CZECH MOD REPORT ON CHEMICAL DETECTION DURING Filename:0416oct.93d O 041607Z OCT 93 FM SECDEF WASHINGTON DC INFO RUEADTS/USDP:DTSA RUEKMDT/USDP:CCC RUEALGX/SAFE O 041600Z OCT 93 FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7046 INFO RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0123 RUFHNA/USMISSION USNATO 0292 RUFHLD/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4149 RUEHIA/USIA WASHDC 2872 RUFHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 6383 RUFHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0404 RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0138 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0330 RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT 0077 RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC//CH-1, IMMEDIATE RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 0005 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2526 BT LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 01 OF 05 PRAGUE 008474 DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR H VIENNA HOLD FOR BRATISLAVA E.O. 12356: N/A /*********** THIS IS A COMBINED MESSAGE ************/ TAGS: MARR, MCAP, EZ, IZ, US SUBJECT: CZECH MOD REPORT ON CHEMICAL DETECTION DURING DESERT STORM REFS: A) PRAGUE 7666 B) PRAGUE 7668 C) PRAGUE 6487 ACTION REQUESTED ---------------- 1. EMBASSY REQUESTS THAT DEPARTMENT PASS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THE FOLLOWING MOD REPORT TO REPRESENTATIVES SKELTON AND BROWDER, WHO DISCUSSED CZECH DETECTION OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS WITH CZECH MINISTER OF DEFENSE BAUDYS, AS WELL AS TO SENATOR RIEGLE, WHO HAS EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN THIS MATTER. DURING SEPTEMBER MEETING IN PRAGUE (REF B), BAUDYS PROMISED TO PASS THE TEXT OF THE MOD REPORT THROUGH THE US EMBASSY TO THE CONGRESSMEN AS SOON AS IT WAS AVAILABLE. MOD PROVIDES EMBASSY WITH REPORT -------------------------------- 2. ON 1 OCTOBER 1993, THE PRESS DEPARTMENT OF CZECH MINISTRY OF DEFENSE PROVIDED THE DEFENSE ATTACHE OFFICE WITH A REPORT DETAILING EVENTS SURROUNDING THE DETECTION OF CHEMICAL AGENTS BY THE CZECHOSLOVAK CHEMICAL DETECTION UNIT DURING OPERATION DESERT STORM. THIS REPORT, CONSISTING OF 3 PAGES OF TEXT, AND 2 PAGES OF LOG ENTRIES, WAS FAXED TO DIA ON 1 OCTOBER. CZECH MOD REPORT ---------------- 3. BEGIN TEXT: INFORMAL EMBASSY TRANSLATION FROM CZECH 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 /****** BEGINNING OF SECTION 002 ******/ 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 SAUDI 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 /****** BEGINNING OF SECTION 003 ******/ 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. /****** BEGINNING OF SECTION 004 ******/ 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 MESSAGE: 1) THE CZECHOSLOVAK UNIT HAS NOT DETECTED ANY CHEMICAL AGENTS SINCE 19 JANUARY. 2) (REQUEST FOR PARTS) /****** BEGINNING OF SECTION 005 ******/ 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) END TEXT BASORA BT #5802 NNNN