Nexus - 0225 - New Times Magazine-pages

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Another Gulf War spouse has lumps, rashes, and cysts through- out her body. Her skull is thinning, threatening to destroy her brain. She has splitting headaches and painful genital infections. Their son is sick as well.'* The list appears endless. Senator Rockefeller credited his information to an extensive investigation conducted by Committee staff. Here are excerpts from their discoveries: THE CAUSE Although speculation on the roots of this dilemma ranged from pesticides and burning oil wells to undetected Iraqi nerve gases, American troops are the only ones suffering. British, Canadian, Saudi, and Iraqi personnel are relatively unaffected.'” Even though the Newsweek article and other media sources refrained from suggesting vaccines as a potential cause, it awoke the nation to a national dilemma: how to support our vets who unquestion- ably (and unquestioningly) served their country. On 6 May 1994 (ten full days before the Newsweek article was published), the truth was told. In an opening statement at a Hearing before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Senator John D. Rockefeller, IV shared with members of the com- mittee the results of his extensive investigation into the roots of the problem. Here are a few excerpts from that meeting: "Is Military Research Hazardous to Veterans' Health? Lessons from the Persian Gulf" ; wees ~-pOT~ to a national dilemma: how to support our vets who unquestion- “For more than 50 years, hundreds of thousands of military per- ably (and unquestioningly) served their country. sonnel have been involved in human experimentation and other On 6 May 1994 (ten full days before the Newsweek article was _ intentional exposures conducted by the Department of Defense published), the truth was told. In an opening statement at a (DoD), often without soldiers' knowledge or consent. Our May 6, Hearing before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 1994 hearing examines the extent to which these exposures endan- Senator John D. Rockefeller, IV shared with members of the com- _ gered individuals who are now veterans, and explores the implica- mittee the results of his extensive investigation into the roots of __ tions for soldiers and veterans today... the problem. Here are a few excerpts from that meeting: “US troops [in the Persian Gulf War] were intentionally exposed to investigational drugs OPENING STATEMENT and vaccines... In still other Senator John D. Rockefeller, 1V, Chair cases, soldiers were exposed to Committee on Veterans’ Affairs biological agents or other dan- United States Senate gerous substances that DoD was studying; the goal was to study the substances, not their effect on humans... "Some of the studies that have been conducted had more questionable motives. For example, DoD now admits they conducted "Man Break” tests, exposing soldiers to chemical weapons in order to determine how much was necessary to "break a man". Similarly, DoD admits that they subjected hun- Hearing: "Is Military Research Hazardous to Veterans' Health? Lessons from the Cold War, the Persian Gulf, and Today" “A few months ago, Americans were shocked to learn that our government had intentionally exposed thousands of US citizens to radiation without their knowledge or consent. Although many of us expressed horror at the apparently unethical behaviour of our government, we were all relieved to hear that such experiments had been stopped long ago. "We'd like to think that these kinds of abuses are a thing of the past, but the legacy contin- ues. During the Persian Gulf War, hundreds of thousands of soldiers were given experimental vaccines and drugs, and today we will hear evidence that these medical products could be dicedightinaconde Gf saldiers ty causing many of the ‘mysterious illnesses! those veterans are now experiencing... hallucinogens without their "Today's hearing will examine the results of an intensive 6-month investigation conducted | knowledge or consent, in an by Committee staff. The investigation focuses on Persian Gulf War veterans, but extends from] effort to determine how inca- World War ll-era veterans to the present. pacitating those substances "The results of our investigation showed a reckless disregard that shocked me, and | think] could be. Most Americans they will shock all Americans. The use of investigational drugs in the Persian Gulf is especial-| would agree that the use of sol- ly troublesome. The Pentagon...threw caution to the winds, ignoring all warnings of potential | diers as guinea pigs in experi- harm, and gave these drugs to hundreds of thousands of soldiers with virtually no wamings| ments that were designed to and no safeguards. harm them...is not ethical. "If that wasn't bad enough, they administered these drugs and vaccines in such a way that} "These experiences put hun- there is a very good chance they wouldn't have even worked for the intended purpose. They| dreds of thousands of US troops would not have protected most soldiers from chemical or biological warfare. at risk, and may have caused "These are strong statements and | don't make them lightly. lasting harm to many individu- "The situation is unfair from start to finish. It begins with soldiers who are asked to partic- = r 4 : "In thi rt, i - ipate in research, to take experimental drugs, but are not told what the risks are before, dur-| 1. on a ’ si tote ing, or after. DoD regarding the use of inves- "Then, information about the exposures is not included in soldiers' medical records, putting | tigational drugs and vaccines in them at even greater risk. And, when these soldiers leave the service and become veterans,| the Persian Gulf War werc the VA lacks information about the exposures, and about any resulting illnesses, making it] based on inadequate informa- more difficult to help them. tion and in some cases by ignor- "Finally, when these veterans become ill, they are unable to get the medical records and| ing evidence that soldiers would other information they need in order to prove that their illnesses are related to military service. | be harmed unnecessarily. We "This situation is unacceptable." will also discuss how the DoD's ss es failure to provide medical treat- Hearing: "Is Military Research Hazardous to Veterans' Health? Lessons from the Cold War, the Persian Gulf, and Today" APRIL - MAY 1995 20 « NEXUS PRELIMINARY STAFF FINDINGS INTRODUCTION