms.
The report said that in addition to direct attacks, there appear to be three other primary sources of exposure
— Fallout from coalition bombing of Iraqi chemical and biological warfare plants. Visual and thermal satellite imagery confirms that fallout during the air and ground war moved to the southeast, toward American forces.
— The administration of nerve agent vaccines to troops, some which act In a manner
similar to the actual agent.
— Continuing contact with Iraqi prisoners of war.
The Pentagon and .the Veterans Affairs Department have launched several programmes to register sick veterans, study their symptoms and search for treatment. But while they acknowledge that the illnesses are real, they say there is no evidence of a single cause
Rlegles report recommends declassification of all information on Iraq's chemical and biological warfare pro grammes, a thorough epidemiological study of sll Gulf War veterans, a study of the impact of nerve agent vaccines and a .presumption of service—connection so sick veterans can receive medical treatment.