-Caveat Lector- The Philadelphia Inquirer, August 2, 1999 20 reservists refuse vaccine at McGuire Some believe the anthrax inoculation is linked to Gulf War syndrome. The group may face dismissal. ASSOCIATED PRESS McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- A group of 20 reservists for McGuire Air Force Base's 514th Airlift Wing has refused an ordered anthrax vaccination, opening themselves to eventual dismissal from the military. Of the 445 reserve pilots ordered to take the shots, 20 refused and 97 have asked for more information about the shots before making a decision, said Christie Dragan, a spokeswoman for the 514th. Dragan said no members of the active-duty 305th Airlift Wing had refused the shots. Those who disobey the order are prohibited from unit missions and training and eventually asked to leave the service for "lack of participation." Gary Blied, 44, a decorated Persian Gulf war officer who flew missions from McGuire to the Middle East, opted to retire from the military two months ago rather than accept the anthrax inoculation. "The military has a long history of medical tomfoolery," the Evesham resident said. "Those are the same people who brought us the atomic-bomb tests in the '50s, LSD tests in the '60s, Agent Orange in the '70s, and gulf war syndrome in the '90s." In 1997, Defense Secretary William Cohen issued an order that all U.S. military forces would receive anthrax vaccinations by 2005. Even microscopic doses of anthrax, a disease that can be used as a weapon when spores are released into the air and inhaled, can be deadly. But critics of the military inoculation program have linked the shot to gulf war syndrome, whose symptoms include chronic maladies such as fatigue, joint pain and memory loss. An anthrax vaccine was administered to 150,000 gulf war troops in the early 1990s. Since the program started two years ago, more than 100 service members have reported severe reactions similar to gulf war symptoms. The Pentagon has acknowledged only short-term side effects, including swelling, fatigue, nausea and diarrhea. About 200 military personnel have refused the vaccinations, compared with an estimated 300,000 personnel inoculated under the program. Last week, U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton (R., Mount Holly) coauthored legislation that would make the Pentagon vaccinations voluntary, as they are in the United Kingdom. Saxton said criticisms of the vaccination helped spur the bill's creation. "Some of this stuff doesn't jibe with what the military is saying," said Saxton, whose district includes McGuire. "I think the military should have done this administratively on their own." © 1999 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc. ================================= Robert F. Tatman [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Remove "nospam" from the address to reply. NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml POSTING THIS MESSAGE TO THE INTERNET DOES NOT IMPLY PERMISSION TO SEND UNSOLICITED COMMERCIAL E-MAIL (SPAM) TO THIS OR ANY OTHER INTERNET ADDRESS. RECEIPT OF SPAM WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION OF THE SENDER'S ISP. ____________________________________________________________________ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape WebMail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
