Gulf war syndrome

Richard-Norton Taylor, Guardian, November 1:

“After years of controversy, Gulf war syndrome was officially recognised yesterday as a distinct set of symptoms suffered by British army veterans sent to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in 1991. In a decision which has widespread implications for the Ministry of Defence, the war pensions appeals tribunal ruled that the syndrome existed as an “umbrella term” covering specific symptoms and conditions attributed to service in the 1991 Gulf war.”

Australian troops have long complained of the syndrome but successive governments have refused to recognise its existence. There are even claims that pre-war immunisation causes adverse reactions. A new local film, Blowin’ in the Wind, explores these issues and concludes that depleted uranium is a fact of life and will ruin generations to come.

Iraq is now “liberated” and littered with the remnants of American, British and Australian weapons.

Can’t imagine why an ever-growing number of home-grown Iraqis are fighting the illegal occupation and its waste.

UPDATE: Imperial arrogance from 2003:

“A United States defence official has said moves to ban depleted uranium ammunition are just an attempt by America’s enemies to blunt its military might.

“Colonel James Naughton of US Army Materiel Command said Iraqi complaints about depleted uranium (DU) shells had no medical basis.

‘They want it to go away because we kicked the crap out of them,’ he told a Pentagon briefing.”

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