Soldier Alleges Gulf War Cover-Up
From: Otis
Willie
moderatingstaff@instruction.com
Sent: Monday, May 27, 2002 4:45 PM
Subject: [vetissues] Soldier Alleges Gulf War Cover-Up
(EXCERPT) Mon May 27,12:14 PM ET, by SUE LEEMAN, Associated Press Writer
LONDON (AP) - A former soldier who won Britain's first official recognition that Gulf War Syndrome (news - web sites) is a disease accused the Ministry of Defense on Monday of covering up 50 other cases of the illness.
Shaun Rusling, 43, a veteran from Hull, in northeast England, claimed the other cases were mentioned in a 1995 internal memo in which officials in the government's War Pensions Agency were instructed to ensure that they made no reference to the syndrome when dealing with claims from former service personnel.
The memo, obtained by the National Gulf Veterans and Families Association, of which Rusling is chairman, said officials were concerned about a flood of expensive compensation claims.
"Way back in 1995, they were dismissing Gulf War Syndrome without knowing the facts," Rusling said Monday.
"They obviously had 50 cases they knew about but then decided to erase all mention of the syndrome because they were worried about the financial implications.
"They have saved themselves millions by refuting Gulf War Syndrome and covering up the cases."
Nine years ago, the War Pensions Agency turned Rusling down for an army pension on the advice of Ministry of Defense doctors. But in a decision that could affect several thousand pensioners, a pensions appeal tribunal ruled last week that Gulf War Syndrome did exist and was caused by active service in the 1991 war.
Many veterans claiming to have the illness — with symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, insomnia, headaches, confusion, joint and muscle pain, swollen glands and fevers — have been turned down for army pensions because Ministry of Defense doctors told them there was no such disease.
The Ministry of Defense, which is studying the ruling, said Monday the 1995 memo simply "points out our policy over the language. We don't refer to Gulf War Syndrome. That would suggest it is a proven condition that comes from the Gulf," said a spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"We recognize there are a number of illnesses that have been contracted but we are looking into whether these can be attributed solely or partly to service in the Gulf."
Rusling — who was a sergeant in the Parachute Regiment and attached to a medical unit during the Gulf War (news - web sites), which drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait — has been diagnosed as suffering from 42 separate illnesses.
They include post-traumatic stress, chronic fatigue, severe headaches, memory loss and aching joints.
He said Monday that the memo, dated Feb. 15, 1995, says: "There are approximately 50 files outstanding where the conditions claimed refer to or can be considered as Gulf War/Desert Storm Syndrome.
"Owing to recent concern from headquarters we have been asked to scrutinize these Gulf War claims to ensure that no reference is made to Gulf War Syndrome or Desert Storm syndrome on any external correspondence," he quoted the memo as saying.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020527/ap_on_re_eu/britain_gulf_war_syndrome_2
Otis Willie
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