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Politics : DON'T START THE WAR -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: BubbaFred who wrote (9600)	2/18/2003 12:18:42 AM
From: BubbaFred	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 25898

US Chemical Weapons Program: Human Experiments Planned Contract deadline for delivery of long range "non-lethal" mortar rounds is tomorrow Documents reveal advanced stage of chemical weapons development (Austin and Hamburg, 27 September 2002) -- A Pentagon document released to the Sunshine Project indicates that the US chemical weapons program operated by the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate (JNLWD) is planning or may have already performed experiments on humans. This indicates that the program is more advanced than previously believed. Another Pentagon document states that a test quantity of fully working "non-lethal" mortar rounds must be delivered by tomorrow. In a first reaction to Wednesday's revelations of its illegal chemical weapons research, the Pentagon claimed that it has taken a step back from funding work on sleep inducing or mind altering chemicals ("calmatives"). Human Tests: The document indicating planned or already performed human experiments with non-lethal chemical weapons is a contract between JNLWD and the Marine Corps Research University (at Pennsylvania State University), dated 29 January 2002. The agreement (M67004-99-D-0037/M9545002RCR2BC6 [link is a PDF file]) stipulates that the University is to perform an assessment of anti-personnel capabilities and seek expert advice "on the human effects testing planned, and/or executed" for a new military mortar round. The planning and/or actual carrying out of human experiments indicates that the chemical weapons program is at an advanced stage. The extent and nature of the experiments, which may be testing of mind-altering, sleep-inducing or cramp-causing chemicals on human volunteers, and the institutional and legal framework for them are not identified in the contract. Mortar Delivery: The advanced stage of the chemical weapons program is also indicated by the fact that tomorrow (28 Sept 2002), is a Pentagon contractor's deadline to deliver a test quantity of "non-lethal" 81mm mortar projectiles. Under a US $700,000 contract (DAAE-30-01-C-1077 [link is a zip file]) signed on 28 June 2001, M2 Technologies of West Hyannisport, Massachusetts must deliver 3 working examples of its final 81mm mortar round design by this Saturday. The projectiles are designed for firing from the US military's standard 81mm field mortar, to have a 2.5 kilometer range, and are suitable for delivery of chemical weapons. The contract indicates that they will contain a "generic payload for visual effect". JNLWD-funded experiments on a gas generating payload canister (made by General Dynamics, photos and diagram on page 2 here) have used colored water as a testing substitute for a chemical payload. JNLWD Reply: Meanwhile, the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate has not contested the Sunshine Project's specific and documented charges in any detail. On September 25th, JNLWD denied that it is operating an illegal chemical weapons program; but is not reported to have denied that it is seeking "calmative" chemical weapons. According to a story run by the Associated Press, a JNLWD spokesman said that the Directorate has decided to "step back and make sure the use of calmatives would not violate the Chemical Weapons Convention." If this statement is true, this small retreat is likely the result of a very recent decision provoked by international criticism of the chemical weapons program. It is not supported, however, by the overwhelming weight of written evidence: Ongoing JNLWD contracts with private companies, academic institutions, a cooperative chemical research program between JNLWD and the US Army and other recent information all indicate that the program is not only active, it is moving forward quickly. Also, on 6 August, JNLWD Commander Colonel G. Fenton told Sunshine Project staff that JNLWD chemical research documents requested under the US Freedom of Information Act will not be released because they are part of a program of "classified weapons development". On September 13th, the Pentagon denied a Sunshine Project request for a legal review performed on JNLWD chemical weapons because the Directorate has classified it. The case against JNLWD is discussed in detail in the Sunshine Project's news release of 24 September. (The release and documents cited therein are both available on the Sunshine Project website.) On 26 September, the Sunshine Project wrote to JNLWD and stated that its claim to have taken a "step back" is not supported by the public record. JNLWD has not yet replied. On Thursday, the Sunshine Project provided evidence for the US chemical weapons program to all States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention. The next Conference of the States Parties will convene on October 7 in The Hague. sunshine-project.org