Panetta says Czech report of Gulf toxins cannot be ignored

(CNN) -- White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta told CNN Sunday that a presidential commission should look into whether the Czech Army repeatedly warned American commanders of the presence of chemical toxins in the Persian Gulf battle zone.

Panetta's comments came one day after the New York Times reported that U.S. military commanders ignored and then belittled repeated warnings from Czech soldiers that they had identified Iraqi chemical weapons on the battlefield.

The report cites interviews with Czech soldiers and combat logs compiled by officers working for U.S. Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf. It could prove damaging to the Pentagon as investigations continue into Gulf War syndrome, complaints about illness that some have linked to chemical emissions during the 1991 battles.

The Pentagon had no comment Saturday on the reports.

Panetta said on CNN Sunday that he did not know whether the Czech report was true, but said "It is extremely important" that the Presidential Commission look into the charge. (25 sec./264K AIFF or WAV sound)

Earlier this month, the Pentagon said more than 15,000 U.S. soldiers may have been exposed to nerve gas. However, the Defense Department has said there is little scientific evidence suggesting that soldiers exposed to small amounts of chemical weapons would suffer long-term health problems.

The Czech soldiers, known for their skill at detecting hazardous-chemical emissions, were convinced that nerve gas detected in the early days of the Gulf War had been released from Iraqi chemical plants bombed by the United States, the Times said.

At one point, Czech soldiers hurriedly pulled on their gas masks and protective suits after detecting chemical agents in the northern Saudi desert, while Americans stationed a few hundred feet away remained unprotected.

About 11 percent to 15 percent of the 269 Czech troops who served in the war complained of health problems stemming from chemical exposure. Their ailments are similar to illnesses reported by American troops: chronic fatigue, joint aches, headaches and digestive problems.

During the war, the U.S. military command largely dismissed the importance of warnings from the Czech chemical specialists. A January 19, 1991, log entry reports that the United States was informed that the Czechs had detected nonlethal levels of mustard gas.

"Explained that was impossible," the log officer reported. "This sort of thing is bound to happen."

On January 22, after the Czechs made another detection, the U.S. commanders were told "...to disregard any reports coming from Czechs."

Antonin Baudys, the former Czech defense minister, said he was convinced the Czech detections were accurate and that they were forwarded to the U.S. command. "We provided them with all the information we had," he told the Times.

Related stories:

• Report: U.S. Gulf troops may have been exposed to mustard gas - October 8, 1996
• Pentagon: Gulf troop exposure to chemical weapons may be larger - October 1, 1996
• Pentagon takes back comments on anti-nerve agent pill - September 27, 1996
• Pentagon says it hid drug risk from Gulf War troops - September 26, 1996

Related sites:

• Gulflink: Perisan Gulf War Veteran's Illnesses home page
• DefenseLINK
• Gulf War Syndrome Cover up, from Covert Action Quarterly

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