-Caveat Lector- From: http://www.newstimes.com/news/today/nab.htm CIA reassesses: Exposure to nerve gas in Gulf War less than thought By DAVID BRISCOE Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) _ After eight years and more than $100 million, special Pentagon and CIA offices say they have done about all they can to find a cause for the mysterious Gulf War illnesses. The CIA's special assistant on the issue told a presidential panel on Tuesday that new evidence shows the number of soldiers exposed to low levels of chemical agents in the 1991 conflict is much lower than estimates made two years ago. Both the CIA investigator, Robert D. Walpole, and another key official in the quest for a cause, Pentagon special assistant Bernard Rostker, told the Special Oversight Board on Gulf War illness they expect no new sweeping conclusions. Up to 30,000 veterans of the war have complained of mysterious maladies such as fatigue, joint pain and memory loss they claim are related to their service in the Gulf, but several Pentagon and outside investigations have failed to pinpoint a cause. ``We are pretty close to closing the books,'' said Walpole. He said he expects three final CIA reports on exposure to chemical, biological or radiological agents in the Gulf to be completed by September or October, although intelligence assessments and examination of any new information would continue. ``We've turned over all the biggest stones. Now we need help in determining when the stones get too small to turn over,'' said Rostker in an interview after Tuesday's panel hearing at which several veterans also appeared. The National Gulf War Resource Center, which has been critical of Pentagon handling of the issue, called for Rostker's resignation but a continuation of his office's investigative work. Paul Sullivan, center executive director, told the panel that many veterans believe depleted uranium used in U.S. munitions caused their illness. Rostker said there is no evidence of this and that depleted uranium shells saved lives in the Gulf by destroying Iraqi and protecting U.S. tanks. Former Sen. Warren Rudman, R-N.H., board chairman, said that even if major aspects of the investigation have concluded without finding a cause, case studies and investigation of war data bases could still be conducted, and the issue is far from closed. Rudman also proposed investigation by the National Institutes of Health to settle a the debate over the danger of depleted uranium used in U.S. munitions. The CIA in 1997 estimated that 10,000 soldiers may have been exposed to low levels of nerve agent from inadvertent destruction of rockets at a site called Khamisiya Pit. The Pentagon at that time acknowledged that up to 100,000 soldiers may have been exposed to low levels of chemical agents during the war. In all instances, officials said, levels were too low to cause health problems. ``We now estimate _ in most cases _ that less agent was released, primarily because more precise data is now available,'' said the CIA's Walpole. ``The smaller release ... would probably result in far fewer troops exposed compared to 1997 estimates,'' he said, giving no precise estimate. He said the CIA was never satisfied with its original analysis because it was made to meet a short deadline and based on limited data and worst-case scenarios. Environmental degradation of the chemicals, which were left over from the Iran-Iraq war, also could not be accurately calculated in 1997, he said. The latest CIA analysis resulted from evidence provided by the U.N. Special Commission that oversaw troop activities during the war, Walpole said. Several sites were re-evaluated, including the Khamisiya Pit. Only one-fourth of the originally estimated 500 rockets were found around the pit and explosives were placed less optimally than previously assumed, Walpole said. Investigation at three other sites also showed no evidence of contamination of Western troops, he said. Copyright 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ================================================================= Kaddish, Kaddish, Kaddish, YHVH, TZEVAOT FROM THE DESK OF: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> *Mike Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ~~~~~~~~ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends Shalom, A Salaam Aleikum, and to all, A Good Day. ================================================================= DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. 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