|
|
Article: GULF WAR SYNDROME: THE `AGENT ORANGE' OF THE NINETIES.
- Article from:
- International Social Science Review
- Article date:
- March 22, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 Pi Gamma Mu. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Introduction
In the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War, over 100,000 U.S. troops among the 700,000 who served in the region reported a mysterious cluster of severe health problems. Initially, the Pentagon dismissed the complaints and ruled out any kind of systematic investigation. However, due to the sheer number of cases, and because of pressure from veterans and their families who refused to be ignored, the government agreed to conduct preliminary studies. It concluded that most of the symptoms could be attributed to "stress," a finding that was quickly challenged. Allegations of a cover-up then ensued, with analogies drawn to the infamous Agent Orange debacle ...