1994 Evidence Of Gulf War Chemical Weapons Exposure Ignored By CIA Officials
Source: The Coastal Post February 7, 1997
Patrick G. Eddington, a former CIA analyst who resigned
from the CIA in October 1996 in order to publicly expose the U.S.
government's cover-up of chemical/biological weapons exposure to U.S.
troops during and after the Gulf War, informed members of the Senate
Veteran's Affairs Committee last month that CIA officials provided
incomplete testimony on the extent of CIA is knowledge and
investigation of Gulf War Syndrome during a hearing held Thursday,
January 9, 1997.
In a letter sent to Acting DCI George Tenet by
Eddington's counsel Mark S. Zaid, Esq., a copy of which was forwarded
to Senators Arlen Specter and John D. Rockefeller, IV, Eddington
challenged Mr. Tenets assertion that CIA began a comprehensive review
in March 1995 of all relevant intelligence information pertaining to
Gulf War Syndrome. Mr. Eddington noted an internal CIA memorandum
dated 21 April 1995 that explicitly states that the CIA does not plan
a comprehensive review of
DOD information such as troop testimony, medical records, or
operational logs. Because the CIA repeatedly based its conclusions
that no exposures occurred on DOD information, this statement places
into doubt the objectivity, completeness and value of any CIA review
or reports conducted thus far. Furthermore, CIA refused to debrief
Gulf War veterans or review thousands of pages of captured Iraqi
intelligence that discussed use of chemical and biological weapons.
Mr. Eddington further challenged CIA Executive Director
Nora Slatkin's explanation regarding CIA analyst Larry Fox's
accidental confirmation of the Khamisiyah incident on March 10, 1996.
Eddington first provided evidence of Khamisiyah and other incidents
still undisclosed to the public to his CIA supervisors in January 1995
and requested CIA to investigate the matter further. Larry Fox was
among the analysts provided specific documents showing that U.S.
troops were potentially exposed to chemical agents at Khamisiyah at a
briefing on February 17, 1995. Mr. Tenet testified that by September
1995, CIA believed troops may have been exposed, but awaited word from
the Defense Department on confirmation of U.S. troop presence in the
area.
The CIA gave Larry Fox and other analysts specific-then
classified-documents showing that U.S. troops were potentially exposed
to chemical agents at various sites in Kuwait and Iraq, including
Khamisiyah. To say that the CIA did not realize the significance until
September 1995 and confirm the occurrence in March 1996 avoids the
issue, said Eddington. They should have known in early 1995, because I
showed them the documents and confirmation of U.S. troops in the area
was available in the CIA library, he said.
In addition to notifying the Senate Veteran's Affairs
Committee, Eddington's attorney also requested CIA's Office of
Inspector General, which is currently investigating the allegations
raised by Eddington in late October 1996, including whether Agency
employees sought to avoid an honest review of the evidence uncovered
by Eddington and whether the Agency retaliated against Eddington and
his wife, to examine the statements made by Mr. Tenet and Ms. Slatkin.
It is disconcerting that CIA leadership still refuses to
accept responsibility for failing to investigate credible information
provided to the Agency by one of its own highly regarded analysts. Had
CIA carefully evaluated this information in 1994-95, two years of
delay could have been avoided and our veterans' suffering might have
been lessened. At the very least, perhaps the veterans, their families
and the American public would not be so quick to believe their
government has abandoned them and has engaged in a cover-up of the
truth, the letter to Mr. Tenet concluded.
Eddington, along with his wife Robin, also a former CIA
analyst, first went public with his allegations in an October 30, 1996
New York Times story. His book Gassed in the Gulf: The Pentagon-CIA
Cover-up of Gulf War Syndrome is due to be published by Logical
Figments Books in association with Insignia Publishing by early March
1997. Further information can be found at http://www.insigniausa.com.
Note: Full text of the letter to Mr. Tenet is available
upon request.
http://www.coastalpost.com/97/2/7.htm