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File: 950727_23402849_91r.txtIIR 2 340 2849 91/ IRAQI CHEMICAL WARFARE TRAINING (U). Filename:23402849.91r PATHFINDER RECORD NUMBER: 19843 GENDATE: 950504 NNNN TEXT: ENVELOPE CDSN = LGX698 MCN = 91063/02249 TOR = 910630457 OTTSZYUW RUEKJCS0272 0630454- --RUEALGX. ZNY HEADER O 040454Z MAR 91 FM JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC INFO RUFGAID/USEUCOM AIDES VAIHINGEN GE RUETIAQ/MPCFTGEORGEGMEADEMD RUEHC /SECSTATE WASHINGTON DC RHEPAAB/TAC IDHS LANGLEY AFB VA//IDHS// RUFTAKA/USA INTEL CENTER HEIDELBERG GE RUFTAKC/UDITDUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE RUDOGHA/USNMR SHAPE BE//SURVEY// RUEALGX/SAFE O 040435Z MAR 91 FM [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ] TO AIG 7057 RUDCADA/CMO ARCENT//G2// RUDCAAA/ARCENT SUP CMD// RUDCOOO/CDR 513TH MI BDE FWD//IAM-O-H// RUEDBIA/CDR 513TH MI BDE FT MONMOUTH NJ//IAM-C-OSD// RHIGEPW/JIF EAST// RHSGEPW/CDR A CO 202 MI BN/JIF-W// RUDCAAA/CDR 22D SUPCOM//CMO-FMIB/CDR 202D MI BN// RHSDBBE/CDR VII CORPS MAIN FWD//G2// RHSDSSO/CDR VII CORPS SSO// RHIVHAA/COLLECTION MANAGER 18 ABC DEPLOYED// RUEADWD/HQDA WASH DC//DAMI-PII/DAMI-PO/DAMI-FI// RUDHAAA/CDRINSCOM FT BELVOIR VA//IAOPS-CI/IAOPS-H// RUEBJFI/CDRUSAOPSGRP FT GEORGE MEADE MD//IAGPC-CM// RUFLMAA/CDR18THMIBN MUNICH GE//IAGPE-G-OPC// RUFTAKA/CDRUSAINTELCTRE HEIDELBERG GE// RUFLMMA/CDR 66TH MI BDE MUNICH GE//IAGPE-G-OPC// RUEAUSA/CDRUSAIA WASHINGTON DC//AIA-PO/AIA-IPD-FM// RHIIMMA/COMUSMARCENT//G2// RUHQHQA/CG FMFPAC//G2/CIH// RUCBLFA/CG FMFLANT//G2/SCIO// RUEACMC/CMC WASHINGTON DC//INT/INTC// RUHGOAA/COMUSNAVCENT//N2// RUDMNIC/COMNAVINTCOM WASHINGTON DC//NIC-O3// RUDMCAC/NAVINTCOMCAC WASHINGTON DC//CAC// RUDMNOP/NAVOPINTCEN SUITLAND MD//OO// RUDMCTF/CTF ONE SIX EIGHT//H/H4/T// RUHGBAA/CTF ONE FIVE ONE// RHBTVKA/CTF ONE FIVE SIX// RUHGPBA/CTF ONE FIVE FOUR// RUHGOWA/CTF ONE FIVE EIGHT// RUDOHAA/CTU ONE SIX EIGHT PT FOUR PT THREE//OPS// RBSWBR/HQ BFME//J2// RHSADMA/CDR1STCAV DIV MAIN//G2// RUKGNBA/HQ AFSAC FT BELVOIR VA//INO// RUDOECA/ESAA LINDSEY AS GE//INO// RUHVAAA/PSAA HICKAM AFB HI//INO// RHEPAAB/TAC IDHS LANGLEY AFB VA//INPC// RUCUAAA/HQ SAC OFFUTT AFB NE//INCPH// RUEAHQA/HQ AFIA WASHINGTON DC//INOM/INUA// RUQVAAF/HQ ESC KELLY AFB TEX//IN/AFEWC// RUEAHQA/HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC//IN// RUCIBBA/9AF SHAW AFB SC//IN// RUWTPGA/12 AF BERGSTROM AFB TEX//IN// RHCUAAA/HQ MAC SCOTT AFB IL//IN// RHDIAAA/USCENTAF LANGLEY AFB VA//IN// RHSIMCU/ARCENT MCP//G2// RHIPAAA/USCINCCENT/CCJ2-CH// RUCJACC/USCINCCENT REAR MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2-CH// RUCJAAA/USCINCSOC MACDILL AFB FL// RUEKJCS/DIA WASHINGTON DC//DAM-1/DC-4A/DC-1(CCF)/DAT-6// RHIHDAA/COMSOCCENT// RUEKJCS/JCS WASHINGTON DC//JCSISC// RUEATAC/CDR USAITAC WASHINGTON DC//AIAIT-HC// RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC// RUETIAA/NSACSS FT GEORGE G MEADE MD//T5151// RHIUFLA/USCENTAF INTEL//INCH// RHBTOWA/CG FOURTH MEB//G2/SCIO/CIT// RHBTLHA/CG FIFTH MEB//G2/SCIO// INFO RULKNIS/COMNISCOM WASHINGTON DC//NIS-O2// RUDOHAA/NAVINSERVRA BAHRAIN//60BJ// ROWANUT/CDR 300TH MI BDE DRAPER UT//142 MI BN// RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//OSBAIG// RULYSEE/NAVCAMS LANT NORFOLK VA//51// RUHPCSF/NAVCSRF EASTPAC HONOLULU HI//W33// RUCJACC/USCENTCOM REAR MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ6/TA// RBSWAQ/1ARMDIV//DILT// BT CONTROLS OPER/DESERT STORM// - CITE: (U) 0272-91. - SERIAL: (U) IIR 2 340 2849 91. BODY - PASS: (U) - COUNTRY: (U) IRAQ(IZ). - SUBJ: IIR 2 340 2849 91/ IRAQI CHEMICAL WARFARE TRAINING (U). - WARNING: (U) THIS IS AN INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE. REPORT CLASSIFIED - --------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE --------------------------------------------------------------------- - DOI: (U) 910224. - REQS: (U) T-8C2-2650-01-90. - SOURCE: [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ] - SUMMARY: ALL IRAQI CHEMICAL DEFENSE PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO ARMY, AIR FORCE, NAVY, AND REPUBLICAN GUARD UNITS MUST ATTEND A CHEMICAL DEFENSE SCHOOL IN TAJI, IZ. PERSONNEL ARE INSTRUCTED ON VARIOUS METHODS OF CHEMICAL WEAPON DETECTION AND HOW TO INSTRUCT UNIT PERSONNEL ON CHEMICAL DEFENSE TECHNIQUES. - TEXT: 1. BACKGROUND--THE CHEMICAL DEFENSE SCHOOL IS LOCATED IN THE TAJI MILITARY CITY IN TAJI, IZ //GEOCOORD:332800N0441500E//. THE COURSE CONSISTS OF 6-MONTHS OF INSTRUCTION FOR BOTH OFFICERS AND ENLISTED PERSONNEL. THE OFFICERS' COURSE OF INSTRUCTION IS SEPARATE AND DEALS WITH MORE IN-DEPTH SUBJECTS THAN THE ENLISTED COURSE. THE ENLISTED SCHOOL TRAINS APPROXIMATELY 150 SOLDIERS PER ITERATION BROKEN DOWN INTO THREE 50-SOLDIER CLASSES. THE ENLISTED MEN'S TRAINING CONSISTS OF ONE-HOUR BLOCKS OF INSTRUCTION (WITH 10 MINUTE BREAKS) FROM 0745 TO 1430. WHEN NOT IN CLASS, SOLDIERS ARE ALLOWED TO SPEND THEIR FREE TIME AS THEY LIKE. THE OVERALL COURSE OF INSTRUCTION, TITLED "WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION", INCLUDES LIMITED INFORMATION ON BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS BUT DOES NOT BROACH NUCLEAR SUBJECTS. AT THE END OF INSTRUCTION, SOLDIERS ARE DIVIDED AMONG THE SERVICES TO SERVE AS UNIT CHEMICAL DEFENSE NCOS. TO BE ASSIGNED TO A REPUBLICAN GUARD UNIT ONE HAS TO BE OF ARABIC HERITAGE, FROM THE TIKRIT, IZ REGION , OR A BA'ATH PARTY MEMBER. (FIELD COMMENT- DOI FOR THE CHEMICAL DEFENSE SCHOOL IS 24 SEPT 1984 TO 26 MARCH 1985). 2. INDIVIDUAL BLOCKS OF INSTRUCTION WITHIN THE ENLISTED MEN'S COURSE INCLUDE THE USE AND HISTORY OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS; TYPES OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND THEIR INDICATORS; CHEMICAL AGENT SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENTS; HOW TO USE THE CHEMICAL DEFENSE MASK; HOW TO DECONTAMINATE VEHICLES, WEAPONS AND AREAS; HOW TO DEAL WITH INCENDIARY AGENTS; AND HOW TO TEACH CHEMICAL DEFENSE AT THE UNIT LEVEL. A. HISTORICAL USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS--THIS ONE-WEEK BLOCK OF INSTRUCTION DESCRIBES THE INTRODUCTION OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS INTO WORLD WAR I BY ENGLISH TROOPS AGAINST THE GERMANS. ((FIELD COMMENT)-THIS APPEARS TO BE THE IRAQI VERSION OF THE HISTORY OF CHEMICAL WARFARE). IT ALSO DESCRIBES THE HISTORICAL CREATION OF VARIOUS CHEMICALS FOR WARTIME USE. B. TYPES OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND THEIR INDICATORS--THIS BLOCK OF INSTRUCTION LASTS APPROXIMATELY 10 WEEKS AND DESCRIBES THE VARIOUS CHEMICAL AGENTS AND THE MEANS BY WHICH THEY CAN BE DELIVERED TO THE BATTLEFIELD. STUDENDS LEARN THE SHAPES AND COLOR CODES OF THE MUNITIONS USED TO CARRY THESE CHEMICALS. COLORED RINGS AROUND THE MUNITIONS DENOTE THE CHEMICAL TYPE. RED RINGS MEAN NERVE AGENTS, YELLOW RINGS MEAN BLISTER AGENTS, AND GREEN RINGS MEAN CHOKING AGENTS. ((FIELD COMMENT)- SOURCE COULD NOT REMEMBER THE SIZES OR CALIBERS OF THE MUNITIONS USED, BUT WAS SURE THAT 130MM AND 155MM ARTILLERY ROUNDS WERE AMONG THEM. SOURCE KNEW THAT NERVE AND BLISTER MUNITIONS WERE IN THE IRAQI INVENTORY BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN USED IN THE IRAN/IRAQ WAR. [ (b)(7)(D) ]WAS NOT SURE ABOUT CHOKING AGENTS). STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT THAT VX NERVE AGENTS ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS BECAUSE THEY AFFECT THE HUMAN BODY WITHIN SECONDS; HOWEVER, SARIN, SOMAN AND TABUN NERVE AGENTS TAKE MINUTES TO AFFECT THE HUMAN BODY. ((SOURCE COMMENT)- SARIN, SOMAN, AND TABUN NERVE AGENTS WERE MANUFACTURED BY GERMAN CHEMICAL COMPANIES). BLISTER AGENTS (LEWISITES) ARE DELIVERED IN LIQUID FORM AND TAKE APPROXIMATELY 8 TO 24 HOURS TO FULLY MANIFEST ITSELF IN THE BODY. IT CAN EXIST IN AN ENVIRONMENT FOR SEVERAL DAYS DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER. ((FIELD COMMENT)- SOURCE HAD HEARD THAT THERE WAS A CHEMICAL MUNITION WHICH COULD CARRY TWO CHEMICAL AGENTS AT ONCE SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER BY A PARTITION, BUT DELIVERED IN THE SAME VESSEL). C. CHEMICAL AGENT SYMPTOMS AND HOW TO TREAT THEM--THIS BLOCK OF INSTRUCTION LASTS APPROXIMATELY SIX WEEKS AND GIVES MORE DETAIL ON WHAT TO EXPECT FROM CHEMICAL AGENTS. NERVE AGENTS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY HEADACHES, QUICKNESS OF BREATH, AND NARROWING OF THE PUPILS. EACH SOLDIER IS SUPPOSED TO BE EQUIPPED WITH TWO ATROPINE SULPHATE INJECTORS USED TO RELAX THE BODY AND SLOW CONVULSIONS LONG ENOUGH FOR THE PERSON TO BE TRANSFERRED TO A HOSPITAL. LEWISITES MANIFEST THEMSELVES IN SEVERE SKIN IRRITATION AFTER A 8 TO 24 HOUR INCUBATION PERIOD. THEY CAN BE INTRODUCED INTERNALLY BY DRINKING CONTAMINATED WATER OR THROUGH CONTAMINATED VAPORS. A COLD SENSATION ON ONE'S SKIN IS A SIGN OF LEWISITES. TO CLEAN CONTANIMATED SKIN SURFACES, A GAUZE PAD IS TO BE USED IN A PINCHING MOTION SO AS NOT TO FURTHER SPREAD THE LEWISITE. EACH SOLDIER IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A BOTTLE OF MONOCHLORINE WHICH HE IS TO POUR ONTO A SEPARATE PIECE OF GAUZE AND AGAIN CLEAN THE SKIN SURFACES USING A PINCHING MOTION. THE GAUZE PADS, ATROPINE INJECTORS, AND MONOCHLORINE SOLUTION ARE MANUFACTURED IN BULGARIA. ((FIELD COMMENT)- SOURCE SAID THERE WAS LITTLE EMPHASIS PLACED ON THE CONTAMINATION OF WATER BY BLISTER AGENTS BECAUSE THE MOTION OF THE WATER WOULD QUICKLY REMOVE THE BLISTER AGENT). CHOKING AGENTS SUCH AS PHOSGENE, DIPHOSGENE, AND TRIPHOSGENE ARE DELIVERED IN GASEOUS STATE AND ARE CHARACTERIZED BY CHEST PAINS AND SHALLOW BREATHING. IF BREATHING CEASES, THE VICTIM IS TO BE GIVEN CPR. IN LESS SEVERE CASES THE INFLICTED PERSON SHOULD BE GIVEN HOT TEA OR HOT MILK TO CLEANSE THE THROAT PASSAGE. IF THE SOLDIER IS NOT EVACUATED TO A HOSPITAL HE WILL DIE. CHOKING AGENTS ARE NOT AFFORDED MUCH ATTENTION AS THEY ARE NOT KNOWN TO BE A WIDELY USED CHEMICAL WEAPON. NON-LETHAL CS TEAR GAS IS DESCRIBED AS A RIOT CONTROL GAS. EACH SOLDIER IS SUPPOSED TO CARRY FOUR AMPULES OF ETHER TO COMBAT THIS GAS. IN CASE OF A TEAR GAS ATTACK, SOLDIERS ARE TO PUT ON THEIR MASKS, BREAK AN AMPULE OF ETHER UNDER THE MASK, AND LIFT THE CHIN OF THE MASK TO LET THE ETHER TAKE EFFECT. D. HOW TO USE THE MASK--THIS PORTION OF THE COURSE TAKES APPROXIMATELY NINE OR TEN WEEKS AND DESCRIBES THE METHOD OF DONNING VARIOUS TYPES OF MASKS. THIS INSTRUCTION ALSO INCLUDES A PRACTICAL APPLICATION PORTION IN WHICH STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO DON AND CLEAR THE MASK IN A TEAR GAS ENVIRONMENT. THE DIFFERENT MASKS COVERED IN THE COURSE ARE THE "M95" YUGOSLAVIAN MASK (GREEN COLOR), A BROWN SOVIET MASK, A GREEN ROMANIAN MASK ON WHICH THE INDIGENOUS "HADBAA" IRAQI MASK IS BASED, AND THE BLACK "MR" GERMAN MASK. THE SOVIET MASK IS PRIMARILY USED FOR INSTRUCTION AND IS AN OLD-STYLE MASK WITH A HOSE STRETCHING FROM THE MASK ITSELF TO A SHOULDER-CARRIED FILTER. THE IRAQI AND ROMANIAN MASKS ARE THOUGHT TO BE THE WORST; THE GERMAN MASK IS KNOWN TO BE THE BEST BECAUSE IT HAS TWO PLATES OF CHARCOAL PROTECTION. ((FIELD COMMENT)- SOURCE HAD SEEN AND EXAMINED AMERICAN MASKS FOUND ON IRANIAN SOLDIERS DURING THE IRAN/IRAQ WAR). E. HOW TO DECONTAMINATE VEHICLES, WEAPONS AND AREAS--THIS PORTION OF THE COURSE TAKES MORE THAN TEN WEEKS. STUDENTS ARE INSTRUCTED ON VARIOUS KINDS OF DECONTAMINATION VECHICLES AND SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE ARS DECONTAMINATION VEHICLE FOR GROUND AND WEAPONS AND THE DDA DECONTAMINATION SYSTEM FOR PERSONNEL AND CLOTHING. THE ARS USES A CHLORINE SOLUTION FOR METALS AND A 2/3 SALT SOLUTION FOR WOOD. THE DDA SYSTEM CONSISTS OF TWO WOODEN STRUCTURES, ONE WITH HEATED WATER PIPED INTO IT FOR SOLDIERS TO WASH WITH COMMON SOAP AND THE OTHER TO CLEANSE CLOTHING (CHEM SUITS AND UNIFORMS). THE DK4 HAND PUMP FOR THE DECONTAMINATION OF SMALL ITEMS IS ALSO EXPLAINED. F. HOW TO DEAL WITH INCENDIARY AGENTS--THIS TEN WEEK COURSE COVERS INCENDIARY AGENTS SUCH AS NAPALM, THERMITE, AND PHOSPHOROUS. THE NAPALM SUBSTANCES (CONCENTRATED KEROSENE AND GASOLINE MIXTURES) CAN BE INTRODUCED THROUGH BOMBS OR, AS IN THE CASE OF THE IRAN/IRAQ WAR, IN 30 LITRE INCENDIARY ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES. INCDNDIARY AGENTS ARE NEUTRALIZED THROUGH OXYGEN DEPRIVATION TECHNIQUES SUCH AS ROLLING ON THE GROUND, SMOTHERING THE FIRE WITH A BLANKET, OR SIMPLY SNUFFING THEM OUT WITH ONE'S HANDS. A TEACHER ILLUSTRATED THIS BY PUTTING OUT A SMALL, INCENDIARY-INDUCED FIRE WITH HIS HAND. THERMITE IS DELIVERED THROUGH ARTILLERY AND MORTAR ROUNDS AND CAUSES A DEEP BURN FROM OVER 3,000 CALORIES OF HEAT. PHOSPHOROUS SHELLS DESIGNATED BY THREE WHITE TRIANGLES FACING EACH OTHER ARE ALSO DELIVERED BY ARTILLERY AND MORTAR ROUNDS. BOTH THERMITE AND PHOSPHOROUS ARE NEUTRALIZED BY OXYGEN DEPRIVATION TECHNIQUES. G. HOW TO TEACH CHEMICAL DEFENSE AT THE UNIT LEVEL--THIS PORTION OF THE COURSE TOOK OVER 12 WEEKS TO COMPLETE. A BRIGADE HAS FOUR CHEMICAL DEFENSE NCOS (ONE PER BATTALION AND ONE AT THE HEADQUARTERS COMPANY) AND ONE CHEMICAL DEFENSE OFFICER ON THE BRIGADE STAFF. DURING PEACETIME, THE CHEMICAL DEFENSE NCOS TEACH CHEMICAL DEFENSE TECHNIQUES TO THE SOLDIERS; DURING WARTIME, THEY DETECT CHEMICALS AND THEN WARN THE CHEMICAL DEFENSE OFFICER SO HE CAN INFORM HIGHER HEADQUARTERS. STUDENTS WERE GIVEN VERY BASIC INFORMATION TO DETECT CHEMICAL WEAPONS. FOR EXAMPLE, THEY WERE TOLD THAT BECAUSE CHEMICAL BOMBS MAKE NO SOUND, THEY MUST LOOK FOR PHYSICAL SIGNS SUCH AS BROWNISH GRASS, OILY SUBSTANCES ON THE SAND, UNUSUAL SMELLS, AND/OR DEAD ANIMALS AND BIRDS. IF CHEMICALS ARE DETECTED THE NCO IS TO SHOOT SIGNAL FLARE INTO THE AIR. THIS PARTICULAR FLARE SHOOTS A RED STREAM APPROX 200 METERS INTO THE SKY. IT THEN VEERS APPROX 80 METERS TO THE SIDE (RIGHT OR LEFT), BREAKING INTO FIVE STAR-LIKE CONFIGURATIONS AND MAKING A LOUD WHISTLING SOUND. THE NCO IS SUPPOSED TO PLACE ORANGE FLAGS AROUND THE CONTAMINATED AREAS WARNING OFF SOLDIERS. THEN THE NCO IS TO INFORM THE CHEMICAL DEFENSE OFFICER THROUGH THE MOST EXPEDIENT MEANS OF THE TYPE OF CHEMICAL ATTACK AND ITS LOCATION. (FIELD COMMENT- TO WARN OF ANY CHEMICAL ATTACK, THE HHC/841 BDE/45 INF DIV WAS TO TRANSMIT "777" VIA RADIO). EACH NCO WAS EQUIPPED WITH A BOX CONTAINING FOUR RED-RINGED AMPULES TO DETECT NERVE AGENTS, FOUR YELLOW-RINGED AMPULES FOR DETECTION OF BLISTER AGENTS, AND FOUR TRIPLE-RED-RINGED AMPULES FOR DETECTION OF CHOKING AGENTS; A SMALL SYRINGE DEVICE TO HOLD AND OPEN THE AMPULES; A SMALL SHOVEL FOR TO TAKE GROUND SAMPLES; AND A SMALL FLASHLIGHT. (SOURCE COMMENT- GROUND SAMPLES WERE SHIPPED OFF TO A SPECIAL LAB IN BAGHDAD FOR FUTURE ANALYSIS). EACH NCO WAS ALSO GIVEN 60 GRAMS OF A CHLORINE POWDER (TO BE USED IN A TEN GRAM PER TEN LITRE WATER RATIO) TO DECONTAMINATE APPROXIMATELY 150 WEAPONS AND HELMETS. ONLY THOSE PORTIONS OF THE WEAPONS REQUIRING HUMAN CONTACT ARE TO BE DECONTAMINATED. EACH CHEMICAL DEFENSE NCO IS SUPPOSED TO STORE AND DISPENSE HIS ENTIRE UNIT'S CHEMICAL DEFENSE CLOTHING (RUBBER CAPE, RUBBER GLOVES, RUBBER BOOTS AND MASK) FOR THE ENTIRE UNIT. (FIELD COMMENT- THE ENTIRE CHEMICAL DEFENSE ENSEMBLE WAS KNOWN BY THE NAME "EL WAN" AND WAS PRODUCED BY THE SOVIET UNION). 3. REALITIES OF CHEMICAL DEFENSE IN THE IRAQI MILITARY--THE REPUBLICAN GUARD WERE GIVEN ALL OF THE LATEST EQUIPMENT AND HAD ENOUGH TO EQUIP EACH MEMBER. THE NORMAL ARMY INFANTRY UNIT HAD OLD EQUIPMENT AND COULD ONLY SUPPLY 40 PERCENT OF ITS PERSONNEL. (FIELD COMMENT- DURING THE IRAN/IRAQ WAR, EVERY SOLDIER WAS SUPPLIED WITH THE PROPER, ALBEIT OLD, EQUIPMENT). CHEMICAL DEFENSE NCOS HAD NO DANGER FLAGS AND WERE REQUIRED TO USE A PILE OF ROCKS ARRANGED IN AN UNNATURAL FORMATION TO WARN TROOPS OF ANY AREAS. MASK FILTERS WERE REQUIRED TO BE CHANGED EVERY FIVE YEARS AND NO SOONER. HOWEVER, EVERY SIX MONTHS SOLDIERS WERE REQUIRED TO DON AND CHECK THEIR MASKS BY GOING THROUGH A TEAR GAS TENT. ALTHOUGH CHEMICAL DEFENSE NCOS ANNOTATED WHICH MASKS DID NOT WORK, THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO ISSUE NEW FILTERS EARLIER THAN THE FIVE-YEAR TIME LIMIT. REGULAR INFANTRY UNITS NEVER TRAINED TO FIGHT WHILE WEARING THE CHEMICAL ENSEMBLE. CHEMICAL DEFENSE NCOS WERE NOT TRAINED ON BIOLOGICAL OR NUCLEAR DEFENSE AND HAD LIMITED IF NOT NON-EXISTENT KNOWLEDGE ON THESE SUBJECTS. NO ONE IN THESE UNITS RECEIVED ANY SPECIAL INNOCULATIONS PRIOR TO EITHER THE IRAN/IRAQ WAR OR THE DESERT STORM CAMPAIGN. (FIELD COMMENT- DURING HIS SIX YEARS OF SERVICE, SOURCE TRIED TO INFORM HIS SOLDIERS OF THE USE OF CHEMICAL WARFARE AGAINST THE KURDS BUT NOTICED THAT ALMOST A THIRD OF THEM DID NOT KNOW OR BELIEVE THIS HAD HAPPENED). - COMMENTS: (U) SOURCE WAS OF ABOVE AVERAGE INTELLIGENCE AND WAS VERY COOPERATIVE. [ (b)(7)(D) ] ASSESSED THE IRAQI CHEMICAL DEFENSE TRAINING PROGRAM AS BEING VERY POOR. [ (b)(7)(D) ] OPINED THAT IRAQI FORCES WOULD PROBABLY INCUR HEAVY LOSSES IN THE EVENT OF A CHEMICAL ATTACK BY EITHER THE ENEMY OR ITS OWN FORCES. - //IPSP: (U) PGW2650//. //COMSOBJ: (U) 111//. ADMIN PROJ: (U) INSTR: (U) US NO. PREP: (U) [ (b)(6) ] ACQ: (U) SAUDI ARABIA (910303). DISSEM: (U) FIELD: NONE. WARNING: (U) REPORT CLASSIFIED
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