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Pentagon: Gulf troop exposure to chemical weapons may be larger
October 1, 1996Web posted at: 7:30 p.m. EDT
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The number of U.S. troops who may have been exposed to chemical weapons explosions in the Persian Gulf may be more than three times higher than initially thought, the Pentagon admitted Tuesday.
The Pentagon believes troops may have been exposed during two explosions at an Iraqi chemical weapons dump in southern Iraq in March 1991. So far, 5,000 troops involved in the first explosion, at a bunker, were being notified of possible exposure. The CIA is doing studies to help determine the scope of the exposure to both explosions.
The new, higher estimate is based on the belief that there were more chemical weapons stored in an open pit destroyed by U.S. troops on March 10, 1991, than in the bunker destroyed a week earlier, Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon said.
"I just don't think we know at this stage, but we have to think in terms of big numbers -- bigger than 15,000 certainly," Bacon said.
Experts believe sarin nerve gas was in the bunker and open pit at the weapons depot known as Kamisiyah.
Asked if the number of troops affected could include seven U.S. Army divisions, a number that could exceed 100,000 troops, Bacon replied, "I don't know, but I think we have to be prepared for the possibility of big numbers. Then the question will be, 'What was the level of exposure, if any?'"
The Pentagon said the CIA has not yet completed sophisticated computer modeling of the possible troop exposure. The study is factoring in wind conditions, the potential number of chemical rockets destroyed and other information on the second explosion.
Wind patterns were very different during the March 10 explosion, Bacon said, and the number of rockets destroyed apparently is much higher than originally estimated, although he could not immediately cite a number.
"My expectation is that based on the amount of chemical weapons in the pit and then what we've been told about wind patterns on that day and the disposition of forces ... there could be a very large number of troops included in a possible cloud area," Bacon said.
Veterans have suspected that contact with Iraqi chemical or biological agents contributed to illnesses apparently afflicting thousands of Gulf War soldiers. About 22,000 people have registered with the Pentagon to be evaluated for health concerns they believe may be related to service in the Gulf. Soldiers have complained of fatigue, memory loss and respiratory, digestive and skin problems.
Bacon said the Pentagon has asked the National Academy of Sciences and its Institute of Medicine to study the military's approach to Gulf War illnesses.
Until June 21, the Pentagon insisted there was no evidence the Iraqis used chemical or biological weapons during the war. Then, officials said U.S. troops may have exposed themselves by blowing up Iraqi chemical rockets at a site thought to contain only conventional weapons.
Bacon stressed that no matter what the CIA model shows, it will only be an estimate of what might have occurred, because it is impossible to recreate the circumstances precisely. Records showing where troops were positioned are spotty, he added.
"Nobody's trying to lowball the numbers. ... I just can't give you a number."
Correspondent Jamie McIntyre and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Pentagon takes back comments on anti-nerve agent pill - September 27, 1996
- Pentagon says it hid drug risk from Gulf War troops - September 26, 1996
- Gulf War troops may have been exposed to chemical weapons - June 21, 1996
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window- DefenseLINK
- Gulf War Syndrome Cover up, from Covert Action Quarterly
- Gulflink: Perisan GUlf War Veteran's Illnesses home page
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