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
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