    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [February 26, 1997]
    [Pages 213-214]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Memorandum on Gulf War Documents
    February 26, 1997

    Memorandum for the Chairperson of the Presidential Advisory Committee on
    Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses

    Subject: Gulf War Documents

        I've made it very clear from the early days of my Administration
    that the welfare of Gulf War veterans is a national priority. My strong
    and continuing commitment, reflected in the establishment and recent
    extension of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans'
    Illnesses, is to leave no stone unturned on behalf of those who served
    in the Persian Gulf theater. This commitment entails ensuring both that
    sick Gulf War veterans receive the medical care they require and that
    all relevant information that may help us understand the risks they
    faced is brought to light.
        As you are aware, the Central Intelligence Agency, working in
    cooperation with the Department of Defense, has recently declassified
    several documents relating to the ongoing investigation of possible
    chemical warfare agent exposure of U.S. forces during demolition
    operations at Khamisiyah after the Gulf War. These documents indicate
    that: (1) U.S. Army units were warned of the possibility that there were
    chemical munitions at the Khamisiyah ammunition depot prior to seizing
    that objective during the ground war in February 1991; and (2) in
    November 1991, the Central Intelligence Agency prepared a classified
    message documenting the possibility that U.S. forces conducting
    demolition operations at the Khamisiyah facility were exposed to
    chemical warfare agents.
        While the many issues related to Gulf War illnesses are complex and
    entail consideration of massive quantities of information, there must be
    no question of this Nation's commitment to protecting its soldiers on
    the battlefield and then ensuring that they receive the care they
    require upon returning home. This is a joint bipartisan responsibility
    that my Administration and the Congress take very seriously.
        Accordingly, in conducting your oversight of the ongoing
    investigation being undertaken by the Department of Defense, with the
    assistance of other executive departments and agencies, into possible
    chemical or biological agent exposures during the Gulf War, I am
    directing your

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    attention to the recently declassified documents. You have a vital role
    in assisting me, the Congress, and the American public in understanding
    their full significance.
        These documents have been provided to the Inspectors General of the
    United States Army and the Central Intelligence Agency, both of whom are
    conducting investigations relating to Khamisiyah. There are two
    important questions raised by these recently declassified documents that
    must be resolved by these investigations: (1) When did we have
    sufficient evidence to conclude that chemical munitions were present at
    Khamisiyah and that U.S. forces conducting demolition activities may
    have been exposed to chemical warfare agents; and (2) Once we had that
    information, what actions were taken by whom to investigate this
    alarming possibility and were those actions sufficient.
        Your oversight efforts should take full account of the evidence
    disclosed by these ongoing investigations, as well as the information
    being developed by the Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War
    Illnesses at the Department of Defense. Your preliminary assessment
    relating to the adequacy of the investigations concerning these issues
    should be provided as soon as possible within the next 60 days, and no
    later than April 30, 1997, the date specified in Executive Order 13034
    for your interim status report.
        Thank you for your continuing efforts and those of your fellow
    members and supporting staff. Your Committee's dedicated efforts are
    truly indispensable to ensuring that no stone is left unturned on behalf
    of Gulf War veterans.

                                                          William J. Clinton