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understanding", the medical records of Corporal Richard Turnbull The spokesman went on to explain that gene envelopes are effec- clearly state that four vaccines—not three—were classified secret. tively the "walls" that surround the nucleus of each cell and are Turnbull is not alone in this respect. Ray Bristow's list of shots, thus the first line of defence against diseases—whether they be including anthrax (batch no. 0190), plague (batch no. 10OH03A) naturally acquired or as a result of CB weapons attack. HIV gene and pertussis adjuvant (batch no. B1868a)—to name just those envelopes are among the most powerful and resistant known to three that were officially classified—also detail two other vac- science, she added. cines labelled "biological". These are still classified secret and Professor Beverley of the Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine their contents remain "unknown". The story is identical for Shaun Research could think of no theoretical reason why HIV gene Rusling, even down to the same batch numbers of the vaccines he — envelopes would be used other than to "stimulate a response received.” against HIV". He went on to speculate that had HIV gene The Surgeon General, Vice Admiral Revell, stated in one letter envelopes been used in a vaccine, logically this would only have that, "Unfortunately, medical record-keeping in the Gulf was not occurred as protection against a possible attack using HIV as a as thorough as it should have been..." and, as a consequence, bio-weapon. There was, he felt, no other conceivable reason, but details of certain vaccinations are now missing—a position that added that had such a vaccine been "given to Gulf War soldiers it remains the government's official line. would have been speculative". A number of veterans now believe they have been used as The picture that emerges is confusing. The use of cytokines unwitting guinea pigs and are deeply concerned at what precisely does have a rational explanation, for cytokines trigger the body's may have been pumped into them. Once again, Porton Down's immune system. As such, they could be an ideal general vaccine Angus Parker dropped another bombshell. Patiently, he explained for use in a CB warfare setting. However, the rationale behind that "the MoD has not been totally using HIV gene envelopes is less cer- honest about the vaccines used tain and considerably more perplex- against us". I couldn't help but catch The secret use of an experimental ing. Unfortunately, there is not his use of the word "against" us . —_ wae enough detailed information available instead of "on" us. Clearly, he now vaccine on British military in regard to the HIV gene envelopes considers the Ministry of Defence personnel may be one of the most to reach anything but a speculative and others in the Whitehall bureau- a age conclusion. cracy to be bitter enemies—and he is significant reasons why the Some weeks prior to my interview by no means alone in holding that AA A with Professor Beverley, Angus view. A few vets repeatedly warned Ministry of Defence continues to Parker told me in a throwaway com- me that the "Security Services" are | Stonewall vets about the vaccines §f ment, "I don't even want to get into paying them close attention. Some A AIDS as a weapon." At that time, have had their phones tapped and they received. nor did I. Professor Beverley's certi- others experience peculiar mail deliv- tude that this is the only conceivable ery problems. reason why HIV gene envelopes Meanwhile, Parker went on to reveal the chemical structure of would have been used, leaves a sour taste in my mouth. one of the apparently ‘still not admitted to' vaccines. "There is an However, for clarity's sake, I leave the last word with Angus experimental vaccine—an AIDS vaccine," he said. This "has Parker. Told of Professor Beverley's theory, he remained been around since approximately 1990." He went on to explain adamant that there was another reason why HIV gene envelopes that this vaccine contains two components. One component is had been used. His information, he insisted, came directly from known as a "cytokine" which, Parker said, is an "immune poten- the horse's mouth, and I am inclined to accept what he has tiator". It works like a "chemical messenger sent between differ- revealed. At the outbreak of the Gulf War there were not enough ent cells in the body". When it detects a foreign organism, "it stocks of cytokines to go around; thus, a decision was made to top actually stimulates a response by the human immune system" to them up with the HIV gene envelopes which, he assured me, act fight and hopefully destroy the alien organism present. in a very similar fashion to cytokines in that they trigger the Parker's analysis of this component was confirmed by a body's immune system. Significantly, Professor Beverley con- spokesman for London's Biochemical Society, who added that it firmed this when he said that "they do indeed trigger and regulate was "feasible" that cytokines could be "purified and cloned" and _ the way the body relates to pathogens". used to fight "against any agent". The spokesman added, more- Clearly, Parker's revelations—if proved true—are stunning.” over, that cytokines were very "hush-hush", were "cutting-edge The secret use of an experimental vaccine on British military per- technology", and "logically" would have been "adopted by the sonnel may be one of the most significant reasons why the military". They were, she added, "experimental". Ministry of Defence continues to stonewall vets about the vac- According to Parker, the second component consisted of experi- cines they received. To admit to involuntary human testing on mental HIV gene envelopes. He went on to explain one of the such a sensitive issue will lead to a public relations disaster of basic problems with this experimental vaccine. Whereas huge proportions. As one ill vet told me, "I was ordered to volun- cytokines readily drop out of the body after awhile, "fragments" teer" for the shots. He now wishes he hadn't. The second poten- of the HIV genes do not. Although there may have been "good tial reason clearly opens a can of worms about the possible devel- operational reasons" for topping up the vaccine with HIV genes, opment of HIV as a biological weapon.” Parker acknowledged that no one knows the long-term conse- quences. "It was experimental," he emphasised, and had been |= BUSINESS AS USUAL originally developed by Porton Down as an AIDS vaccine.™?* But there are other equally powerful reasons to keep the lid on The question of HIV gene envelopes was put to the the Gulf War Syndrome story. Pat Eddington, the former CIA Biochemical Society's spokesman, who stated that these analyst, has no doubt that the principal reason for the US envelopes "can be created to be specifically resistant to CBW". Government's stonewalling tactic is to cover up the supply of CB BUSINESS AS USUAL But there are other equally powerful reasons to keep the lid on the Gulf War Syndrome story. Pat Eddington, the former CIA analyst, has no doubt that the principal reason for the US Government's stonewalling tactic is to cover up the supply of CB NEXUS - 17 they received. AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 1997