Yesterday, the government announced that there was no substantial link between significant chemical exposure during the Gulf War and the cluster of symptoms known as Gulf War syndrome. 3,000 studies have acknowledged that prolonged exposure to solvents and insecticides could cause the symptoms such as those displayed by Gulf War veterans, but the government says that there is no proof that these chemicals are connected in any way to the Gulf War.

At first, there was total denial that thousands of troops were exposed to low-level chemical agents during the war. Then there was total denial that even more troops--as many as 400,000--were exposed to depleted uranium radioactive wastes. There were also 150,000 troops who received the anthrax vaccine and who have reported long-term symptoms. Record-keeping ranged from poor to non-existent, and as a result, scientists have not been able to connect the dots. But the government did have a solution--returning troops were sent to mental health clinics so that their "stress" symptoms could be treated. Needless to say, they continued experience chronic fatigue, dizziness, muscle and joint pain, nausea, memory loss, blurred vision, pain during intercourse, and skin rashes.

It's Agent Orange all over again, with no substantial answers, and no sign that anyone in power cares.