by Donald S. McAlvaney, Editor,
McAlvaney Intelligence Advisor (MIA), August 1996
GERM WARFARE AGAINST AMERICA
The following report was written in July 1995 by H. Lindsey Arison III. PhD, who worked in the Pentagon as a civilian advisor to the Under Secretary of the U.S. Air Force. His observations were incredible:
1. GULF WAR SYNDROME COVER-UP: A QUESTION OF NATIONAL INTEGRITY
1) Before the Gulf War, Iraq had a highly developed chemical warfare program with numerous production facilities, stockpiled agents and weapons, binary (precursor chemical/solvent) capabilities, multiple and varied delivery systems, and a documented history of chemical warfare agent use. A month before the war began, then CIA director William Woolsey estimated that Iraq possessed 1,000 tons of poisonous chemical agents, much of it capable of being loaded into two types of missiles, the FROG (Free Rocket Over Ground) and the SCUB B (SS-1).
On July 30, 1991. Ambassador Rolf Ekeus, Director of the United Nations Special Commission on Iraq (the organization charged with overseeing the elimination of Iraq’s chemical and nuclear arsenals), told the Security Council that U.N. inspectors found chemical warheads armed with nerve gas and that some warheads were already fitted onto SCUD missiles. Chemical warfare munitions and agents which either supplied the allied bombings or were inventoried and returned to the Muthanna (Iraq) facility for destruction included: – 13,000 155-mm artillery shells loaded with mustard gas (H) – 6,100 rockets loaded with nerve agent – 800 nerve agent aerial bombs – 28 SCUD warheads loaded with nerve agent Sarin (GB) – 75 tons of nerve agent Sarin (GB) – 60-70 tons of nerve agent Tabun (GA); and – 250 tons of mustard gas and stocks of thiodiglycol, a precursor for mustard gas U.N. inspectors concluded that Muthanna plant was capable of producing two tons of Sarin (GB) and five tons of mustard gas (H) daily.
There is substantial evidence to suggest that in the use of chemical weapons, the Iraqi military adhered to, at least in part, Soviet military doctrine. Soviet military doctrine’s modus operandi is that chemical warfare should be conducted with mixed agents. Mixed agents, often referred to as “cocktails” are intended to enhance the capabilities of nerve agents and defeat the precautions taken by the enemy. Cocktails can be made by combining a wide variety of biotoxins, nerve agents, vesicants, and some biological agents – such as bacteria and fungi.
[ED. NOTE: The Russian approach to biological warfare agents is also called “Russian Doll Cocktails.” The Russians make dolls with a smaller one inside a larger one, and smaller one inside a smaller one, and a still smaller one inside the smaller one. They do the same with the germ warfare agents, making it very difficult to detect which agents are present].
Iraq may have also acquired any one of a number of the Soviet binary “Novichok” series of ultra-lethal toxins that, even in microdoses, can be debilitating. In addition, to inducing myosis, vomiting, memory loss, involuntary motions, and internal organ dysfunction, these toxins can have mutagenic effects. {ED. NOTE: They make a permanent change in hereditary material, i.e., they mutate the genes and chromosomes, and have no known antidotes]. 2) Iraq also had an offensive biological weapons program with multiple research and production facilities, evidence of weaponization experimentation, and a history of reported use. According to the U.N. Special Commission on Iraq, the Iraqi biological warfare program was initiated in mid-1986. U.N. inspectors specifically uncovered evidence the government of Iraq was conducting research on pathogen enhancement on biological warfare-related materials to include: – CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM (the cause of botulism). Iraq admitted to making and storing nearly 5,300 gallons of the bacterium, theoretically enough to kill 15 billion people. Inhalation of one microgram (or about as much as would fit on a pinhead) is enough to cause death by paralysis within hours. – BACILLUS ANTHRACIS (the causative agent of anthrax). Iraq said it made about 158 gallons of the anthrax bacteria in concentrated form, an amount U.N. officials say is enough to be packed inside 40 to 50 bombs that could each kill tens of thousands of people. The organism multiplies within the body after inhalation and kills within a day or so by halting breathing. – CLOSTRIDIAN PERFRUNGENS (the most common causative agent of gas gangrene). – CLOSTRIDIUM TETANI (the causative organism of tetanus or lockjaw). – BRUCELLA ABORTIS (causes brucellosis or undulant fever), fever marked alternating periods of abatement and increase of symptoms, pain and swelling in the joints, and weakness; and is contracted by contact with infected domestic animals or consumption of their products; also the cause of contagious abortion in cattle and other domestic animals. – BRUCELLA MELENTENSIS (causes brucellosis or undulant fever), fever marked by alternating periods of abatement and increase of symptoms, pain and swelling in the joints, and weakness; and is contracted by contact with infected domestic animals or consumption of their products; also the cause of brucellosis in goats, and franiscella tularensis (causes tularemia, transmitted to man by the bite of an infected tick or other bloodsucking insect, by direct contact with infected animals, by eating inadequately cooked meat, or by drinking water that contains the organism. Symptoms may appear in 1 to 10 days after infection and include headache, chilliness, vomiting, aching pains, fever, sweating, loss of weight, and debility). [ED. NOTE: These last two biologicals may be closely related to the outbreak of Mad Cow Disease, presently rampant in the U.K. which is apparently spreading to the human population at this writing].
In addition, U.N. inspectors revealed that biological warfare-related stimulant research was being conducted on: – BACILLUS SABTILIS (causes conjunctivitis) – BACILLUS MEGATILLUS, and – BACILLUS CEREUS (an opportunistic invader of immuno-compromised patients).
This suggests that the Iraqi government may have been experimenting with E.coli and recombinant DNA (rDNA) to create genetically altered microorganisms (“novel” biological warfare agents).
“Novel” biological warfare agents, created by altering DNA plasmids and vectors are specifically intended to be used to modify biologicals. Several shipments of biological materials that may have been used to carry out such a program were licensed for export from the United States to the Iraq Atomic Energy Commission. In such a program, common intestinal flora such as E.coli could be altered to produce viral, bacterial, or other toxins, and would be more difficult to treat. If Iraq was successful in developing such agents, diagnosis will continue to elude physicians testing for traditional illnesses.
[ED. NOTE: This information is consistent with Drs. Nicolsons’ contention that one cause of GWI is a “mycoplasma” which is located near, or within each cell’s nucleus, and is therefore extremely difficult to detect]. 3) We, the United States, provided the government of Iraq with “dual use” licensed materials to develop their chemical and biological programs. These materials included chemical warfare agent production facility plans and technical drawings (provided as pesticide production facility plans), chemical warhead filling equipment, chemical warfare agent precursors, and biological warfare-related materials.
[ED. NOTE: It is unthinkable that the American government would supply such equipment to Iraq. It has been said: “Whom the gods will destroy, they first made mad.”] 4) U.S. chemical protection equipment was ineffective. It has been fully documented by the National Security and International Affairs Division (NSIAD) of the General Accounting office, U.S. Congress, and by independent Senate investigation, that U.S. soldiers were not adequately equipped to conduct chemical operations during Desert Storm and are not adequately equipped now. (Chemical Warfare: Soldiers Inadequately Equipped and Trained to Conduct Chemical Operations. GAO/NSIAD-91-197, May 1991). 5) U.S. chemical detection alarms were ineffective. The principle chemical agent detection alarm used during the war, the M8A1, was not sufficiently sensitive to detect sustained low levels of chemical agent and to monitor personnel for contamination. Further, U.S. Army Material Safety Data Sheets indicate that chronic exposure to levels of over one-ten-thousandth of a milligram per cubic meter (.0001 mg/m8) to nerve agent Sarin (GB) is hazardous and requires the use of protective equipment. The minimum level of chemical agent required to activate the M8A1 automatic chemical agent detection alarm exceeds this threshold by a factor of 1000. Despite the fact that M8A1 alarms do not detect blister agents, such as mustard gas, alarms were sounding so frequently during the “air war” that many were simply turned off.
[ED. NOTE: The Riegle Report said that chemical alarms went off 18,000 times during the Gulf War]. 6) The United States did not have any biological agent detection capability whatsoever during the Gulf War. {ED. NOTE: Isn’t that incredible, in light of America having sold biologicals to Saddam and therefore knowing what he was likely to throw at our troops?]. 7) After the air war started on January 16, 1991, coalition forces were chronically exposed to low (nonlethal) levels of chemical and biological agents released primarily by direct Iraqi attack via missiles, rockets, artillery, or aircraft munitions and by fallout from allied bombings of Iraqi chemical warfare munitions facilities. – Chemical detection units from the Czech Republic confirmed chemical agents. – French detection units detected chemical agents. – Chemical specialists from the British Army detected chemical agents. – Both Czech and French forces reported detections immediately to U.S. forces. – U.S. forces detected, confirmed, and reported chemical agents; and – U.S. soldiers were awarded medals for detecting chemical agents.
In considering the consequences of the placement of troops in areas downwind (where non- lethal exposure to chemical warfare agents might be expected) it must be remembered that chemical nerve agents, such as Sarin (GB) and Soman (GD) have CUMULATIVE effects. After a single exposure, additional exposures to concen- trations of nerve agents insufficient to produce symptoms may be followed by increasingly severe effects. [ED. NOTE: “Non-lethal” simply means that the agent doesn’t kill you instantly, or within a day or two]. 8) During the November 10, 1993 unclassified briefing for members of the U.S. Senate, in response to direct questioning, then Under Secretary of Defense, and now Director of Central Intelligence (Chemical Engineer and Physical Chemist) Dr. John M. Deutch said the Dept. of Defense was withholding classified information on the exposure of U.S. forces to biological materials during the Gulf War. 9) The Dept. of Defense continues to publicly claim, however: “There were NO confirmed detections of ANY chemical or biological agents at ANY time during the ENTIRE conflict.” In a letter to all Persian Gulf War veterans, Gen. John M. Shalikashvili (Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff) and William J. Perry (Secretary of Defense) said: “There is NO information, classified or unclassified, that indicates that chemical or biological weapons were used in the Persian Gulf.”
[ED.NOTE: In early July ’96 with Congressional hearings headed by Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT) about to expose the truth, the Pentagon called a hasty press conference and admitted that American troops had been exposed to chemical weapons in Desert Storm. The Dept. of Defense said it had found “new” information which had been misplaced since 1991! Sure!]. 10) There are now over 50,000 veterans suffering from Gulf War Syndrome, including some 11,000 still on active duty. There are also over 3,5000 British veterans with the syndrome. 11) Over 2,200 Gulf War veterans have died in V.A. hospitals. This does not include those who have died in civilian hospitals.
[ED. NOTE: Drs. Nicolson and other experts believe these numbers in 10 and 11 to be presently three to five times higher. Arison’s numbers were based on V.A. estimates from 1994 which are dramatically incomplete and intentionally low-balled]. 12) In many cases, Gulf War Syndrome appears to be transmissible – unlike Agent Orange, which was not passed on to family members by the veteran. In addition to the 50,000 veterans who are sick, there are thousands of spouses, parents, and children who are also suffering from the same debilitating illnesses – and in the case of a disportionate number of newborns, birth defects and physical abnormalities.
CONCLUSION: Gulf War Syndrome is the direct health consequence of prolonged (chronic) exposure to low (non-lethal) levels of chemical and biological agents released primarily by direct Iraqi attack via missiles, rockets, artillery, or aircraft munitions and by fallout from allied bombings of Iraqi chemical warfare munitions facilities during the 38-day air war.
The effects of these exposures were exacerbated by the deleterious and synergistic side effects of unproven pyridostigmine bromide pills (nerve agent pre-treatment pills which were administered involuntarily), the investigational botulinum toxoid vaccines (which were also administered involuntarily), anthrax vaccines, and depleted uranium residues principally from battlefield vehicles damaged by depleted uranium-tipped armor-penetrating munitions.
Infinite numbers of combinations and permutations of the effects of chronic exposure to low, non-lethal levels of cumulatively-effecting chemical nerve agents, to blister agents, biological agents, and “cocktails”, coupled with the effects of nerve agent pills, botulinum and anthrax vaccines, depleted uranium dusts, and other environmental contaminants, has produced the infinite variations in symptoma- tologies in Gulf War veterans. Therefore, the “mystery illness”. There is, however, one principal cause – germ warfare directed against our troops.
The Dept. of Defense, however, continues to deny that chemical and biological agents were used during the Gulf War.
2. SELECTED TESTIMONIES OF GULF WAR VETERANS BEFORE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.
a) Excerpts from the testimony of Sterling Syms, Petty Officer 1st Class, U.S. Naval Reserve, before the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Subcommittee
on Force Requirements and Personnel, 30 June 1993. (At the time of the attack, Petty Officer 1st Class Syms was assigned to Naval Reserve Mobile Construction Battalion 24 at Camp 13 in Al-Jubayl).
“Around 2 or 3 in the morning there was a real bad explosion overhead. The alarm went off. Everybody started hitting their bunkers. There was a high odor of ammonia in the air that burned your eyes. Whatever it was, it burned and stung your skin bad. The skin even burned after we got into our chemical clothing. We went to full chemical gear, and were in that situation for about two hours before it was passed that there was an ‘all clear’. But we were told if was a sonic boom. To my knowledge, you do not get a fireball from a sonic boom. We knew that there was something wrong. We were told that it was a fireball. We were ordered to shut up talking about it.”
b) Excerpts from the testimony of Nick Roberts, U.S. Navy Reserve, before a special hearing of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, 9 November 1993. (At the time of the attack, Nick Roberts was assigned to Naval Reserve Mobil Construction Battalion 24 at Camp 13 in Al-Jubayl):
“I was in perfect health until the night when we were hit. After coming out of the bunker I was exposed to something. My skin began to burn and sting, my lips were numb, there was a very strange taste in my mouth, my nose ran uncontrollably, and my eyes watered quite a bit. Chemical detectors were sounding, radio trans-missions were coming in ‘Confirmed gas attack – go to MOPP level 4’ (the highest level of chemical protection). Marines stationed around us were also sounding their warning signals and screaming ‘Confirmed gas attack! Go to full chemical gear!’ As I was feeling my own symptoms, I saw my buddies and realized that they were experiencing the same thing that I was, some even worse. After a long day of
questions and wondering what had happened, we were informed that we had simply experienced a sonic boom. To my knowledge, sonic booms don’t cause flashes and cause reactions to skin and eyes. When I spoke with the decontamination leader from our camp later on, he advised me that his test kit detected mustard gas and Lewisite.”
[NOTE: Lewisite vapors cause stinging and burning and irritation to the eyes and upper respiratory tract. Its smell could be confused with ammonia. The injurious effect of mustard gas is associated with its ability to inhibit many enzyme systems of the body. This, in turn, prevents the intra-cell exchange of chemicals and leads to necrosis (death) of the tissue. Death is associated mainly with necrosis of the tissue of the central nervous system. Mustard gas has a period of latent effect (the first signs of injury appear after 12 hours)].
c) Excerpts from the certified statement of Chief Warrant Officer 3 J.P. Cottrell, U.S. Marine Corps, September 1993. (Chief Cottrell was Officer-in-Charge of one of the German-made FOX Nuclear Biological-Chemical (NBC) detection vehicles deployed in the Gulf. The FOX accurately detects 60 known chemical agents simultaneously using a highly sophisticated, laboratory-quality mass spectrometer):
“It is known to me that during the ground offensive of Operation Desert Storm, chemical agent vapors were found by Task Force Ripper (of the 1st Marine Corps Division) in the vicinity of N28 32′, E47 52′. We detected blister agent at levels below immediate threat to personnel. On the evening of the first day of the ground attack, we detected Lewisite blister weapons in the vicinity of N28 50′ E47 50′. I reported the findings to Division Headquarters and requested directions in regard to the chemical agent print-out. I was told to forward the tape up the chain of command. (Tapes are the paper records of the exact chemical breakdown of the liquid by the mass spectrometer). A report came back that our equipment was only activated by oil smoke. Our computer, however, had separated the petroleum compound from the chemical agent. The computer tape has (conveniently) been lost. Around the bunker complex in the vicinity of N29 14′ E47 54′ we detected chemical vapors and reported it to higher headquarters. Task Force Ripper was then ordered back to the division support area and no further detection operations were carried out.” Cottrell said. “his unit detected chemical agents on three different occasions.”
d) Excerpts from the statement of Sergeant Robert S. Maison, U.S. Marine Corps, 22 September 1993.
“On the second night of the ground war, while I was attached to Task Force Ripper as a Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Reconnaissance Team member, our team observed an artillery attack to our northwest, at a distance of approximately four kilometers. About five to six minutes later an alarm was sounded by our detection equipment (a mass spectrometer) which is used specifically for that purpose. Taking into account the wind speeds that we were encountering (approximately 40 to 50 knots steady), the reading would not be expected to last a long duration, as it did not (approximately three minutes). The specific agent detected was Lewisite in a concentration considered to produced casualties but not death.”
e) Excepts from the testimony of Willie Hicks, Staff Sergeant E-6, U.S. Army, before the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Subcommittee on Force Requirements and personnel, 30 June 1993. (At the time of the attack, SSG Hicks was serving as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of ammunition movement, 644th Ordinance Company).
“It was around 2:30 in the morning on January 20, 1991, when the chemical alarms went off. As we were running to the bunker we started burning. Our faces were burning. There was a high odor of ammonia in the air. It burnt your eyes. Whatever it was, it burned your skin bad. Some guys just dropped. And we went inside the bunkers. About 10 minutes later the first sergeant came around and told us to go to the highest level (of chemical protection) you can go to. We stayed at that level for 24 hours. About 2 or 3 days later a couple of guys started getting sick. I got sick myself. I had discharge with my urine and blood in it. Some guys had a problem with the rectums. The Commanding Officer put out an order that nobody would discuss it. We were told by superiors the night of the attack to keep it quiet. We were discussing it anyway because I was in charge of ammunition movements and the guys there, they knew it had to be chemical. Eighty-five of the 100 guys who came back with the unit were sick. We also had one guy that died by the name of Staff Sergeant Bell. And in his case he was in good physical shape. He did not smoke or drink. He came home one day feeling good, walked up the street, and came back and dropped dead. We have a sergeant, Staff Sergeant Neal that is now nothing more than a vegetable. I carry notebooks all the time now because my memory is gone. I used to teach school. I had to quit my job because I kept passing out or getting lost going to work. Weight loss – I went from 170 down to 126 pounds. I’m now up to 150. I have no income. I lost my car. I was getting desperate for funds to support my family with. The VA tried to charge me $169 a day for being in the hospital. I went up and questioned it. I said this is service-connected. The lady said you have not proven it to be service-connected, therefore, we are charging you $169 a day. I said, ‘I have no income’. She said, ‘it makes no difference’. I am also a veteran from the VietNam War. I think this is VietNam all over again because I know how I was treated when I came back from there. I have been completely forgotten. And I am sick and unable to work because I served my country.”
f) Excerpts from the testimony of Mrs. Hester Adcock, before a special hearing of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, 9 November 1993. Mrs. Adcock’s son, Army Specialist Michael Adcock, died at the age of 22 of multiple cancers. he was stationed at Al-Jubayl on 20 January 1991 when his unit was chemically attacked.
“I am the mother of Army Specialist Michael C. Adcock, 22 year old Gulf War veteran. Michael served in Desert Storm from January 18, 1990 until May 19, 1991. Exactly eleven months after returning from the Gulf, Michael died of multiple cancers. Prior to the Gulf War, Michael was physically fit, very healthy, a four-year letterman in high school football, broke a weight-lifting record, worked out daily, and while serving in Germany, was a boxer and a wrestler. Michael became ill as early as January 21, 1991, after being near Al-Jubayl on the night of January 20, 1991, where three attacks occurred and chemical alarms sounded. Michael reported to the Battalion Evacuation hospital on January 25, 1991, only to be told he probably had hemorrhoids. He was given Motrin. My son was never referred to a surgeon. He had repeated rectal bleeding, rash, severe headaches, raspy voice, and pain in his joints. Upon return to the States, he, along with many in his unit, was given a very limited physical examination with no chest x-rays, no blood work, and sent on his way. He was told ‘if you need further medical attention, go to your local VA hospital’. Had Michael been given proper diagnostic testing in the Gulf, my son would possibly be alive today. My son was a very patriotic young man. He loved his country, family, and God. I ask you today: How much did my country appreciate my son. He felt it his patriotic duty to serve in the military. He wore his Army uniform proudly. He was a brave and courageous soldier. My son died a senseless and very painful death. When will I ever get an answer? My jewel is gone forever. Michaels’ death bed wish was for me to fight for him and fight for all his comrades. After this request, a few short hours later, Michael slipped into a coma. He died seven days later. Our own military and government failed my son and are failing his comrades.”
g) According to the Los Angeles Daily News (11/11/93) “Members of two U.S. units stationed near the Iraq-Kuwait border have said that in the first days of the war, they encountered an ear-burning, ammonia smelling cloud that triggered alarm signals after an Iraqi missile landed nearby. Since the war, nearly 200 of the 815 veterans in those units have become ill.”
[ED. NOTE: That report was almost three years ago. The number of sick veterans from that group is likely to be over 400 today]. 3. IRAQ ADMITS TO ITS BIOLOGICAL ARSENAL. The Los Angeles Times (9/6/95) carried an article entitled, “Iraq Discloses Deadly Biological Arsenal – Many Germs Designed to Maim, Not Kill,” which said: Breaking with years of denial about biological weapons, Iraq admitted to concocting one of the most extensive arsenals in history; in many cases intended to maim and not kill, the Los Angeles Times reported today. The arsenal was designed to be as ruinous to civilians as it would be to troops, the Times’ sources said. The Iraqis devised a novel way to rain their deadly or debilitating germs across wide stretches, modifying warplane auxiliary fuel tanks so they could scatter biological agents over an area from high altitudes.
[ED. NOTE: If Islamic radicals would blow up the World Trade Center and perhaps bomb a TWA 747 near New York City (possibly with a SAM missile) would or could they disperse biologicals in or near America from an airplane – as Iraq planned to do in the Desert Storm theater? Biologicals in test tubes, 5-gallon pails or 55-gallon drums would be much easier to smuggle into the U.S. than SAM missiles!]
Often when targeting troops, the scientists intended that the germs not kill, but seriously debilitate, sources said. Apparently, the Iraqis believed that Western nations would quickly bury the dead but invest precious time in caring for the sick and injured.
CONCLUSION: The above are just a few of hundreds (of thousands) of stories of Desert Storm soldiers who had immediate, classic symptoms of chemical attack while the NBC (Nuclear/Biological/Chemical) alarms were ringing. In fact, those alarms were triggered so frequently, that commanders ordered them to be turned off. In a single day, five gas attacks were issued.
A U.S. Senate Committee investigating chemical and biological exports to Iraq heard evidence from veterans who recounted in detail 17 incidents in which they believed they had been attacked with chemical weapons. “The evidence is overwhelming”, says James Tuite, director of Gulf War Research Foundation, “that the troops were exposed to chemical agents, and even at low levels of exposure certain agents are teratogenic – that is to say, they cause birth defects in embryos.”
U.S. Senator Don Riegle (D-MI) said in late ’93 that contrary to official accounts, Iraq did use chemical attacks. Riegle said that 77% of the members of one platoon reported illness following the explosion of a SCUD missile nearby.
As Joyce Riley pointed out, “If you talk to Desert Stormers, they will tell you how they really got sick after the stuff came down. What happened was, when the SCUD B missiles came over, they were intercepted by our state-of-the-art technology, the Patriot missiles that were able to halt them at several hundred feet in the air. The only problem is, it rained down germ warfare on our people.”
Obviously the Pentagon has been lying when it says there were no such attacks. Who is being covered for? This needs to be the subject of an extensive bipartisan Congressional investigation. Where does your representative or senators stand on this issue? Why has he or she remained silent in the face of the Don Riegle Report issued two years ago and numerous veterans’ testimonies? Ask them!
Another important point to remember in considering Arison’s report and the testimonials that followed: There were NO detection devices or equipment for biologicals – only chemicals. Our troops were totally unprotected. Why? That question also needs to be answered in a full-scale (non-whitewash, non-cover-up) Congressional investigation.
If such an investigation occurs, heads will roll in the Departments of Defense and Commerce, court martials will occur in the military establishment, and some top politicians (including top Republican politicians and businessmen could be indicted for illegally trading in biologicals and trading with our enemies. And that is why there has been a five-year cover-up!
This entire report is available for $5 from McAlvany Intelligence Advisor, P. O. Box 84904, Phoenix, AZ 85071 Phone 1-800-528-0559. The Copyright has been lifted from this report so that it can be distributed widely – especially to Gulf War Veterans, physicians and health care providers.