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CNN Live Today

Startling Admission From Pentagon regarding Weapons Testing During Cold War

Aired May 24, 2002 - 12:10   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A startling admission from the Pentagon today regarding weapons testing during the Cold War. Officials revealed, for the first time, the U.S. conducted tests on naval ships -- U.S. naval ships -- using nerve gas and biological agents.

CNN Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr joins us with more details on that -- hi there, Barbara.

BARABARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Hi there.

Well, yes, the Pentagon revealed all of this late yesterday. They put out a lot of new documentation detailing a number of tests that were conducted between 1963 and 1970 at the very height of the Cold War. These tests were designed to simulate how a navy ship and its crew might be vulnerable to a possible chemical or biological attack.

You have to remember during the Cold War, even the United States was conducting research in offensive chemical and biological weapons. But these tests were all supposed to be harmless simulants assessing how a ship would react without any deadly agent involved. What the Pentagon revealed last night for the first time was that in some of these tests, there were deadly agents use, deadly nerve and biological agents.

Now, the Pentagon says that when these tests were conducted, some as long as 40 years ago, the crews were fully protected. That no one was actually exposed to the deadly agents when they were used. But of course, it raises a lot of questions about just how good the protection was 40 years ago and whether those military personnel were ever really informed about the type of tests that were being conducted.

Some of those personnel in recent years have complained about ill effects and claim that it has been a result of the tests. Well the Pentagon has now identified that about 600 veterans of these tests may still be living. It is tracking them down. They are sending these people letters telling them what has transpired and offering them a full medical evaluation see if they have suffered any ill effects.

And at the same time, the Department of Veterans Affairs is saying if there are any ill effects that are tied to these tests, there will be disability for the -- disability payments for these veterans -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Now, Barbara, people obviously move around. They're trying to reach those 600 vets. How about for any of those vets who perhaps have moved around who are still living, who instead of waiting to hear from the Pentagon or Department of Defense, they want to initiate things? Where do they go, how do they find out whether they can get some testing going?

STARR: Right. Well one of the reasons clearly the Pentagon is now publicizing so heavily this program and the results of their investigation is that it is part of the effort to get the word out to people who may have served on these ships, on these crews, or been part of the testing program. And it is very similar to any other potential military disability, of course. A veteran can always contact the veteran's department and go through that process to try and claim a disability payment related to a military illness.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks very much. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon.

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