Association of American Physicians and Surgeons written testimony to the House Government Reform Committee 1 Apr 1999. For full text of AAPS' testimony click here : http://www.snavely.digiweb.com/testimony/anthrax.htm

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• Policy Statement #9930 Adopted by the Governing Council of the American Public Health Association, November 10, 1999. The APHA:

                                   -- Mohammed N. Akhter, MD, MPH
                                       Executive Director
                                       May 23, 2000

For full text of APHA's letter click here 

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• "FRC's research on the issue has concluded that AVIP [DoD's anthrax vaccine policy] is not necessary and for the sake of military personnel retention should be suspended pending, as a minimum, an independent study of the effects of the vaccine on humans. FRC believes sufficient historical evidence exists to suggest that biological weapons, such as anthrax, would only be used against a peer or superior military power as a weapon of last resort, just like nuclear weapons. Additionally, the military has a range of other options (e.g., special operations, stand-off penetrating munitions, passive and active defense programs, and intelligence monitoring) that when taken collectively is an impressive deterrent capability. Therefore, the threat of anthrax can be deterred."

• " The case of MAJOR SONNIE BATES has attracted considerable media attention over here. The action of the US military in mandating the use of the experimental Anthrax vaccine for your personnel is contrasted against the actions of our own [UK] government which strongly encourages and advises its use but will not enforce it...
• "...Given these circumstances, it is my opinion that it would be foolhardy in the extreme for Major Bates to accept mandatory vaccination. Given that he already has a child with autism and, therefore, the likelihood of a genetic predisposition he could ill afford to take such risks. Were serious problems to arise, Major Bates' son's future would be in severe jeopardy."

• Nat'l Gulf War Resource Center Resolution 99-9

  "THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the National Gulf War Resource Center remain firmly opposed to all Department of Defense programs, policies, and projects which mandate, without consent, the forcible administration of any investigational new drug, and of the forcible administration of any drug, vaccination, medication, or medical product or program which has not yet been fully tested for potential health effects, including long-term health effects, to include the current Anthrax Vaccination Program (AVIP);"

  "AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Gulf War Resource Center commit its full resources to working to end the mandatory Anthrax Vaccination Program until such time as the AVIP has been formally ended, or the vaccination has been proved safe in both the long-term and short-tem through credible research; and that such work shall not be deemed complete until one of these two conditions has been satisfactorily met."

• "It adds up to a shocking betrayal of the men and women in the U.S. Armed Services. Since the Pentagon is in denial and coverup, we can thank CBS 60 Minutes for its February 6th expose of the case of Major Sonnie Bates and thank Rep. Christopher Shays' (R-CT) Subcommittee on National Security of the House Government Reform Committee for its scathing report on the vaccine released February 17th...." "...The mandatory anthrax vaccination of 2.4 million members of the Armed Services should be terminated immediately. And all those who have had the courage to speak out against this policy, which doesn't pass the common-sense test, should be restored to duty and their convictions and punishment expunged from their records."

• ""...As Americans, we assume that our service members are more than robots. We trust our military leaders to act in our best interest whatever the challenge of the moment. However, this implies that the chain of command is as united in its support for the troops as it is in its loyalty to superiors. Unfortunately, the past seven years under the politically self-serving Clinton administration has produced a deterioration in authority and morale which has permeated through all levels of the military. Eventually, every officer and NCO faces the choice of following an order he believes in his heart to be wrong - or suffering the consequences. Often it is a very lonely decision. Such was the case with Major Bates, who, after reviewing all of the evidence available to him decided he must refuse the shot until his side of the story was heard. All he asked for was justice, but it was not to be found in the Clinton-era military." Gary Aldrich, President February 17, 2000 "

• "Anthrax: www.majorbates.com. NIMJ note: this is a very impressive site, regardless of where you stand on the issue."
          -- Military Justice Gazette, No. 78, June 2000

(NIMJ is a District of Columbia nonprofit corporation founded in 1991. For information or to subscribe contact: efidell@feldesmantucker.com (Eugene R. Fidell), kjbarry @erols.com (Kevin J. Barry).

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