U.S. parents say son in Iraq was casualty of chemical weapons

Washington Times / London Sunday Telegraph ^ | 08-04-03

[Brian S]

The parents of an American soldier who died in Iraq after contracting a mysterious pneumonialike illness that ravaged his major organs are convinced that their son stumbled across deadly chemical weapons while clearing rubble from one of Saddam Hussein's palaces.

[MEG33]

I hope they find the source of this deadly pneumonia and a treatment.I had pneumonia once and it is the sickest,scariest,longest illness I've ever had.May God help the loved ones in their grief.

[Semper Paratus]

Most democrat presidential candidates would call her a liar.

[MizSterious]

It does sound like a good time for a prayer session for all the ones exposed to whatever it is. Many of them must be suffering terribly. (I had pneumonia too, your assesment is right on target.)

[krb]

Mrs. Neusche said receiving the flag at her son's funeral was an honor.

She sounds like a great lady. I pray our country doesn't let her down. She deserves whatever investigation she is seeking.

She is not tilting at windmills.

[zarf]

Not possible. Saddam had no WMD. Ask Howard Dean.

[Types_with_Fist]

Naw...I'm sure if Iraq used chemicals on our troops, the administration would say so. < /sarcasm>

[joesnuffy]

Fifteen of the 100 soldiers were ill enough to require ventilator support.

Nasty stuff to take down the young and healthy.... Biological stay behind ambushes?

[MizSterious]

Probably just a coincidence, but Hussein's threats in his recent tapes really make me wonder if this lady might be on to something. Booby traps left behind, maybe?

[MEG33]

A mystery for sure and one that invites speculation about WMD.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

That's what I think. Bugs were too lethal to use when Saddam and his army were in control.

[boxerblues]

You got that right, anything buried is subject to being dug up at some time. Pray that its not WMD they stumbled on to

[MEG33]

We don't discuss it any more but I know I was so afraid that Iraq would use WMD all through the war.Prayers for all who are in harms way and for a cure for this illness.

[ChocChipCookie]

Sadly, one of the "smoking guns" the Dems have been screaming for may be the bodies of our young soldiers.

[boxerblues]

I was on another board this morning, some of the troops are getting coughs and colds that wont go away and are not getting any treatment for it. I do hope the WMD are found but not this way.

[MEG33]

It is so hot and dry there I heard the dry atmosphere makes respiratory illness worse.The dust also irritates.

[elbucko]

...some of the troops are getting coughs and colds that wont go away and are not getting any treatment for it.

This does not surprise me. The combination of the medical culture within the military culture does not lend itself to intuitive conclusions.

[boxerblues]

Hopefully this is taken care of and not sweep under the carpet. It scares me half to death thinking about it

[John H K]

She is not tilting at windmills.

(Donning Flame-Resistant Suit.)

One serious problems with health issues and environmental risks, especially as portrayed in the media, is that there's far too much credence given to the claims of victims or families of victims that are unqualified to talk about what they're talking about.

This goes for Gulf War Syndrome, people living near nuke plants that get cancer, etc.

There's a very powerful psychological need for a world that is ordered, and makes sense. A son dying of a random weird virulent form of pneumonia seems terrifyingly random and arbitrary. A death from Saddam's chemical weapons makes the world seem more "ordered" and the death is more meaningful.

The problem with the media (and pretty much everbody) is that nobody has the cojones to tell a suffering person or family that has suffered a great tragedy that they're likely full of crap.

[kdmhcdcfld]

Ask Sean Penn...Janeane Garafalo......