NARRATIVE BRIEF OPN ASPECTS BIO DEFENSE ODS

File: 980409_aug97_decls2_0001.txt
Page: 0001
Total Pages: 5
Subject = NARRATIVE BRIEF OPN ASPECTS BIO DEFENSE ODS                     

Box ID = BX002326

Folder Title = BRIEFING-OPERATIONAL ASPECTS OF BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE OPERATIONS                                   

Unit = FORSCOM     

Parent Org = FORSCOM     


                                     U@CLASSIFIED


          .GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS AN INFORMATION BRIEFING TO ACQUAINT YOU

          WITH THE OPERATIONAL ASPECTS OF BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE OPERATIONS


          DURING DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM. AT THE TIME OF THE


          INVASION OF KUWAIT, IRAQ POSSESSED A SUBSTANTIAL CHEMICAL AND

          BIOLOGICAL (CB) WEAPONS PROGRAM, AND THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR FULLY

          DEMONSTRATED IRAQ'S WILLINGNESS TO USE CHEMICAL WEAPONS. AS THE

          PERSIAN GULF CRISIS PROGRESSED, INTELLIGENCE ASSESSMENTS FOCUSED

          ON THE POTENTIAL THAT, AMONG OTHER POSSIBLE AGENTS, IRAQ HAD

          WEAPONIZED BOTH ANTHRAX AND BOTULINUM TOXIN AND POSSIBLY


          PERFINGENS TOXIN. EITHER AGENT POSED THE THREAT OF ENORMOUS


          NUMBERS OF CASUALTIES AND FATALITIES WHICH COULD HAVE OVERTAXED


          THE ALLIED MEDICAL SYSTEM. DUE TO THE IMNEDIACY OF THE IRAQI    CB

          THREAT POSED THROUGHOUT THE GULF CRISIS, SIGNIFICANT MEASURES

          WERE TAKEN TO ENHANCE THE PROTECTION OF U.S. PERSONNEL AND TO


          MAINTAIN THE ABILITY TO CONDUCT SUSTAINED MILITARY OPERATIONS   IN

          A CONTAMINATED ENVIRONMENT. AT THE START OF OPERATION DESERT

          SHIELD, THE U.S. AND ITS COALITION PARTNERS WERE INADEQUATELY

          PREPARED TO DEFEND AGAINST THE IRAQI CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL

          THREAT. EXPEDITED FIELDING OF CHEMICAL DEFENSE EQUIPMENT AND

          ENHANCED TRAINING SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED SHORTFALLS WITH REGARDS

          TO CHEMICAL DEFENSE. HOWEVER, THE INABILITY TO DEFEND AGAINST

          THE IRAQI BIOLOGICAL THREAT REMAINED A CRUCIAL SHORTCOMING AS THE

          START OF DESERT STORM APPROACHED. THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

          POLICY REGARDING VACCINATION AGAINST BW AGENTS (ONE-TIME POLICY)

          WAS FINALLY DEVELOPED AND ISSUED IN LATE 1990 AND IMPLEMENTED IN

          JANUARY 1991. THE CINC AGONIZED LONG AND HARD OVER DECIDING WHO

          WOULD AND WHO WOULDN'T RECEIVE THE LIMITED NUMBER OF DOSES OF


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    DECLASSIFIED                       UNCLASSIFIED
    ON: 27 MAR 98
    RY-c:r-r.&R-RnyianailiKinFRqFrls;FO17qs;R