Continuing price of Gulf War I

The current war in iraq is the second in the last two decades. Gulf War I, in 1991, was over with quickly but still has had lasting health effects for soldiers in theater. Even after 16 years, the exact nature of Gulf War Illness is a controversial subject. For those of us with some knowledge of the range and intensity of environmental exposures -- from dense oil well fire smoke to anti-nerve agent medication to insect repellents to pesticide use to inadvertent exposure to nerve gases -- the question is less whether some of the soldiers are sick but why aren't they all sick. Numerous studies have have shown a range of documented deficits, especially on neuropsychological testing that measures performance in specific cognitive domains. Now new tools are being brought to bear that verify the neuropsych results:

The brains of veterans with Gulf War Syndrome are smaller in areas tied to thinking and memory than in those of soldiers who don't suffer the same symptoms, according to new research.

About 30 percent of 697,000 veterans sent to the 1991 conflict have ailments including chronic fatigue, memory loss, confusion, headache, joint and muscle pain. The latest study found the cortex, the brain's main information processor, was five percent smaller in soldiers who had five or more symptoms. A brain site tied to memory was six percent smaller.

Doctors speculate the syndrome may result from use of pesticides, nerve gas and other chemicals during the war. The newest study may help provide a physical rather than psychological basis for neurological symptoms that may one day make it easier for some veterans to get the right treatment and health-care compensation from the U.S., researchers said.

"Just recognizing the symptoms are legitimate would help a lot of veterans," said Roberta White, head of environmental health at Boston University and the study's lead researcher, in an interview. "The hope is we can put together tests results and imaging to provide better diagnoses of subtle disease."

White's study, presented today at the meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Boston, used magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, to scan the brains of 36 veterans.

Those with less brain volume in the brain's cortex and the rostral anterior cingulated gyrus, tied to memory and mood, also did poorer on learning and memory tests conducted in the study, the researchers said today. (Bloomberg)

White is one of the leading researchers using the combination of MRI and cognitive testing. This latest work is preliminary and still in the form of a conference poster presentation. But White and her group have previously published important papers (in the journal Neurotoxicology) showing dose related effects in soldiers exposed to sarin and cyclosarin (nerve agents) after an Iraqi arms cache at Khamisiyeh was wrongly detonated during Gulf War I. The Army modeled the exposure plume and White and her colleagues at the Boston VA Gulf War research center correlated exposure with both deficits in neurocognitive performance (certain motor skills) and loss of neural white matter on MRI.

Military planners and historians might consider Gulf War I a short and successful affair. But many soldiers are still paying the price and will be for the rest of their lives.

As for the cost in lives ended and ravaged by the current debacle by Son of Bush, well, . . .

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On March 4th 1991, four days after the end of the Persian Gulf War, ground troops from the U.S. 37th Engineering Battalion destroyed large caches of weapons found at the Khamisiyah Ammunitions Storage Facility, a site approximately 25 square kilometres in size, located some 350km south east of…
Fifteen years after most scientists have discounted the validity of "Gulf War Syndrome", which was first observed after the Iraq-US war I that ended in 1991, Epidemiologist Robert W. Haley has been trying to prove that thousands of troops were poisoned by a combination of nerve gas, pesticides,…
A congressionally mandated independent panel of scientists has just issued a report verifying what many of us have know since the early 1990s. Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) is real: Gulf War syndrome is real and afflicts about 25 percent of the 700,000 U.S. troops who served in the 1991 conflict, a U.S.…
by revere, cross-posted at Effect Measure A congressionally mandated independent panel of scientists has just issued a report verifying what many of us have know since the early 1990s. Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) is real: Gulf War syndrome is real and afflicts about 25 percent of the 700,000 U.S.…

And it was an all volunteer force and they did it knowing what could happen to them. Yep, they are better than all of us for sure as they stand when others wont. They had a job to do and they did it. The care they get now is loads better than the vets of previous wars.

I note here Revere that the types of chemical weapons that the soldiers were supposedly exposed to were the chemical weapons that Saddam wasnt supposed to have. Those stockpiles remain unaccounted for and thats UN verified.

It goes back to the gun though. Should we have just left Saddam to his own devices? Should we have just given him Kuwait, a sovereign nation under the UN Charter? IMO no, if an intruder kicks in your door you cap him. If you cant cap him you get your like minded friends to help cap him.

I wonder if those soldiers also werent exposed to the blown well heads as the amount of poison gas
http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-70-1874-12450-10/on_this_day/disasters_tra…

emitting from them might cause them to exhibit the same symptoms?

The same plumes described extended for almost 300 miles from the well heads in Kuwait. Hydrogen sulfide gas is pretty wicked in its own right.

Revere, I would submit to you also that if we were engaged in the political appeasement gig that the Clintons were involved in then we would be counting the lives in innocent US civilians today. The US cut and ran in Africa after we lost three embassies in a day.. They hit diplomatic field offices too. We ran. Closed them all in under a week and ran. So the terrorists won. We werent at war then and Clinton had not tried to kill Osama himself at that time either.

I remind you also that there were 14,400 terrorist attacks last year and only 20% were in Baghdad. So those are military style attacks on civilian targets The UK who is much more tolerant about these things just arrested 172 suspected terrorists who apparently had big plans to do things. So which debacle do you want to deal with? One that say takes out Boston, Chicago, New York or one that creates a lightning rod for them to hit in Baghdad? Its not a slam, but it seems to me that you constantly rage at the Bush administration for something that started in the 60's with the first hijackings. This is nothing more than logical progression that hasnt found a conclusion yet. They found that we were not invulnerable. They blew up three American aircraft in the desert of Saudi Arabia then. They killed the Israeli Olympians, they blew up busloads of kids in Haifa, they took over Lebanon and then tried to roll into N. Israel. They took hostages from a political outpost called Teheran. They launched an airstrike against the Bridgeton. They attacked Kharq Island. They tried to kill the Keeper of the Two Mosques. They tried to kill Al-Sistani. They killed one of the most moderate Imams in the UK. They attacked the school in Russia and killed children by the box loads. They attacked the theater in Moscow and killed the patrons.

We have tried to deal with these people in a political manner and they keep responding in a military one. I keep hearing Bush, Bush, Bush out of you and many here. So what are you going to do when Bush is gone, just blame his policies that were put in and cite the damage that he caused? A lot of people disagree with that position. I cant for the life of me see the connect of anyone with the name of Bush with the fact that if these men were damaged by nerve gas. That gas was blown up POST of the war that they found so the men had to have been exposed by an attack. The US acted in accordance with international law in the Gulf War. They acted multilaterally in the second war.

It goes back to a previous post, "They just didnt kill enough people in the WTC's" for everyone to get the big picture. One day a tower, the next a city. At some point in time and sooner than later if this continues the big picture is going to be on your doorstep.

By M. Randolph Kruger (not verified) on 02 May 2007 #permalink

Randy: Not true. He had them until 1991. We destroyed them and it was in that process the soldiers were exposed. Iraq is making it more likely we will be attacked, not less likely. That doesn't seem to have gotten through to you.

People think of Gulf War I as low-casualty, because there were relatively few deaths or visible battlefield injuries among the American soldiers.

I read in Chalmers Johnson's Sorrows of Empire that according to DoD's own figures, the casualty rate for Gulf War veterans is one third, partly due to Gulf War Syndrome. (Page 100 in the hardcover, if you'd like to check my reference. It stayed with me.)

You will find many items were turned up in Jordan, Syria, even Egypt if you want to take the time to read it all.

In addition, the actual input documents to the UN after Blix's departure and his deputy took over started describing in detail that the materials were fresh as residues. There are 2000 gallons of VX out there waiting for a city to kill. The could put it in a container on a boat, then just wait for it to arrive and then call a cellphone. Inspections of containers isnt done until they port except by paperwork.

A poof charge of 200 pounds inside of a 55 gallon drum of this could kill everyone in New York..... Revere I do hope you are right in your assessment. If not, well remember those blue signs that are in nearly every city now......?

http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-70-1874-12450-10/on_this_day/disasters_tra…
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2004-03-01-perricos-findings_x…
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/27/iraq/main683341.shtml
http://www.washtimes.com/world/20040610-103512-5542r.htm
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2005/06/un_weapons_equipment_…
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iraq/1998/981016-in.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iraq/un/s-2004-924_26nov…

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/report/1997/cwbw/Ch6.pdf This is treatment which indicates they were exposed.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iraq/2003/iraq-030127-us…

By M. Randolph Kruger (not verified) on 02 May 2007 #permalink

Randy: What you mean to say is that if divided evenly there is enough to kill everyone in NY. But you would have to distribute it to everyone in NY first, which you can't do easily. But that's besides the point. There is no apparent WMD in Iraq since 1991. There is plenty in the US, though. As you know. What do you make of that?

I endorse Revere's thinking that there were a hell of a lot of things to which GW1 troops were exposed which could have caused long-term debility. I've been opining for some time that it's a mistake to try to ferret out a unitary Gulf War Syndrome. Rather, it seems clear that there are Gulf War Syndrome(s), plural, with similar or identical symptoms but differing causation.

And there is also, of a certainty, either hypochondria or malingering in some percentage of the claims being made. It is pure human nature for there to be.

However, that said, I would also commend to the attention of interested parties a book by former CIA analyst Pat Eddington, Gassed in the Gulf.

Eddington's analytical work during the 1990s, some of it based on nonpublic sources, led him to believe that the enormous Iraqi weapons depot at Khamisiyah, which was blown up in toto by US combat engineers, contained a chemical weapons store whose existence was not realized at the time. This was confirmed by UNSCOM, who found sarin residue all over the site in their later investigations.

The Khamisiyah plume would have travelled over a number of allied units before dispersing.

The Pentagon continues to insist that no detection systems alerted during the time when exposure was possible. Eddington begs to differ. I think he's got the goods.

Many of the reported symptoms coming from unwell GW1 veterans map to the recognized sequelae of subclinical exposure to nerve gasses.

What happened to Eddington? They broke his career and forced him out of the Agency. Do not question things you have been told not to question. Not even if you have clear factual evidence to the contrary.

--

Hey ... Dr Blockbuster knows that 15% of Allied troops went down with Gulf War Syndrome, and the enquiry headed by Lord Lloyd made recommendations to the UK Government to RECOGNISE, and TAKE ACTION to assist the plight of the Veterans. The Lloyd Report has fallen on deaf ears. Grrr.

Dr Blockbuster is convinced that flawed vaccinations are at the root of this and Dr Ken McClure (PhD in microbial genetics)thought this before me:

2 Control Groups:

a) French troops served in the same theatre of operations as Allied troops but the French troops were not similarly effected ... reason being the French Commander was not satisfied about the vaccines and the French Troops were NOT VACCINATED.

b) Allied troops stationed in Germany were vaccinated but never went anywhere near the theatre of operations because the war ended. These troops suffered the same symptoms.

That is a 2-Control Group proof for any mathematician or scientist.

My mission this year is to get "The Gulf Conspiracy" into film to inform and pressure governments.

I have spoken with Asst Winkenwerder in a Pentagon release last year, I am in contact with the National Gulf War Resources Centre in Kansas regarding a book distribution, and amongst others, I have been in touch with Sir Sean Connery about my film proposal.

Check out my website and see also online what other initiatives Dr Blockbuster has actioned to achieve his mission!!!
Oooo ... and there was that clandestine meeting in Manchester !!!! :wink:

Dr. B. You could be right and I knew that the symptoms from the Gulf War were related to possibly a bi-conditional situation. Some got sick from the anthrax shots, but was it because of environmentals such as exposure to some other CBW? Could exposure to tear gas which is the test of choice for annual chem weapons training AND having anthrax vax in your system cause the problem of the Gulf War vets? I dont know. Something is wrong with them though. I skated on it in GW1 because I was tasked for Central America and was out fighting that one when it came up. So I missed getting the shot. How they ever thought that it would provide protection is beyond me.

Understand something else and its bad but look at this way. WJC took over from GB1. If there were a verifiable condition for the vets and it cost say 25,000 to assess and maybe treat give or take 200,000 out of the military it would have bankrupted the government. Even more if it were long term care. Aint that many taxes to spread around and it screws up his Chi. That is that he would have had to done something and it would have prevented Hillary from getting her attempt on socialized medicine. Too much money. Like TWA 800. To admit we shot it down at say 10 million a piece and 300 people, well now thats a budget buster. Better to lie.

Kallstrom resigned the day before the investigation results were in place. Cant be held accountable if you resign before its made public.

By M. Randolph Kruger (not verified) on 04 May 2007 #permalink

Not one mention in article or comments about Depleted Uranium munitions or their possible synergistic effects with all of the other assaults on bodies of GW1 and current Iraq war soldiers. Perhaps these exposures need to be taken into account. DU is dangerous. Future studies should be conducted and with comparisons made between Iraq war vets and civilian populations.

By fuzzbollah (not verified) on 04 May 2007 #permalink

Fuzzy-shades of Agent Orange come to mind on this.

By M. Randolph Kruger (not verified) on 04 May 2007 #permalink

Mel-PTSD makes peoples brains smaller?????

By M. Randolph Kruger (not verified) on 04 May 2007 #permalink

Thanks for your insight M. Randolph Kruger ... it didn't take you long to work out the cost of taxes versus "do nothing" scenario.

Ask yourself this question as well ... Why is it mandatory to have the shots again, what's all the pressure about?

As to the effects of Depleted Uranium, no doubt this effected many soldiers but it is not the OVERWHELMING cause, and I do use the word "cause"

There will be scientific studies going on into Gulf War Syndrome into the next century and no doubt many brains will be consumed with this scientific study. BUT TO WHAT END???? Science for science sake?

What I liked about the report of Lord Lloyd was that it presented FACTS and an ACTION PLAN to Government, but this plan has been turned down, so far.

Look at the long term. In the year 2107 I shall not be around and neither shall any of the Veterans from GW1. So, between now and then, as each day passes, the tax costs decrease. That's the SAFE government game to play.

As a student of history, at school, I studied German history from the outbreak of WW1 in 1914, through The Weimar Republic, the ascent of Hitler and the Third Reich... and WW2 naturally. I have pieces of paper to show I KNOW my history. I then see a film, Schindlers List, by that magician Mr Spielberg, and all the raw detail, the travesties and tragedies move me to tears. I need not go into further detail. Now, I do not underestimate the power of film to inform and educate and to drive government action as well as to entertain!

That is why my mission for 2007 is to see The Gulf Conpiracy into film. I am some way down that road already having approached Sir Sean Connery, Jerry Weintraub, and other producers.

Make no mistake, Dr Blockbuster knows that the scientific study will continue and more questions will be asked than answered. What is needed now is recognition and support, ACTION to assist, not more WORDS of delay!

So ... Mr IMdb with financial muscle, call me before I come to you please!

Dr Blockbuster has kilt and is ready to travel!