Case Narrative

An Nasiriyah Southwest
Ammunition Storage Point

Final Report

January 10, 2000

Many veterans of the Gulf War have expressed concern that their unexplained illnesses may result from their experiences in that war. In response to veterans’ concerns, the Department of Defense established a task force in June 1995 to investigate those incidents and circumstances relating to possible causes. The Office of the Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense for Gulf War Illnesses assumed responsibility for these investigations on November 12, 1996.

Case Narratives are reports of what we know today about specific events that took place during the Gulf War of 1990 and 1991. This particular case narrative focuses on the An Nasiriyah Southwest Ammunition Storage Point and whether chemical warfare agents, chemical weapons, or biological weapons were stored there during Desert Storm and the post-war US occupation. The narrative was initially published on July 30, 1998. Since that time, the Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses has not received any new information which contradicts the material presented here, nor have any additional leads developed to change the narrative’s assessments. Additionally, the Presidential Special Oversight Board reviewed the narrative and recommended that the Office of the Special Assistant republish it as final. For this reason, this is a final report. However, if you believe you have information which may change this case narrative, please contact my office by calling:

1-800-497-6261

Bernard Rostker
Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses
Department of Defense

Ver 2.0 1999309-0000002

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. METHODOLOGY
 
II. SUMMARY
 
III. NARRATIVE
A.  Background on Iraq’s Chemical Weapons Program
B.  Background on Iraq’s Biological Weapons Program
C.  An Nasiriyah Southwest Ammunition Storage Point Description
D.  Desert Shield and Desert Storm
E.  The Cease-Fire and Occupation of the An Nasiriyah Southwest Ammunition Storage Point
F.  The Search for Chemical Weapons
G.  The Search for Biological Weapons
H.  An Nasiriyah Biological Sampling Mission
I.   Oozing Munitions
J.   Demolition Activities
K. UNSCOM Inspection Findings
 
IV. ANALYSIS
 
V. ASSESSMENT
 
VI. LESSONS LEARNED
A. Chemical Warfare Agent Detection
B. Policy and Procedures for Munition Destruction
C. Mission Coordination and Communications
D. Doctrine, Tactics, Techniques, Procedures, and Training
E. Feedback
 
TAB A - Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Glossary
 
TAB B - Units Involved
 
TAB C - Bibliography
 
TAB D - Methodology For Chemical Warfare Incident Investigation
 
TAB E - List of New Information
 
END NOTES

 


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