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Show A20 TheSalt Lake Tribune NATION Friday, February 14, 1997 Numberof Gulf Troops Exposed To Chemicals KeepsClimbing BY NORM BREWER and JOHN HANCHETTE ANNETT NEWS SEE WASHINGTON The number of U.S. troops who could have been exposedto chemical-weapon agents near Khamisiyah during the Persian Gulf War wa ter than the 20,800 previously identi fied by the Pentagon. the mili tary’s chief gulf-illness investiga tor acknowledged this week Wedo not believe that is an accurate accounting,” Bernard Rostker said when questioned by Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind.. chair man of a National Security sub committee on military personnel Rostker, an assistant secretary of the Navy, said he did not know —andwouldnot speculate — how many may, in fact, have been ex “It is time that we stop investigating the investigation and move onto provide quality care to our veterans and a reviewof the safety measures we implement to protect thosestill on National Gulf War Resource Center from veterans. He doesnot expect to update the 20,800figure until spring, he said Using a large map, Buyer had Rostker show where U.S. troops were in relation to had been based on U.S. units be groundw Buyer estimated that perhaps lieved to have been within about 30 miles. 200,000 allied troops were in the region at the time. Ina brief inter view, helater said hewas not sug estimate came from “sketchy” in formation, and that one troop ing to be far in excess” of 20,000. he said — tossing out “80.000 90,000. Rostker also revealed that Kurds, whose homeland is in northeastern Iraq, complainedto US. doctors during the war of chemical-weapon exposures that caused blistering. The doctors treated the Kurds but could not confirm what they were exposed to, he said Khamisiyah Rostker said the 20,300estimate the urging of President George cal weapons that “manyunits” had been over looked in theoriginal figure Also, the size of the “plume causedby blowing up the dumpin March 1991, as well as the plume’s toxicity, have been ques tioned, Rostker said, adding that intelligenceanalysts are reassessing the information U.N. investigators informed U.S. agencies in November 1991 that they had found evidence the chemical agent sarin was being molished. U.S. officials contend war's massive documents until fall 1995. Then top Pentagon officials denied until June they knew of any such incident Steven Joseph, assistant de- fense secretary for health, told the panel that at least 9.000 U.S troops have entered the Pentagon’s medical-evaluation plan be- Kham ‘ah has become a ma: jor embarrassment for top Penta- cause gonofficials, who until June in troops have more illnesses than sisted there other troops is being studied Several lawmakers indicated had been no widespread exposure of Gls to officials counted possible exposures in the hundreds, but that has grownsteadily to 20,800. gulf illnesses — some 97,000 vet erans are on Pentagon andVeter signed Rostker, with a staff of more than 100, to investigate inci- andnot enough to treatment Joseph, who will be leaving the Pentagonin a few weeks, said mil itary doctors have done an “ex traordinary job” of treating gulf vets still on active duty, but that dents at Khamisiyah and 11 other that could reflect on veterans health Rostker said he will issue a re- port on Khamisiyah in about a week, but saidit will be an “inter im” report intended to generate discussion and more information on to provide quality care to our ot + As Salman @ ‘Ss 82nd Airborne @ee OQmae Savaly eRegiment st veterans and a reviewof the safe- a former Marine who for years has fought for a VA disability pension. His doctors at Walla 24th Mechanized to testify before the committee, ability pension, dating back tohis Smith last week was told by the VAhewould get a 60percent dis- mated back pay at $41,000. After publicity and an invitation BRING YOUR TRUCK VAN OR TRAILER NE-CF-A-KIND AND AS-IS MATTRESS SETS GoobDb Said: 7g! SETS troopsare not eligiblefor care by +109" Pentagon doctors. Theycan go to people. The IRS has audited more than 100 of his clients since De- the Internal Revenue Service on cember but declinedto talk about its investigation — suspicion of helping customers obtain i ed refunds jumped off a bri to his death Larry Charapata, 50, prepared Charapata jumpedoffabridge into the icy Genesee River around midday Tuesday 149! rac [SETS ae BEST PREMIUM those A tax N.Y. He es At these prices delivery is not included! As-is product arriving daily, Quantities are limited; many are one-of-a-kind, so hurry infor best selection. Items are sold in as-is condition, all sales final. could be improved. tax returns for about 2,000 discharge in mid-1991. GLEARANCE: OUTLET SCRATCH&DENT» ONEOFA KIND CLOSEOUT»UNCLAIMED SPECIALORDERS care of guardsmenandreservists Unless reactivated, Arabia Walla, Wash refused to accept ans Affairs health registries — preparer under investigation by ROCHESTER, Saudi diagnoses of numerous illnesses Tax Preparer Under Probe Commits Suicide THE ASSOCIATED PRESS : Infantry Gannett PRICES GooD THROUGH FEB.20, 1997 OR WHILE SUPPLIES LAST! Whether those concern that too much attentionis being paid to possible causes of sites, as well as other gulf hazards thus putting aside that debate It is time that we stop investi gating the investigation and move of possible exposure at Khamisiyah. chemical-weapon agents. At first In response, the Pentagon as- Resource Center, also urged law makers to presumethat veterans wereexposed to chemical agents commander had voiced concern the report was overlookedin the Bush. Until reported last month by Gannett News Service, U.S. officials had not acknowledged that civilian populations of the region may have been exposed to chemi At a hearing of the House Vet erans Affairs Committee Tues: day, Jeffrey Ford, executive di rector of the National Gulf War said. ‘That panel also heard from David Smith, 32, of Lewiston, Idaho. dam Hussein in March of 1991 on Shiite Muslims in southern Iraq “That is not our con ty measures we implement to protect those still on active duty.” he stored when Khamisiyah was de- who rebelled against Baghdad at When money came up later But he also acknowledged that Rostker also is investigating a chemical-weapon attack by Sad noting budgetary concerns. of our people posed when U.S. troops blew up exposed. But “The number's go Joseph said the system should be changed so that gulf reservists who chooseto enter the military system can get care. That view may not endear me to the rest of the department,” said Joseph cern. Our concern is taking care JEFFREY FORD The Pentagon has beensaying 20.800 U. S. troops could have been exposed to chemical: weaponsagents when munitions bunkers at Kamisiyah, Iraq, were demolished after Gulf War, Now, Pentagon officials say, that figure will go up; how hightheyaren't saying. Some nongovernmentanalysts estimateat least 40,000 troops may havebeenexposed. Here arethe troop units thought to beaffectedin area, and their movements Foti VA and military doctors. Rostker said, active duty.”? an ammunition dump near Kha misiyah shortiy after the gesting they all could have been VA hospitals, but many have com plained about quality of care More U.S.troops feared exposed to iragi chemical-weapons agents SETS Quantities ae cz |SETS Aer are hinted. must be sold as sets, and picked up the day of purchase No hold Boner cc ke WINGS NIGAM meneeo Kier MATNas oor IN SETS 0 GREAT SAVINGS OW A SPECIAL PURCHASE 2gis an SOLID WOOD DINING SET ¢ Table andfourchairs in oak and green finish. 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