Army Sends Team to Probe Iraq Illness - Guardian

[Bonhomme Richard]

RE:http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-2978293,00.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Army is trying to figure out what is causing a rash of serious pneumonia cases, including two fatalities, among soldiers serving in Iraq.

A six-person team of specialists was en route to Iraq Friday to investigate 14 cases of pneumonia serious enough that the soldiers had to be put on ventilators to breathe and evacuated from the region, the Army Surgeon General's office said Friday.

Two soldiers died, nine recovered and three were still hospitalized as of Thursday, spokeswoman Lyn Kukral said.

Do something and google "pneumonia - radiation". I was curious and guess what? Evidently it is very common for people with radiation poisoning to get pneumonia.
Can anyone say depleted uranium?

I think they will be covering this up real quick.
OZ

[fertilizeonarbusto]

1. Imagine that!

But it can't be depleted uranium, so stop saying that! It's all Saddam's fault!!!!!!!!

[Bonhomme Richard]

2. Then again.....

this could turn into something huge.

[qb]

3. I think this will be completely buried in the U.S.

I'm sure the Pentagon is strong-arming the U.S. media to keep this quiet on the grounds that publicizing it will cause panic among military families and hinder the war effort.

[Bonhomme Richard]

5. Your probably right but...

I don't think panic would quite describe what would happen.

[Wonder]

7. Gulf War Syndrome Revisited?

?

[lebkuchen]

9. What "war effort?"

That mission was "accomplished," remember? :shrug:

[underpants]

4. Probably a cost/benefit analysis group

Think Ed Norton's character's insurance job in "Fight Club"

[NYC]

6. Remember in the beginning when sand was causing a breathing

problem? I think the troops were still in Kuwait. Something about coughing up "green". Sand was filling the air.

[lebkuchen]

8. There's no $ in the US coffers to pay for disability AND retirement

That's why Chimpy will not approve concurrent receipt--he knew those disability numbers would soon be mounting. Can't give tax bennies to your buddies in the media and expect there to be funds left for the troops who brought home the loot.

[headlouse]

10. pneumonia is often brought on by a battered immune system

your immune system can be reduced by:
- physical stress
- emotional stress
- lack of sleep
- malnutrition
- dehydration
- radiation (i.e. DU dust particles)
- drugs (i.e., speed (go pills), alcohol, cigarettes, etc.)

My guess is that every soldier over there can check off almost every one of these catagories.

[Gloria]

11. Dehydration for sure if they're getting only two, 2-liter bottles of water

a day for drinking AND hygiene!!

Which is what the Japanese are supposed to help out with.....filtration and providing water to troops and Iraqis....if they ever get there. They're sending another team out to check out the "safety" issue....the people don't want any troops to go, but the PM has agreed. But it's going to take awhile for any deployment because part of the bill that passed emphasized the SAFETY of the guys that are going to be sent. In the meantime, none of the Japanese expertise/equipment for the water problem is there either....

[Rose Siding]

12. They all had a battery of vaccines

even the unapproved anthrax vaccine.

[BeHereNow]

13. I put my money on the VACCINES

Hands down- The vaccines will be traced to this, and then swept
under the collective cover-up rug. I would not rule out the DU yet either.
BHN