From: "zeropoint" Subject: covert unit - known as the "Secret Team" From: Bruce Meland Subject: covert unit - known as the "Secret Team", David Guyatt Nexus Magazine Thanks to Joyce Riley and Dave Riddell for this information on Biological Black Magic four part article and to Davod Guyatt -- Posted for cas member, and investigative reporter, David Guyatt, david.g7@hertz.ukonline.co.uk: TOP SECRET GULF WAR BIO-WARFARE UNIT ACKNOWLEDGED The Clinton administration continues to back the Pentagon's six year old cover-up of the causes of Gulf War Syndrome: a chemical and biological shadow war of nightmarish proportions. In an attempt to keep some of the more seriously sensitive aspects and missions under wraps, London and Washington have harmonised their public pronouncements. Despite this, they are faced with a problem that is daily growing and will likely become insurmountable over time. Some vets know too much. Sick, and in some cases dying, their patience is eroding along with their expectation they will receive fair treatment at the hands of their governments. It is one thing for governments to yearly shell out hundreds of billions of dollars to the fat-cat corporate armament industry, but it is another to pay fair compensation and to care for their sick veterans. This disparity is an emotional powder-keg and by all accounts the fuse has now been lit. THE SECRET TEAM During a House of Lords answer to the Countess of Mar, Lord Gilbert answering for the Ministry of Defence, officially confirmed that Britain's Top Secret 1 Field Laboratory Unit (1 FLU) - never before publicly acknowledged - had been operating in the Gulf War. The confirmation was published in Hansard on 24 July 1997. This announcement coincided with the publication of a revealtory feature article published in the current issue of Nexus Magazine. Entitled "Biological Black Magic" the article was the culmination of two months painstaking research on Gulf War Syndrome. The Porton Down unit was first formed during WW1 and has remained a closely guarded secret for 80 years. Porton Down is the HQ of Britain's CB Warfare Establishment. The article, in addition, recounts the testimony of Angus Parker - a 1 FLU deputy team commander - assigned to the Gulf to search for evidence of Iraqi use of biological weapons. Markedly more lethal that chemical warfare, bio-weapons were detected. Parker goes on the record saying his team collected positive samples of Anthrax. He also reveals that another team from 1 FLU identified Plague. In addition, numerous other samples of biological weapons, unable to be identified in the field, were secretly shipped to Porton Down for identification. These remain shrouded in secrecy. Britain's Ministry of Defence and the US Departmnent of Defense continue to harmonise their response to allegations of Iraqi use of chemical and biological weapons. Both governments deny either were used in anger, despite increasing and substantial evidence to the contrary. Not least, Parker has provided astonishing details regarding one classified vaccine given to Gulf war troops. The vaccine, a combination of Cytokines and HIV gene envelopes is sure to arouse a storm of protest amongst sick vets. It seems certain that the Ministry of Defence will not acknowledge the use of this experimental vaccine. Former colleagues and friends who still work at Porton Down now refuse to take calls from Parker. "Even the cleaning lady won't speak to me now," he said in a recent phone call with this reporter. "It's a pity because she was the best of the lot," he wryly lamented. Parker is being cold-shouldered for revealing the existence of his covert unit - known as the "Secret Team," and for providing details of the experimental vaccine - amongst other things. During one of his last phone conversations, a Porton Down insider derided Parker's whistle-blowing, saying "we've got Full Crown Immunity... ha, ha, ha." The cold cynicism typifies a knee-jerk reaction in a defence establishment wholly unused to having the public spotlight focused on it. It also underscores the widespread and inherent arrogance prevalent in the more secretive arms of the defence research and development community. Sadly, however, the comment is accurate. Misjudgement, cock-up and bureaucratic bungling continue to go unpunished. Meanwhile, with continuing pressure to become a "profit-centre," Porton Down continues to earn its own revenue stream. The fear is this will lead to greater unaccountability, not less. The use of experiemental and classified vaccines remains a hot subject amongst Gulf War vets. Britain's Ministry of Defence now confirm that only three vaccines were ever classified. These were declassified and details announced last December. Despite this, Surgeon General, Vice Admiral Revell, earlier giving evidence to a Behind Closed Doors" meeting of the Defence Committee, stated that "five or six" vaccines have not be "admitted to." Responding to a question put to the Ministry of Defence to explain this obvious discrepancy, a spokesman typified Vice Admiral Revell's comments as a "misunderstanding." Parker is now an activist for sick and dying Gulf War veterans, and is commited to shaming the government into making a just settlement on their behalf. By going public he has forced the Ministry of Defence to acknowledge the existence of a secret unit and it's hitherto classified role in the Gulf War. Veterans and other interested researchers may be sure that this is merely the opening shot in what is likely to become a protracted and bitter battle to get the truth out into the public domain. Nexus Magazine is available on newsstands now. David Guyatt Copyright 1997 *******