They are written in brief phrases and do not contain the conclusions of resulting investigations. The writers consistently downplayed most of the reported discoveries of chemicals or bacteria, sometimes before an inquiry was started. They prompted debate about whether soldiers' health was being affected by anthrax that was discovered in scores of dead sheep. Eventually, the controversy prompted Gen. Colin L. Powell, chairman of the U.S. joint chiefs of staff, and representatives of the British prime ministry to plan discussions on whether soldiers were becoming ill from the infected dead animals, say the logs. There is no indication of whether those discussions occurred.
Anthrax is a disease contracted by warm-blooded animals.
In humans, it causes lesions on the skin or in the lungs. Anthrax and botulinum, a bacteria that causes muscular paralysis and problems with vision and breathing, were most likely inserted into Iraqi weapons before the war, United Nations inspectors said. Poisonous chemicals the inspectors discovered at Iraqi weapons storage sites included nerve and mustard gases, the same chemicals detected on gulf war battlefields, the military intelligence report said. Memo on gas pills To make the situation worse, some veterans say the anthrax vaccinations or the nerve-gas pills they were ordered to take made them chronically ill. Lesser numbers were vaccinated with anthrax, but some of them reported side effects as well.