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File: 950925_68240002_94.txt
IIR 6 824 0002 94/DETECTION OF CHEMICAL AGENTS BY
Filename:68240002.94
CDSN = LGX664 MCN = 93278/32913 TOR = 932781941
RTTCZYUW RUEKJCS5142 2781944- --RUEALGX.
ZNY
R 051944Z OCT 93
FM DIA WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEADWD/OCSA WASHINGTON DC
RUENAAA/CNO WASHINGTON DC
RUEAHQA/CSAF WASHINGTON DC
RUEACMC/CMC WASHINGTON DC
RHFPAAA/UTAIS RAMSTEIN AB GE//IN-CMO//
RHDLCNE/CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
[ (b)(2) ]
RUETIAQ/MPC FT GEORGE G MEADE MD
RUWSMXI/AMC INTEL CEN SCOTT AFB IL//IN//
RUQYSDG/FOSIF ROTA SP
RUEOFAA/COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC//J2//
RULKQAN/MARCORINTACT DET QUANTICO VA
[ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ]
RUEALGX/SAFE
R 051554Z OCT 93
FM [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ]
TO RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
INFO RUFGAID/USEUCOM AIDES VAIHINGEN GE
RUEKJCS/JOINTSTAFF WASHDC//J-5/PMA//
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:SEE//
RUEOAYB/FSTC INTEL OPS CHARLOTTESVILLE VA//AIFICA//
RUEARDF/DIRAFMIC FT DETRICK MD//AFMIC-CR//
[ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ]
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SECTION 01 OF 04
SERIAL: (U) IIR 6 824 0002 94.
/*********** THIS IS A COMBINED MESSAGE ************/
COUNTRY: (U) CZECH REPUBLIC (EZ).
SUBJ: IIR 6 824 0002 94/DETECTION OF CHEMICAL AGENTS BY
CZECHOSLOVAK UNIT DURING DESERT STORM, PART II (U)
WARNING: (U) THIS IS AN INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY
EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE. [ (b)(2) ]
/--------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
/--------------------------------------------------------
DOI: (U) 931001.
REQS: (U) [ (b)(2) ]
SOURCE: (U) OFFICIAL MINISTRY OF DEFENSE REPORT, IN
CZECH, CONSIDERED RELIABLE.
SUMMARY: [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ]
TEXT: 1. [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ]
2. [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ]
THE CZECHOSLOVAK CHEMICAL DEFENSE UNIT IN THE PERSIAN
GULF AND FINDINGS OF THE INVESTIGATION CONCERNING
POSSIBLE USE OF COMBAT TOXIC AGENTS
A 169-MAN UNIT OF CZECHOSLOVAK MILITARY SPECIALISTS
WAS SENT TO THE GULF AS A RESULT OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CZECH AND SLOVAK FEDERAL REPUBLIC
AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA ON THE
ACTIVITY AND TERMS OF DEPLOYMENT OF CZECHOSLOVAK MILITARY
SPECIALISTS WITHIN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA. THIS
AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED IN PRAGUE ON 19 NOVEMBER 1990 AND
FINALIZED IN RIYADH ON 22 NOVEMBER 1990. THE FEDERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE CSFR RATIFIED THE TREATY. THE
RATIFICATION RESOLUTION, NUMBER 97, INCLUDED A CLAUSE
WHEREBY THE FEDERAL ASSEMBLY EMPOWERED THE GOVERNMENT OF
THE CSFR TO APPROVE, PER ARTICLE V OF THE AGREEMENT, THE
DECISION TO CROSS THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER BETWEEN THE
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA AND KUWAIT. THE GOVERNMENT GAVE
THIS APPROVAL WITH ITS PROCLAMATION NUMBER 71 OF 31
JANUARY 1991.
ON 22 DECEMBER, BY OPERATIONAL ORDER OF THE KINGDOM
OF SAUDI ARABIA MINISTRY OF DEFENSE'S NORTHERN ZONE
COMMANDER, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE IV OF THE
AGREEMENT, THE UNIT WAS ASSIGNED TO THE NORTHERN ZONE.
ON 1 JANUARY 1991, TWO CHEMICAL DEFENSE DETACHMENTS WERE
ATTACHED TO THE 4TH AND 20TH BRIGADES OF THE SAUDI
ARABIAN ARMED FORCES. THE REMAINDER OF THE UNIT WAS
POSITIONED AT A BASE CAMP AND ASSIGNED TO THE STAFF.
SAUDI ARABIA EXERCISED COMPLETE AUTHORITY OVER THE
DEPLOYMENT AND STRATEGIC CONTROL OF THE UNIT. DECISIONS
CONCERNING SPECIFIC MEANS OF MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT WERE
MADE BY THE UNIT COMMANDER, LTC JAN ((VALO)), WHO WAS
RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT EXECUTION OF THE UNIT'S
MISSIONS DID NOT VIOLATE CZECHOSLOVAK LEGAL REGULATIONS
OR THE BASIC TENETS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW.
ON 27 JANUARY 1991, THE TWO CHEMICAL DEFENSE
DETACHMENTS ASSIGNED TO THE SAUDI BRIGADES CROSSED THE
BORDER INTO KUWAIT. THEY PARTICIPATED ACTIVELY IN
PROVIDING CHEMICAL DEFENSE SUPPORT TO ALLIED ELEMENTS
DURING EXECUTION OF THE OPERATIONAL PLAN. ON 5 FEBRUARY
1991, THE UNIT WAS AUGMENTED TO A STRENGTH OF 198
PERSONNEL. .
THE CZECHOSLOVAK CHEMICAL DEFENSE UNIT PRIMARILY
CONDUCTED THE FOLLOWING MISSIONS:
1. CHEMICAL DEFENSE SUPPORT FOR THE HEADQUARTERS OF
THE NORTHERN ZONE AND FOR TROOPS STATIONED WITHIN THE
PERIMETER OF KING KHALID MILITARY CITY;
2. CHEMICAL DEFENSE SUPPORT FOR THE S
AUDI ARABIAN
4TH AND 20TH BRIGADES;
3. IN CASE OF CHEMICAL ATTACK, ESTABLISHMENT OF A
DECONTAMINATION SITE FOR AFFECTED PERSONNEL.
PART OF THE CHEMICAL DEFENSE SUPPORT WAS ALSO THE
CONTINUOUS CONDUCT OF CHEMICAL MONITORING FOR TIMELY
DETECTION OF THE USE OF TOXIC AGENTS, THUS PROVIDING A
BASIS FOR TROOP ALERTS AND COMMANDERS' DECISIONS.
DURING THE PERIOD FOLLOWING COMMENCEMENT OF COMBAT
OPERATIONS BY ALLIED FORCES (FROM 0400 HOURS ON 17
JANUARY 1991), AIRBORNE DUST CONCENTRATIONS OF TOXIC
AGENTS WERE DETECTED BY OUR CHEMICAL MONITORING. THE
CHEMICAL DEFENSE BATTALION COMMANDER'S ACTIVITY REPORT
COVERING THE PERIOD FROM 1 JANUARY 1991 TO 28 FEBRUARY
1991 CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:
"DURING THE PERIOD IN QUESTION, TOXIC DUST
CONCENTRATIONS OF YPERITE AND SARIN CHEMICAL AGENTS WERE
DETECTED SEVERAL TIMES AROUND THE BRIGADES, AS WELL AS IN
KING KHALID MILITARY CITY (I.E., WITHIN THE MILITARY
ENCAMPMENT IN WHICH THE UNIT IS BILLETED), PROBABLY AS A
RESULT OF ALLIED AIR STRIKES AGAINST CHEMICAL MUNITIONS
DEPOTS IN IRAQ." THIS INFORMATION WAS PUBLICIZED IN THE
CZECHOSLOVAK MEDIA AT THE TIME.
THE AFOREMENTIONED FACT IS CONFIRMED BY MEMBERS OF
THE BATTALION -- CHEMICAL DEFENSE SPECIALISTS WHO
EVALUATED THE SITUATION AND CARRIED OUT DEFENSIVE
MEASURES. A CHEMICAL ALARM WAS IMMEDIATELY ISSUED (SEE
ENCLOSURE NUMBER 1, A PAGE FROM THE LOG OF THE
CZECHOSLOVAK ARMED FORCES GENERAL STAFF OPERATIONS GROUP
IN PRAGUE, ENTRY 56), AND INDIVIDUAL PROTECTIVE GEAR WAS
DONNED. THE ALL-CLEAR SIGNAL WAS GIVEN APPROXIMATELY TWO
HOURS LATER, AFTER REPEATED TEST SAMPLINGS YIELDED A
NEGATIVE RESULT.
THE DETECTED CONCENTRATIONS (PLACED AT 0.002 GRAMS
OF YPERITE PER CUBIC METER AND 0.003 MILLIGRAMS PER LITER
OF AN UNSPECIFIED TOXIC AGENT) ARE AT THE LIMIT OF THE
MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE (THRESHOLD) CONCENTRATIONS FOR HUMAN
LIFE. HOWEVER, THESE WERE ABSOLUTELY ISOLATED POSITIVE
RESULTS OF CHEMICAL MONITORING, WHICH WERE NOT CONFIRMED
BY ANY OF THE OTHER COALITION NATIONS (AS INDICATED BY
THE STATEMENT FROM 30 JANUARY 1991 THAT, "THE
CZECHOSLOVAK UNIT HAS NOT DETECTED ANY CHEMICAL AGENTS
SINCE 19 JANUARY." SEE ENCLOSURE NUMBER 2, A PAGE FROM
THE LOG OF THE CZECHOSLOVAK ARMED FORCES GENERAL STAFF
OPERATIONS GROUP IN PRAGUE, ENTRY 91).
THE CZECHOSLOVAK CHEMICAL DEFENSE UNIT HAD AVAILABLE
TO IT ALL OBTAINABLE MODERN MEANS OF CHEMICAL MONITORING.
THIS CHEMICAL DEFENSE EQUIPMENT IS CAPABLE OF DETECTING
THRESHOLD SENSITIVITIES (LEVELS NOT INTERFERING WITH
NORMAL HUMAN ACTIVITY) OF THE ANTICIPATED TOXIC AGENTS,
AND IT ENABLES DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN SARIN NERVE AGENT
AND V-TYPE AGENTS (NOTE: POTENTIALLY DELAYED-EFFECT
PERSISTENT NERVE AGENTS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN SARIN).
THE ASSERTION THAT THIS CONCERNS A TRULY LOW
CONCENTRATION NOT CAUSING ANY -- EVEN MINOR TEMPORARY --
CHANGES IN THE HUMAN BODY CAN BE SUPPORTED BY THE
FOLLOWING ARGUMENTS:
1. THE RESULTS OF OUR OWN CHEMICAL MONITORING;
2. NO SIGNS OF THE EFFECTS OF TOXIC AGENTS WERE
DETECTED AMONG PERSONNEL AT THE SCENE (TOXIC NERVE
AGENTS, OF WHICH THE AFOREMENTIONED SARIN IS ONE, CAUSE
AN IMMEDIATE REACTION, SUCH AS MIOSIS. THE FIRST
CLINICAL SIGNS OF YPERITE TOXICATION EXHIBIT THEMSELVES 4
TO 6 HOURS AFTER CONTAMINATION.);
3. NONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS SUFFERED FROM
SUBSEQUENT EFFECTS.
IN ADDITION, THERE IS THE UNDISMISSIBLE FACT THAT
ALL OF THE CHEMICAL DEFENSE SPECIALISTS WERE CAREER
SOLDIERS (A TOTAL OF 56 OF THEM DURING THE CONFLICT).
ALL ARE GRADUATES OF MILITARY POST-SECONDARY AND
SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE CHEMICAL DEFENSE BRANCH, AND IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROGRAM OF INSTRUCTION, THEY WORKED
WITH HIGHLY TOXIC AGENTS IN THE LABORATORY, AS WELL AS AT
CHEMICAL DEFENSE TRAINING FACILITIES. THE TRAINING OF
CHEMICAL DEFENSE SPECIALISTS USING SELECTED TYPES OF
TOXIC AGENTS (OL-4 SET) (NOTE: "OL" STANDS FOR "TOXIC
AGENTS")) TOOK PLACE FROM THE TIME OF THE CREATION OF
THE
CHEMICAL DEFENSE CORPS IN 1950 UNTIL FEBRUARY OF 1990,
WHEN IT WAS HALTED AS A RESULT OF THE COMPLAINTS OF
ECOLOGICAL GROUPS AND TOWN MAYORS CONCERNING ALLEGED
DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
THE CHEMICAL DEFENSE SPECIALISTS WHO UNDERWENT THIS
TRAINING ARE PROFESSIONALS AND ARE CAPABLE OF DETECTING
THE PRESENCE OF KNOWN TOXIC AGENTS ON THE GROUND, ON
VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT, AND IN THE AIR, WITHIN THE
SENSITIVITY LIMITS OF THE DEVICES USED. IT IS THEREFORE
HIGHLY LIKELY THAT THE DETECTION OF THE PRESENCE OF TOXIC
AGENTS IS OBJECTIVE. THE CONCENTRATIONS WHICH WERE
TRAINED WITH AT CHEMICAL TRAINING FACILITIES AND IN
LABORATORIES WERE ALSO SEVERAL TIMES HIGHER THAN THE
CONCENTRATIONS MEASURED IN THE PERSIAN GULF.
IT IS FUNDAMENTALLY AND WIDELY DEMONSTRATED THAT NO
COMBAT USAGE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS BY IRAQ OCCURRED, AND
ANY SUCH OCCURRENCE WOULD ALREADY HAVE BECOME THE SUBJECT
OF AN EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION BY INTERNATIONAL PEACE
ORGANIZATIONS. THE MEASURED DATA CAN BE JUDGED TO HAVE
RESULTED FROM AN INDUSTRIAL FACILITY OR A CHEMICAL
MUNITIONS DEPOT BEING STRUCK DURING ALLIED BOMBING. THIS
IS CONFIRMED BY THE REPORT OF THE UNIT COMMANDER AND THE
STATEMENTS OF DIRECT PARTICIPANTS. ALL MEMBERS OF THE
UNIT WERE EQUIPPED WITH THE MOST MODERN INDIVIDUAL
CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE GEAR, WHICH FULLY MEETS THE CURRENT
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD. ANY CONTAMINATION BY THESE TYPES
OF TOXIC AGENTS WOULD MANIFEST ITSELF IMMEDIATELY, OR IN
A VERY SHORT TIME, AND THIS WAS NOT REPORTED. LATENT
DAMAGE, IF IT CAN BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AT ALL WITH THIS
GROUP OF AGENTS, WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN
DISCOVERED DURING FINAL MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS.
ON THE BASIS OF THE FOREGOING FACTS, IT CAN BE
CONCLUDED THAT THE EVENT IN QUESTION CAN IN NO WAY BE
CONNECTED WITH THE USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS -- MEANING
THEIR EMPLOYMENT IN COMBAT OPERATIONS -- AND THAT NO HARM
TO PERSONNEL OF THE CZECHOSLOVAK CHEMICAL DEFENSE UNIT
COULD HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE EFFECTS OF COMBAT
TOXIC AGENTS. (NOTE: THIS PARAGRAPH UNDERSCORED)
THESE CONCLUSIONS ARE CONFIRMED BY MEDICAL SERVICE
SPECIALISTS AS WELL. NEITHER AT THE TIME OF THE
DETECTION OF TOXIC AGENTS, NOR SUBSEQUENTLY, DID ANY
MEMBER OF THE UNIT SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT IN CONNECTION
WITH THIS INCIDENT. AFTER RETURNING FROM THE PERSIAN
GULF, ALL MEMBERS OF THE UNIT UNDERWENT COMPLETE PHYSICAL
EXAMINATIONS AT MILITARY HOSPITALS, PRIMARILY AT THE
CENTRAL MILITARY HOSPITAL IN PRAGUE. HERE AS WELL, NO
SERIOUS CHANGES CAUSED BY DIFFICULT CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
OR TOXIC AGENT CONTAMINATION WERE DETECTED.
A NUMBER OF THOSE PARTICIPATING IN OPERATIONS IN THE
PERSIAN GULF LATER TOOK PART, OR ARE STILL TAKING PART,
IN THE OPERATIONS OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC ARMED FORCES'
UNIT IN YUGOSLAVIA. EVEN AT THE TIME OF THEIR
DEPLOYMENT, NO ONE CAME FORWARD WITH ANY HEALTH PROBLEMS.
DESPITE THIS, AS OF 31 AUGUST 1993, MILITARY
PHYSICIANS HAVE EXAMINED 18 PERSIAN GULF VETERANS WHO
HAVE EXPERIENCED SPECIFIC HEALTH PROBLEMS, AND THREE OF
THEM ARE STILL UNDER MEDICAL OBSERVATION. THUS FAR,
NOTHING HAS BEEN DISCOVERED AMONG THEM WHICH DEVIATES
FROM "NORMAL" PROBLEMS CONNECTED WITH SIMILAR LONG-TERM
OVERSEAS TOURS.
LOG ENTRIES CITED IN TEXT, AS WELL AS ONE NOT CITED,
FOLLOW:
1. ENCLOSURE 1, ENTRY 56:
TIME: 19 JANUARY, 1810 TO 1850 HOURS
FROM: K-800
TO: OPERATIONS GROUP
RECEIVED BY: COL (ILLEGIBLE)
MESSAGE: 1045 HOURS (0845 HOURS CENTRAL EUROPEAN TIME),
CHEMICAL ALARM ISSUED FOR KING KHALID MILITARY CITY.
DETECTED CONCENTRATION 0.003 MILLIGRAMS PER LITER.
NEGATIVE DETECTION 1350 HOURS (1150 HOURS CENTRAL
EUROPEAN TIME). (2-3 ILLEGIBLE WORDS).
PASSED TO, ACTION TAKEN (SIGNATURE): GEN (ILLEGIBLE)
(182 ILLEGIBLE DIGIT HOURS) AND COL (ILLEGIBLE) GEN
(ILLEGIBLE) (1910 HOURS) (INITIAL)
2. ENCLOSURE 2, ENTRY 91:
TIME: 30 JANUARY, 1900 HOURS
FROM: COL ((KRATOCHVIL))
TO: COL ((DIVIS))
RECEIVED BY: COL DIVIS
MESS
AGE: 1) THE CZECHOSLOVAK UNIT HAS NOT DETECTED ANY
CHEMICAL AGENTS SINCE 19 JANUARY.
2) (REQUEST FOR PARTS)
3) (ILLEGIBLE)
PASSED TO, ACTION TAKEN (SIGNATURE): (PARTS REQUEST)
PASSED TO ((SPICAK)) ON 31 JANUARY
3. ENCLOSURE 1, ENTRY 50:
TIME: 19 JANUARY, 1230 HOURS
FROM: COL VALO
TO: NSZV (EXPANSION UNKNOWN)
RECEIVED BY: COL (ILLEGIBLE) FROM THE NSZV AT 1430 HOURS
MESSAGE: TWO FIRST-ECHELON CHEMICAL DEFENSE DETACHMENTS
ARE ASSEMBLED IN THE REAR AREA OF THE 20TH BRIGADE OF THE
SAUDI ARMED FORCES. A CHEMICAL ATTACK FROM THE IRAQI
SIDE OCCURRED ON THE FORWARD LINE OF TROOPS AT 0800
HOURS, CENTRAL EUROPEAN TIME. 0.002 GRAMS PER CUBIC METER
OF YPERITE MEASURED IN THE AREA OF OUR UNITS. THE UNIT
IS O.K. AND PREPARED TO CARRY OUT ITS MISSION. DURING
THE MOVEMENT OF THE SAUDI ARMED FORCES' BRIGADES, THE
(SAUDI) UNITS WERE ACCOMPANIED ONLY BY CHEMICAL
RECONNAISSANCE SQUADS, WITHOUT CROSSING THE SAUDI ARABIAN
BORDER.
PASSED TO, ACTION TAKEN (SIGNATURE): (ILLEGIBLE) 1500
HOURS
GEN (ILLEGIBLE) GEN ((HEVERA)) (CHIEF OF THE GENERAL
STAFF INFORMED BY NSZV) COL (INITIAL)
[ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ]
2. [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ]
//IPSP: (U) PG 2520//.
//COMSOBJ: (U) 323//.
PROJ: (U).
COLL: (U).
INSTR: (U) US NO.
PREP: (U) [ (b)(2) ]
ACQ: [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ]
DISSEM: [ (b)(1) sec 1.3(a)(4) ]
WARNING: (U) [ (b)(2) ]
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