Informed Sources

Gulf War Syndrome: Made in the U.S.A.?

WASHINGTON -- New evidence presented by the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee at a hearing last week shows the U.S. government approved the sale to Iraq of biological agents that could have caused the mysterious GULF WAR SYNDROME that has afflicted thousands of U.S. troops. Buried within a 151-page report released at the hearing was the committee's first-time identification of 73 government-approved shipments of biological agents to Iraq from two U.S. companies during the five years that preceded the war. The report also states: "Some of the symptoms experienced by veterans suffering from Persian Gulf Syndrome are consistent with biological-agent use."

Haiti: If America Invades . . .

WASHINGTON -- Haitian Lieut. General RAOUL CEDRAS has sent word to U.S. military officials that if the U.S. tries to use force to restore ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide there would be "massive" civilian casualties. U.S. planners fear that Cedras might retreat to the hills and wage a guerrilla war that would erode the American willingness to stay.

The U.S. Cools Its Heels with Vietnam

WASHINGTON -- After taking heat from human-rights groups for granting China MFN status, the U.S. is planning a low-key, go-slow approach to closer ties with VIETNAM. The new U.S. liaison office in Hanoi will quietly help firms seeking business but will not organize showy trade missions or trumpet Vietnam's economy as the next big Asian opportunity.