OCR Text |
Show The Salt Lake Tribune A20 NATION Njumber of Gulf Troops Exposed To Chemicals Keeps Climbing BY NORM BREWER and JOHN HANCHETTE NETT NEWS “ SERVICE WASHINGTON The number of US. troops who could have n exposed to chemical-weapon agents near Khamisiyah during he Persian Gulf Warwas greater han the 20,800 previously identi ed by the Pentagon, the mili ary's chief gulf-illness investiga or acknowledged this week We do not believe that is an Bernard vceural e accounting It is time that we stop investigating the investigation and move on to provide quality care to our veterans anda review of the safety measures we implement to protect thosestill on ” active duty. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., chair- nan of a National Security sub‘ommittee on military personnel, Rostker, an assistant secretary of the Navy. said he did not know and would not speculate — how nany may, in fact, have been ex- sysed when U.S. troops blew up in ammunition dump near Khanisiyah, Iraq, shortly after the sround war Buyer estimated that perhaps 200,000 allied troops were in the region at the time. Ina brief inter: view, he later said he was not suggesting they all could have been sxposed. But “The number's go ing to be far in excess” he said — tossing out 10,000 of 20,000. “80,000 Rostker also revealed that Kurds. jose homeland is in northeastern Iraq, complainedto S. doctors during the war of shemical-weapon exposures that aused blistering. The doctors reated the Kurds but could not ‘onfirm what they were exposed to, he said Rostker also is investigating a shemical-weapon attack by Saddam Hussein in Marchof 1991 on Shiite Muslims in southern Iraq from veterans. He doesnot expect to update the 20,800 figure until spring, he said Using a large map, Buyer had Rostker show where U.S. troops were in relation to Khamisiyah Rostker said the 20,800 estimate had been based on U.S. units be lieved to have been within about 30 miles. But he also acknowledged that estimate came from “sketchy” in- formation, and that one troop commander had voiced concern that “many units” had been overlooked in the original figure. Also, the size of the “plume” March 1991, as well as intelligence sures in the hundreds, but that has grown steadily to 20,800. In response, the Pentagon assigned Rostker, with a staff of more than 100, to investigateincijents at Khamisiyah and11 other sites, as well as other gulf hazards that could reflect on veterans health. Rostker said he will issue a re port on Khamisiyah in about a week, but said it will be an “inter- m’ report intended to generate jiscussion and more information the department,” River Kamisiyah That view may not endear metotherest of said Joseph conce notings budgetary budgetary concerns + «> When money cameuplater, ar eae 6 —_ SO Rostker said, “That is not our con cern. Our concernis taking care \ At a hearing of the HouseVeterans’ Affairs Committee Tuesday, Jeffrey Ford, executive director of the National Gulf War Resource Center, also urged law- , -f ‘ Ratha a § 5 \ % makers to presumethat veterans were exposed to chemical agents, thus putting asidethat debate “It is time that westop investi- ~ gating theinvestigation and move = om on to provide quality care to our ems @% 3rd Armored sey Cavairy Regiment veterans and a reviewOf SHB SEI ty measures we implement to pro- tect those still on active duty,” he Rugi Mechanized said infantry i ee Gannett That panel also heard from David Smith, 32, of Lewiston, Idaho, a former Marine who for years has fought for a VA disability pension. His doctors at Walla 7 refused to accept to testify before the committee, ability pension, dating back to his After publicity and aninvitation VA he would get a 60 percent dis- discharge in mid-1991. He estimated back pay at $41,000. Walla, Wash., diagnoses of numerousillnesses. Smith last week was told bythe PRICES GOOD THROUGH | FEB.20, 1997 | OR WHILE SUPPLIES LAST! analysts are reassess- BRING YOUR TRUCK VAN OR TRAILER At theseprices delivery is not included! As-is product arrivingdaily, Quantities are limited; manyare one-of-a-kind, so hurry in for best selection. ltems aresold in as-is conditition, all sales final. the report was overlookedin the war's massive documents until fall 1995. Then top Pentagon offi- troops have entered the Pentagon’s medical-evaluation planbecause of possible exposure at widespread exposure of Gls to shemical-weaponagents. Atfirst officials counted possible expo- system can get care. U.N. investigators informed U.S. agencies in November 1991 that they had found evidence the chemical agent sarin was being stored when Khamisiyah was demolished. U.S. officials contend may havebeen exposed to chemial weapons. Khamisiyah has become a ma who chooseto enter themilitary ing the information of any such incident jor embarrassment for top Penta be changedso that gulf reservists the cials denied until June they knew gon officials, who until June insisted there had been no VA hospitals, but many have com plained about quality of care from VA andmilitary doctors. Josephsaid the system should plume’s toxicity, have been ques tioned, Rostker said, adding that who rebelled against Baghdad at ficials had not acknowledgedthat -ivilian populations of the region lragi chemical-weapons agents The Pentagonhas beensaying 20,800U. S. troopscould havebeenexposedto chemical: weapons agents when munitions bunkers at Kamisiyah, iraq, were demolished atter the Gulf , Pentagonofficials say, thatfigure will go up; howhigh they aren't saying. Sore non: entanalysts estimate at least 40,000 troops mayhavebeenexposed. Here are the tfoop unitsthought tobe affected in the area, andtheir movements An Nasiriyah caused by blowing up the dumpin Bush. Until reported last month by Gannett News Service, U.S. of- the urging of President George More U.S. troops feared exposed to of our people pe Rn National Gulf War F Center said when questioned by tep. Friday, February 14, 1997 Steven Joseph, assistant defense secretary for health, told the panel that at least 9,000 U.S. Khamisiyah. Whether ‘ONE-OFA-KIND ANDAS-IS "MATTRESS SETS those troops have more illnesses than other troops is being studied. Several lawmakers indicated concern that too much attention is being paid to possible causes of gulf illnesses — some 97,000 veterans are on Pentagon and Veterans Affairs health registries — GooD BETTER andnot enough to treatment Joseph, who will be leaving the Pentagonin a few weeks, said mil itary doctors have done an “extraordinary job” of treating gulf vets still on active duty, but that care of guardsmen and reservists couldbe improved Unless reactivated, tho troopsarenot eligible for care Pentagon doctors. They can go to Tax Preparer Under Probe Commits Suicide THE ASSOCIATED PRESS tax returns for about 2,000 people. The IRS has audited more Quantities ybtain inflated refunds jumped than 100 of his clients since December but declined to talk about its investigation Charapata jumpedoff a bridge iff a bridge to his death Larry Charapata, 50, prepared into the icy Genesee River around midday Tuesday GREATSHINESON SPECIAL medBD hia ROCHESTER, N.Y. — tax preparer under investigation by he Internal Revenue Service on suspicion of helping customers huited. must be Sold as sets, and picked up the day of purchase. No hold a MATTRESSES SOLD IN SETS ustonwr Mattress sets eeare ee sold assis without factory warranty Sal pe Table and four chairs in oak and green finish. Prevention of Genital Herpes (vaccine study) call 585-5683 ‘} Multiple Drug Treatments for HIV Positive Subjects call 581-4878 or 581-5066 SETS ONLY} N First Episode of Genital Herpes (new oral drug) | en Jewversity Approve call 581-8640 or 534-4519 : The University of Utah | Compensation Provic PUBLIC NOTICE for immediate replacement with THE PRADO These 25 homes qualify for special installed package pricing and free in-home quotation. TO QUALIFY, CALL 801-566-1255 Through PEACHTREE BUILDING LIVING ROOM LOVESEATS CENTS Ini ike Y\ PRICED FROM 1ag——1149 QS rm s1AQs—— STA rR! —_— Honey Sone) FRE Bee PeraTCTECY OPEN..TIL 10:00PM ..... SYSTEMS 7220 South 900 East “Every Home Needs a Peachtree” FOR EXAMPLE... .see00 rca Galvanized Steel Swinger Patio Door Offer Good Only TREMENDOUS SIVI QUROVRSTOGIED& 18 DEPARTHENTS tay |_| ‘ii BG SCREEN TVs ZENITH §2-INCH 9 g 9 25 homes wanted with leaky, creaky, old aluminum patio door sliders 7 so BIG SCREEN 1pgge REG, *1999” <j CLEARANCE OUTLET "567-2200_ 9010 S. Redwood Road |