Chemical Agent Threat During Desert Storm 

Chemical Agents and Operation Desert Storm

An issue of continuing controversy is the success or failure of chemical agent countermeasures during Operation Desert Storm. Desert Storm used 1970’s-vintage detection technology which had a high false-alarm rate; false alarms cause unnecessary anxiety and require the donning of uncomfortable protective equipment. It remains unclear as to whether or not the Iraqis used chemical weapons during the Gulf War precisely because the technology in use at the time is prone to false alarms.

A GAO report found that not all units were in full compliance for protective clothing, possibly because of false alarms. It is possible that if chemical agents were released, the less-than-full-compliance may have allowed soldiers to be exposed to agent.

It appears as if the scientific question of whether Gulf War syndrome was caused by exposure to lethal chemical warfare agents or to some other causative agent such as infectious diseases or exposure to depleted uranium, is still open. Nevertheless, it can be said that had the chemical countermeasures been more effective, there would probably be less controversy surrounding the issue of chemical agent exposure.

After Operation Desert Storm, captured Iraqi chemical weapons were destroyed by the Coalition Forces. Low levels of chemical warfare agents appeared to have been released during the destruction, most notably when the depot at Khamisiyah was blown up. The evidence for health effects resulting from Khamisiyah is less clear cut. Certain evidence indicates that down-wind soldiers may have been exposed to very low levels of nerve agent, but other evidence indicates that long term health problems from exposure at these levels are unlikely.

Aerial photograph taken on March 1, 1991, of the Khamisiyah Ammunition Storage Complex in Southern Iraq showing a destroyed bunker (lower left). DoD photo 910301-D-00000-004. To view a full size version (1758 x 2550, 637 kb) of this photo, click on the picture.

Gulf War Illness Links

Given the controversy surrounding, and the passions excited by this topic, even this long after the fact, staking out a position on any of these issues is not lightly done. Here are a few sites to visit for further information:

• The official approach to Gulf War Illness: the Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses maintains the Gulflink web site. The site contains a wealth of information on the destruction of the Iraqi chemical munitions at Khamisiyah.
• The skeptical approach to Gulf War Illness: there is a Gulf War Syndrome page on the BioFact site.
• The Department of Veterans Affairs provides information for veterans, their families and others about VA health care programs related to Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. This includes information on issues related to Chemical & Biological Warfare Agents.”