Letter to the Editor - Editorial Comment - 10/02/96
It is Time to Come Clean on Gulf War Syndrome
By: Clark Staten, ERRI Executive Director
Amidst new reports that more than 15,000 American soldiers potentially could have been exposed to the so-called "Gulf
War Syndrome," I believe it is my duty as a U.S. Army veteran and technically informed citizen to speak out about the
handling of this situation.
The most valuable asset that any military service has is its personnel. Their health and safety must be encouraged and
preserved at almost any price. To do otherwise will undoubtedly result in declining morale and decreasing productivity. The
information management aspects of this situation have also helped to create a "crisis of credibility" for the Dept. of Defense
and diminished the reputations of those associated with it.
In light of continuing facts and disclosures regarding the exposure of Desert Storm veterans to Iraqi nerve agents and other
petroleum/chemical agents, it becomes incumbent upon the Department of Defense and its inherent agencies to provide
free medical care and counseling for any soldier who was present there and complains of associated symptoms....period.
Duty disability cases should be determined on a case-by-case basis, based on the severity of symptoms and a liberal
interpretation of such policy.
Further "sandbagging" regarding this issue should be discontinued and a Secretary of Defense announcement of the "new"
aforementioned policy, along with all of the pertinent facts that are available about possible contamination/exposure of our
troops should be issued to the largest media audience, at the earliest opportunity.
Only by "coming completely clean" on this issue, and accepting full responsibility, can the Department of Defense hope to
salvage it's reputation and begin the transition to a reinstatement of its overall credibility. We would strongly urge anyone
that may have any input into the decision making process on this issue, to take these or similar steps, immediately. While
we realize that there are certainly costs involved in what we propose, they are minimal compared to the overall effect of
letting this issue continue on its present track.
To do less for those that have faithfully and voluntarily served our country would be a travesty and would only contribute to
an overall weakening of our military services at a time when we may need them most. The last thing the United States
needs is another situation similar to the "Agent Orange" controversy of the Viet Nam era. Please, President Clinton and
Secretary Perry, support our troops and solve this problem now.
(C) EmergencyNet News Service, 1996. All rights reserved, but, redistributed of this editorial is encouraged.
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