Anthrax Trial To Begin

[Guest guest]

The Madison Project

1501 M Street, N.W.

Suite 1175

Washington, D.C. 20005

(202) 785-3801 E-Mail:

JaMadPro@...

(202) 223-4826 fax

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 17, 1999

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

Mark S. Zaid, Esq.

Executive Director

(760) 830-5261,5263

(202) 785-3801

ZaidMS@...

1stLt Bosquez

Public Affairs Office, Twenty-Nine Palms

(760) 830-5471.

FIRST ANTHRAX COURT-MARTIAL PROCEEDING BEGINS TODAY

IN TWENTY-NINE PALMS, CALIFORNIA

Military Judge Rules Doctor's Theory That The Anthrax Vaccine May Have Been

Illegally Modified Is Not Necessary To Proceedings

TWENTY-NINE PALMS, CA --

The court-martial proceeding of Lance Corporal Schwartz

(, Kentucky), for his refusing the anthrax vaccine is scheduled to

begin Thursday, June 16, 1999, at 0900 PST at the Twenty-Nine Palms Marine

Air Ground Combat Center. This will be the first contested court-martial

proceeding in the Armed Services in direct challenge to the Pentagon's

Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program (AVIP). Yesterday, the Military Judge,

Lieutenant Colonel Ken , caused another serious blow to the defendant's

defense by excluding evidence that the anthrax vaccine has been illegally

modified.

The Court ruled that Dr. Garry, Jr., a professor of Immunology

at Tulane Medical School, was not necessary to testify as a defense witness

at the court-martial proceedings. Dr. Garry is the co-author of a study that

found the presence of squalene antibodies in the blood of those military

personnel who have received the anthrax vaccine. Squalene is a highly toxic

adjuvant that does not have FDA approval. The presence of squalene in the

anthrax vaccine would be in violation of U.S. domestic law and international

laws that arose from the ashes of Nazi Germany at the Nuremberg trials.

" The defendants are shocked that scientific evidence that could prove

the Defense Department has illegally modified the anthrax vaccine in

violation of the Nuremberg Code cannot be presented at this time, " said Mark

S. Zaid, the Executive Director for The Madison Project and lead

civilian defense counsel. Zaid added that if the Government has nothing to

hide, then it should not have so aggressively fought the defense's attempt to

place the theory under legal scrutiny.

The Defense Department is forcibly inoculating all 2.5 million active

duty personnel, regardless of duty station or responsibilities, against

anthrax at an estimated cost of $130 million. The immunization series calls

for six injections of the vaccine over a period of 18 months, followed by

annual booster shots. Vaccinations began in March 1998. The FDA approved the

vaccine in 1970. However, concerns have been raised about the vaccine's

effectiveness against massive doses of weaponized anthrax anticipated in an

intentional biological warfare attack. In addition, the only FDA-approved

manufacturer, the Michigan Biologic Products Institute (now BioPort), has

been repeatedly cited for quality control problems.

The Pentagon's Anthrax Vaccination Immunization Program has been the

subject of intense public criticism, particularly for the issuance of

misleading and false statements concerning the vaccine. Hundreds of

service-members have refused to accept the vaccine, and many have been

dissuaded from filing reports with the FDA concerning possible adverse

reactions. More importantly, dozens of reserve fighter and supply pilots are

quitting rather than take the vaccine, thereby jeopardizing the Air Force's

capabilities to conduct an air war. Several Congressional members have

requested Secretary Cohen to cease the program or make it voluntary.

" Today's trial is only the beginning of the battle the Department of

Defense's anthrax vaccination program. The deficiencies in the program will

be brought to the attention of the American people so that all can see the

hypocrisy that underlies the policy, " said Zaid. He added that it is

imperative that more members of the U.S. Congress challenge the Pentagon's

implementation of the AVIP.

In April 1998, Zaid was the first attorney to represent military

personnel refusing the vaccine when several sailors onboard the U.S.S.

Independence refused to submit to the vaccination. In March 1999, JMP

represented the first anthrax refuser at Air Force Base in his

court-martial. In addition to the Marines at Twenty-Nine Palms, JMP

represents Marines facing court-martial proceedings at Camp Pendleton and

Miramar Marine bases, both of which are located in California. Zaid testified

at the first oversight hearing on the anthrax vaccine held by the

Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans Affairs, and International

Relations of the Committee on Government Reform in the U.S. House of

Representatives on March 24, 1999.

The other Marines at Twenty-Nine Palms who have refused the vaccine

are: Lance Corporal Austin (Borger, Texas), Lance Corporal

McIntyre (Mt. Vernon, Washington), Lance Corporal ston (Henrietta,

Oklahoma), and Lance Corporal Metzig.

JMP is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization with the

primary purpose of educating the public on issues relating to intelligence

gathering and operations, secrecy policies, national security and government

wrongdoing. JMP also handles litigation under the Freedom of Information and

Privacy Acts, including representation of news organizations, journalists,

authors, intelligence officers, whistleblowers or others who allege harm at

the hand of a government, foreign or domestic, in matters involving

intelligence, national security and government accountability issues.

##

The Court-Martial Proceeding is open to the public and the media. Questions

should be directed to the Public Affairs Office.

[Guest guest]

My son is going out to 29 palms and I do have concerns and fears about this

shot. Please forward any info that you may have coming to you about the

refusal of taking this series of shots and any other info. you may deem

helpful.

Thank you

Catinann@...