Rare pneumonia found among U.S. soldiers in Iraq

CNN/Reuters ^ | December 21, 2004

[My2Cents]

I'll say the obvious...Bio-weapon?

[jdm]

"I'll say the obvious...Bio-weapon?"

Not sure; it's just strange that the mainstream media had to point out that ALL 18 used tobacco, as if going to Iraq and using tobacco causes pneumonia.

[rhombus]

it's just strange that the mainstream media had to point out that ALL 18 used tobacco, as if going to Iraq and using tobacco causes pneumonia

I bet they all voted for Bush too. Nonetheless this is clearly, "BUSH'S FAULT". /s

[jdm]

Isn't this the same report from the first Gulf War rehashed as "new" or updated?

I don't think so. This (allegedly) covers March 2003 through March 2004.

[jdm]

I bet they all voted for Bush too. Nonetheless this is clearly, "BUSH'S FAULT". /s

I think CNN's point is that fighting in wars is too risky, since too much combat may result in pneumonia.

[Americanwolf]

Yeah, but to have such a small affect group is kinda of wierd... usually a bio weapon will show a pattern of covering an area and having both civillian an military affected... even if the Iraqi health ministry did not report any cases, I would still think that we would see a larger outbreak among the military population.. at least more then 18 people affected.... sounds wierd...

the only exception I could think of to the bio weapon scenario is if it was introduce in either food or water... but I though that pneumonia was pretty much an airborne agent.

[gov_bean_ counter]

I would be interested in knowing how many of these folks were involved in the destruction of captured enemy ordinance.

[rhombus]

I think CNN's point is that fighting in wars is too risky, since too much combat may result in pneumonia.

I've been watching CNN since they started. They have no point now except to try and catch Fox and they are failing miserably.

[Cold Heart]

More asbestos miners that smoked got lung cancer than those that didn't. Alone, smoking or exposure to asbestos does not always cause major problems. Mix 'em and it almost always guarantees problems.

The use of tobacco by all 18 soldiers is useful information. Was it all the same brand or lot? Was the shipment of the tobacco mishandled? Is there a bacteria that likes products of combustion. Grilled steak?Researchers will look into all the commonalities.

[Americanwolf]

Yeah.. that was my other thought too, but then again if it were an airborne agent once those shells were destroyed I would imagine one of two scenarios occuring...

1.) when the shells were destroyed they would have been bundled together and laced with c4 and det cord... in the ensuing explosion and fireball I think any of the airborne virus or agent would have been consumed or sterilized by the fireball and heat created by the explosion.

2.) If there were a release of an agent into the air after destruction, I would think it would affect others in the geographical area...but that could vary based on weather conditions humidity etc...

Excellent point though.

[trumandogz]

Iraq used Chemical and Bio Weapons on American troops in 1991 so I see little reason they would not do so in the current war.

[MinstrelBoy]

There is a connection to smoking and getting pneumonia. But it is strange of the Left Wing Media to mention it. There is some truth in what they say

[maestro]

.........'WMD'..........Iran-North Korean tobacco?

[maestro]

.........'WMD'..........Iraqi-Iran-North Korean Tobacco Company?

[2ndreconmarine]

Isn't this the same report from the first Gulf War rehashed as "new" or updated?

I think you may be exactly right.

The best explanation for the first Gulf War Syndrome was that a combination of factors, each perhaps benign taken in isolation, caused the problem.

I bet this is a similar effect.

It is a little eiry though. In the first GW, we were medevacing about 1-3 people per day from Kuwait from pneumonia , and that was just in our batallion. These were young kids, too, in great shape.

At the time we thought it was due to the oil well fires... but you never know.

[konaice]

it's just strange that the mainstream media had to point out that ALL 18 used tobacco,

I doubt the media pointed that out on their own, they are not that bright. It was probably listed in the report as the only significant common factor. In fact, its odd the report mentions nothing else these guys had in common except the sand storm. Were they in the road during the storm in the attack phase, were they in the same unit in the same area? Were they eating the same batch of MREs? Did they get water from the same place?

The report is amazeingly vague, which suggests its either poorly done, or there is no THERE THERE, or that they are saying more than they know.

The MSM would be loath to admit the presence of WMD such as gas or bio weapons....

[Blood of Tyrants]

Doubtful. There are all kinds of strange diseases floating around third world countries that our doctors have forgotten even existed.

[Modok]

http://www.afip.org/Departments/hot-topics/pneumonia/01.html

More info at link above. Never trust MSM to get anything right about anything.