Why has Gulf War Syndrome become such a hot potato?
There are many different reasons. For the VA, it’s primarily an issue of the resources that will be needed to deal with illness. For the DOD, it’s more than that. It’s tarnishing the glorious victory in the Gulf to admit they were not prepared for Iraqi chemical warfare — and that they’re still not prepared. If it is established that low levels of chemical warfare produce chronic illness, that would have enormous financial and doctrinal implications for chemical warfare defense that the Pentagon is reluctant to come to grips with. Then there’s the whole question of responsibility. If the U.S. is seen as not being prepared to defend U.S. troops against chemical weapons, some heads will have to roll. Also, very senior officials early on made categorical statements — including Secretary of Defense William Perry, Deputy Secretary of Defense John Deutch and Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili — that no Iraqi chemical weapons were present and that there had been no use a
