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weapons to Iraq prior to the Gulf War. For the US Government to admit to such cynical irresponsibility would result in public out- rage, Eddington says. Eddington also chastises the Senate whose members selfishly refuse to act against the wishes of the Pentagon. Their delinquen- cy of duty has resulted in the side-lining of in excess of 100,000 Gulf War veterans who now exhibit a range of symptoms typical of chemical, and, in some cases, biological attack. In this 'busi- ness as usual’ scenario, Eddington also reserves some powder and shot for the major media who are largely willing to accept, at face value, the cloying PR handouts from the Department of Defense. Hopelessly abandoned by one and all, many thousands of vets have now died as a result of their chemically inspired battle injuries, adding even more incentive to the Pentagon to continue the cover-up. But in the final analysis, the reasons surrounding the British and US governments’ disgraceful obfuscation are many. Certainly, the prior supply of CB weapons to Iraq is enough to make many gov- ernment officials quake with the fear of disgrace. It is a similar rationale that continues to eclipse the illegal use of experimental, unlicensed and highly sensitive drugs. Not least, however, is the knowledge that defence against chemical and biological weapons attacks is utterly shambolic. Pat Eddington states that CBW pro- tective suits and gas masks are: "...(a) notoriously defective, and (b) in very short supply—two problems that have yet to be cor- rected more than six years later." He adds, "That's not something the Pentagon wants to advertise to the likes of Hashemi- Rafsanjani, Kim Jong II or Colonel Qadhafi."” Yet few can doubt that the intelligence services of Iran, North Korea or Libya are already aware of the published shortcomings of American and British CBW protective equipment. A more sig- nificant fear may be the realisation inside the Pentagon and the Ministry of Defence that their own troops will be less than willing to wade into a future CB battle zone virtually buck-naked. Armed only with an uncertain dose of HIV but the certain knowledge that—thanks to the grace of greed and military com- mercialism—those chemical and biological organisms you are about to inhale and absorb have "made at home" stencilled all over them, would you volunteer for military service? oo About the Author: Born in England, David Guyatt is a freelance investigative journalist whose former career as an executive in internation- al banking and finance provided the background that inspired his research into the shady world of international weapons financing, narcotics trafficking and money laundering. He has worked with the International Committee of the Red Cross on weapons-related projects; the charity pressure-group World Development Movement on British arms financing; and the leading British TV documentary program, World in Anata woe Spee - ee a) notoriously defective, and Action. tective suits and gas masks are: (b) in very short supply—two problems that have yet to be cor- David Guyatt's current research interests include military/ rected more than six years later." He adds, "That's not something _ intelligence mind-control programs and non-lethal weapons the Pentagon wants to advertise to the likes of Hashemi- systems, as well as the hidden influence of elitist groups Rafsanjani, Kim Jong II or Colonel Qadhafi."” around the globe. Endnotes US Senate, titled "Arming Iraq: The Export of 22. A copy of this memorandum is in my posses- 1. The CB attack on Dhahran on 20 January 1991 _ Biological Materials and the Health of Gulf War sion. is confirmed in US CENTCOM battlefield logs Veterans", dated 9 February 1994. Bacillus 23. The only difference is that Rusling received a obtained under FOIA. Delivery was via a Scud anthracis cohn and Clostridium botulinum type hepatitis B jab, whereas Bristow received hepati- missile. A cultures were shipped on 2 May 1988. In all, tis A. In all other respects their lists of vaccines 2. Telephone interview with this writer, dated 12 Riegle was able to identify no less than 61 bio- are identical—including two that remain classi- May 1997. logical cultures supplied to Iraq between 1985- fied. 3. Eddington, Pat, Gassed in the Gulf, Insignia 89. Some of these included human gene clones. 24. Parker states that he has received confirma- Publishing Co., Washington, DC, USA, 1997 13. Telephone interviews with this writer, dated tion of the use of the HIV gene vaccine from a (http://www .InsigniaUSA.com) 13 and 14 May 1997. well-placed and extremely knowledgeable 4, Eddington convincingly argues—based on 14. Ihave been given a copy of an MoD written source, whom he is unable to identify. captured Iraqi documents—that chemical and statement regarding the Ist Field Laboratory Unit 25. I understand Porton Down denies any bio-warfare agents were used in non-lethal doses. _ which states: "We can confirm that this unit involvement in HIV research, but see notes This explains why coalition troops did not keel operated in the Gulf. Its primary task was related below. over and die immediately. Iraqi CB doctrine was _ to the detection of biological warfare agents, of 26. I couldn't help but note the use of the plur- to use low but repetitive doses, which they calcu- _ which there was a real and compelling threat. As al—a usage that seems inconsistent with his oth- lated would produce greater long-term damage, part of their work they were monitoring the erwise firm statement. It had taken me two days Eddington says. effectiveness of the biological immunisation pro- _ and numerous phone calls before I was finally 5. US CENTCOM logs confirmed a later Scud gramme." able to make contact with Professor Beverley. I attack on Hafar al Batin on 14 February 1991. 15. Bernstein, Dennis, "Gulf War Syndrome had been given his number by an individual 6. Telephone interview with this writer, dated 13. Covered Up", Covert Action Quarterly, no. 43, working in the field of immunology. May 1997. Winter 1992/3. Unbeknownst to me at the time, this individual 7. Telephone interview with this writer, dated 13 16. ibid. had contacted Porton Down, revealing the inter- May 1997. 17. "Riegle Report", p. 3. est and direction of my questions—a fact she 8. The Al Jubayl incident is the most comprehen- _18. op. cit., p. 5. revealed the following day when I phoned back sively documented case of CB attack by the 19. Donald J. Riegle's letter to William Perry, US __ with an additional question. Meanwhile, Angus Iraqis. Records obtained under FOIA indicate Defense Secretary, dated 9 February 1994. Parker was told, via a circuitous route, that the that Scuds were not used. Delivery of the CB 20. Carol Marshall's manuscript, "The Last MoD was very "displeased" with him for talking weapon was almost certainly as a result of air- Circle", running to 140 pages, is a comprehen- to me. A paranoid may well consider that two craft penetration, possibly a Russian-manufac- sive investigation into the so-called "Octopus". days "in the world of shadows" is a very long tured Sukhoi SU-22 Fitter fighter-bomber. 21. Significantly, the International Committee of _ time indeed. 9. Telephone interview with this writer, dated 15 the Red Cross (ICRC) is concerned about the 27. They also raise the question of why Britain's May 1997. development of "genetic weapons" and fears that —_ top-secret bio-warfare lab is involved in develop- 10. Parliamentary Q & As in this writer's posses- "the possibility exists for their misuse for politi- ing an AIDS vaccine. The possibility that AIDS sion. cal ends". The ICRC warns that developments of _ has been 'weaponised'—apparently a technical 11. A total of 55 incidents have been recorded to _gene/race-specific weapons may or could be tak-_possibility—is an old and largely discounted date by US CENTCOM logs. CB attacks began ing place. See "Expert Meeting on Certain story attributed to a Cold War disinformation on 17 January 1991 and continued throughout the | Weapon Systems and on Implementation campaign. ground war in all major sectors. Mechanisms in International War", ICRC, 28. Perhaps a 'red herring’? 12. See Report by Senator Donald J. Riegle to the | Geneva, Switzerland, July 1994. 29. Correspondence with this writer. US Senate, titled "Arming Iraq: The Export of Biological Materials and the Health of Gulf War Veterans", dated 9 February 1994. Bacillus anthracis cohn and Clostridium botulinum type A cultures were shipped on 2 May 1988. In all, Riegle was able to identify no less than 61 bio- logical cultures supplied to Iraq between 1985- 89. Some of these included human gene clones. 13. Telephone interviews with this writer, dated 13 and 14 May 1997. 14. Ihave been given a copy of an MoD written statement regarding the Ist Field Laboratory Unit which states: "We can confirm that this unit operated in the Gulf. Its primary task was related to the detection of biological warfare agents, of which there was a real and compelling threat. As part of their work they were monitoring the effectiveness of the biological immunisation pro- gramme." 15. Bernstein, Dennis, "Gulf War Syndrome Covered Up", Covert Action Quarterly, no. 43, Winter 1992/3. 16. ibid. 17. "Riegle Report", p. 3. 18. op. cit., p. 5. 19. Donald J. Riegle's letter to William Perry, US Defense Secretary, dated 9 February 1994. 20. Carol Marshall's manuscript, "The Last Circle", running to 140 pages, is a comprehen- sive investigation into the so-called "Octopus". 21. Significantly, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is concerned about the development of "genetic weapons" and fears that "the possibility exists for their misuse for politi- cal ends". The ICRC warns that developments of gene/race-specific weapons may or could be tak- ing place. See "Expert Meeting on Certain Weapon Systems and on Implementation Mechanisms in International War", ICRC, Geneva, Switzerland, July 1994. 18 = NEXUS AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 1997