This may explain why some who served in the Gulf became ill and others did not. On October 12, Dr. Haley was among the scientists and Pentagon officials who testified at a Senate hearing that focused on these Gulf War Syndrome questions. This hearing was convened at my request because I share the concern of many veterans groups that the Pentagon has failed to organize the kind of independent studies necessary to find the causes of and treatments for the symptoms our veterans are experiencing. I would like to see the research expanded to look for preventive measures to keep such illnesses from happening again. While this is critical to the well being of our men and women in uniform, such research could also shed light on the risks taken by people who work with chemicals in everyday life, such as chemists and medical workers, farmers and many of those in the energy industry.
Chemical warfare is one of our country's very real security concerns.
We should be working to find ways to prevent and treat the damage it can do. At the end of the Senate hearing I was more convinced than ever that we have a right to expect better results from government-funded research. We need to admit that there is something to their complaints, and determine if there is a linkage to their service in the Gulf. We owe it to those who've served, and those who will serve in the future.