From: txliberty@hotmail.com ("Terry L Parker")
To: lptexas@lptexas.org, LibertyProspects@yahoogroups.com ( "Liberty Prospects"), Libertarian@yahoogroups.com ("Libertarian Yahoo Group" )
Subject: [libs4peace] News Conference Soldier Faints
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 2002 14:15:37 -0600


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Questionable competency from promoters of unconstitutional 'war'  -TLP

US Bio-Gear for Iraq Fails Under TV's Hot Lights  -http://www.antiwar.com/

at http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-uschem133001719nov13,0,4791124.story

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Washington - The Army demonstrated equipment for detecting and identifying 
chemical and biological weapons yesterday - and offered an unintended lesson
when a soldier wearing a stifling protective suit collapsed in the heat of
the television lights.

After some rest and water, Sgt. 1st Class Kerrethel Avery said she was fine.
The incident nevertheless underscored drawbacks of the gear U.S. soldierscould
be forced to wear in a possible war with Iraq.

During the news conference yesterday about a half-dozen members of the Army's
Tactical Escort Unit demonstrated how they would disable a suspected chemical
bomb made by terrorists, respond to an anthrax letter and examine a World
War II-era chemical shell while wearing protective gear, ranging from 
a puffy green blast-resistant suit for a bomb disposal expert to dark blue 
coveralls similar to the military's current chemical protection gear.

Avery was wearing the dark blue suit when she collapsed from a raised platform
into a row of chairs where reporters sat.

Another member of the team, Staff Sgt. Michael McRoberts, wore the militaryprotective
suit in the desert camouflage pattern that U.S. soldiers would 
wear in Iraq if threatened by chemical or biological weapons. McRoberts, who
spent six months working in Afghanistan, said the latest protective suit 
- known by the military acronym JSLIST - was better than the suits used by 
troops during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. "I've worn them both, and this is 
lighter, and it is cooler," McRoberts said. Other improvements, such as a hood,
make the suit more user-friendly for soldiers, he said.

If the United States does invade Iraq, Pentagon planners hope to do it in the
spring, before Iraq's summer temperatures make the desert heat all but unbearable.
Pentagon officials have confirmed one shortcoming of the chemical
suits - their protective lining begins to break down when exposed to heavy
sweat. Experts also say a soldier's skills can be diminished by 50 to 75 
percent when wearing the full protective suit and gas mask. 
Copyright =A9 2002, Newsday, Inc. 





-Terry Liberty Parker
AustinVoiceMail 1.512.462.1776
http://profiles.yahoo.com/txliberty
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