Chapter 31 – The Naked Truth about Chemical Warfare
Sam's safe room preparation was merely a prelude to more significant events unfolding in the following weeks. First, Nick received a call from the Colonel requesting his participation in an upcoming training conference that the US Army planned to hold in Riyadh about preparation for chemical warfare and the treatment of casualties. The Colonel had arranged his invitation and insisted that Nick attend. Nick found the meeting somewhat daunting but helpful. He left the conference armed with a manual detailing procedures for treating chemical and biological warfare victims and illustrating the construction of a treatment facility.
A few days after the conference in Riyadh, the Colonel called a meeting, providing no agenda, only the time and place. Nick, Julian, and the hospital engineer, Brendan, were required to attend.
The three Westerners entered the basement conference room, seeing that the Colonel, Omar, Captains Salim, and Faraj were already seated. Nick was surprised as the Colonel usually arrived last to his meetings. The Colonel directed them to seats across the wooden conference table from where he was seated.
Uncharacteristically, the Colonel began the meeting without any small talk, getting right to the point.
"Yanni, we must get down to work. I called this meeting 'cause I got a mee-mo from Riyadh. It's in Arabic, but there's some English stuff printed, probably from the CIA. I am just kidding about the CIA. It says something like this. All Military hospitals must provide a decon-tam-nation thing, Julian; how do you call it?"
Julian looked at the paper with the MODA logo displayed prominently at the top. He was searching the document for any English. He found it near the bottom of the page.
"Decontamination" Colonel; they want a decontamination station to treat any victims of biological and or chemical attacks."
"Yeah, decontamination station. All hospitals must be ready to clean up soldiers that Saddam sprays with this stuff he's got. You remember the pictures of Kurds and Iranians, Wallah; it's horrible stuff. Here's what they think he might have. Captain Amin, give Nick the other memo and let him read the English stuff."
Captain Amin reached into his portfolio, withdrew a fax paper, and passed it across the table. Nick scanned the document for a second and then began reading more carefully. Finally, he paused and started reading out loud to the group.
"Iraq is believed to have developed Biological agents such as Anthrax, Botulinum toxin, Aflatoxin, and Chemical agents such as Nerve gas VX, Sarin, and Mustard Gas. Evidence from the Iran-Iraq war has shown that Iraq has used Mustard Gas on numerous occasions. Biological agents are usually dispersed by aerosol spray, which must be either inhaled or ingested. Chemical agents are more volatile. Some may be persistent; others dissipate rapidly. Absorption may be through the skin or by inhalation. Basic protection against either biological or chemical agents is to remain indoors with air ingress restricted as much as possible. When properly used, appropriate gas masks are effective protection to prevent the inhalation of either biological or chemical agents; however, gas masks alone do not provide protection against skin absorption of chemical agents. One of the biological warfare agents known to be available to Iraq is the spore-forming bacteria that causes Anthrax, an acute infectious disease. An Anthrax vaccine that confers protective immunity does exist but is not readily available. The efficacy and safety of the use of this vaccine in children and pregnant women have not been determined. Anthrax is susceptible to treatment if that treatment is initiated promptly after exposure. The post-exposure treatment consists of certain antibiotics administered in combination with the vaccine. Iraq is suspected of having, in addition to Anthrax, the nerve agent VX, Botulinum toxin, Aflatoxin, and Clostridium. Iraq also worked on Sarin, Tabun, and Mustard Gas …"
The Colonel interrupted, stopping Nick.
"Enough! See, only the CIA would know what this stuff is. They probably sold it to him years ago. Here's what you are gonna do. Please make me a plan for one of these decontamination stations. Nick, come back to me next week and show me what you will do. Brendan, no funny business with Riyadh. I don't want this thing to cost millions of Riyals. Nick, see if you can get any medicine they talk about. The Chairman can pay for that one to keep us all safe. And where the hell are my gas masks?"
No one answered this last question as they knew the Chairman's fixer had been working on this.
With that, the meeting was over. Nick turned to Brendan and Julian as the Colonel and Captains walked out and spoke to them.
"We need to meet at my place to do some planning. I have a resource for the design. The US Army gave me a complete set of diagrams for their decontamination stations at the conference I attended in Riyadh. Why don't you come this evening so that we can begin the planning? Could you bring along whoever you think can help?
The men reconvened that evening. When everyone had finished the better part of their first round of beer, Nick started the discussion by handing out copies of the diagram he had received the previous week. It showed a detailed design and specific procedures to follow. Once everyone had studied it for a few minutes, Nick opened the discussion.
"The first thing I am concerned about is where to put this thing. I don't want it anywhere near the hospital, that's for sure."
Julian agreed.
"Let's put it out by the airfield."
Nick agreed.
"Most of these patients are going to be coming in by medivac unless, God forbid, Saddam reaches us."
Julian spoke up again.
"No, we're out of Scud range. According to my sources at British Aerospace, the scuds will be falling short. He says even the newest ones can barely reach Riyadh. Besides, Saddam will likely go after Israel with the chemical weapons, more PR benefit in this part of the world."
Nick took a sip of his beer before speaking.
"Let's hope he's right, and that tricky bastard doesn't have an ace up his sleeve."
Brendan began to ask questions about the diagram, a drawing of a small building.
Nick elaborated on what the diagrams could not reveal.
"So basically, it's a tunnel with three stations along the way. The contaminated soldiers come in here."
He pointed to the left side of the picture.
"The first station is where the chemical suits get washed down and removed, the second where the uniforms are washed and removed. The final one is for washing the body and administering antidotes and other medical treatment."
"I don't think the lads will have any problem building that," added Brendan.
"But what do I tell them we're doing here? Once they know, it'll be all over the place."
"Good point, Brendan," said Nick.
Julian came up with an idea.
"I have an answer to that one. Recall when the Colonel was concerned about the Yemenis stealing uniforms and attacking the hospital. We shall tell them he's worried again and ordered us to build a new laundry for the soldier's uniforms."
Brendan laughed.
"Good idea, but don't let his lordship know, else he'll have us build the laundry too. I don't think we convinced him that the Yemeni menace was gone."
Julian picked up the pitcher and poured Brendan and Nick more beer. He looked at Nick. "You're getting behind, Mate."
Nick replied.
"Yeah, I'm thinking about this whole thing. That was a nasty business with those Kurds that Saddam gassed. I'm not sure some of the staff are prepared for this sort of triage."
He continued.
"I've been thinking a lot about this. The staff has dealt with some horrific traffic accidents and a few gunshot and knife wounds since I've been here, but war is different. None of us have any experience with this chemical stuff. We may need to practice before it starts. But that's a discussion for another day or evening. Why don't we draw up lists of materials, supplies, and action steps?"
Brendan now spoke up.
"What will we do with all the water and uniforms? All that stuff will be as toxic as when they came in."
Nick looked at Brendan and then replied.
"Good point. I will ask Sam to call one of his buddies to find out if we can safely burn the clothing and other materials. As far as the water, we'll have to contain it and give it to the Army. I'm sure they have some system to care for the wastewater."
Brendan found some paper and began writing a list of items that they would need. By the time he finished, it had become an extensive and detailed list of all the elements necessary to handle combat troops who had experienced a chemical or biological attack and needed cleaning and treatment. The tunnel design and the stations, mainly the water treatment aspect, would take longer.
The following week, Nick and Brendan presented their ideas to the Colonel, who approved them and permitted them to proceed with the project. He wanted to see the site and the unfinished work in one week.
The week had passed quickly. Brendan's crew did a magnificent job on the laundry, but they still couldn't figure out why it was at the end of one of the runways and not at the hospital. Brendan enjoyed concocting stories about the groundwater and why it was better here than at the hospital site. He even devised a story about soap in the wash water, which necessitated constructing a large holding tank that he later plumbed to store runoff from the chemical washdown.
The Colonel asked to review the facility the following afternoon, specifying a thirty-minute meeting before the first evening prayer. Nick, Julian, and Brendan drove out together. They noticed the Colonel was already there as they pulled up to the site, standing near one end of the wooden frame building, smoking a cigarette and talking to Captain Salim. The men exited their car and walked over to join the Colonel. Julian greeted Captain Salim, exchanging small talk with him.
"We'll wait five more minutes for Captain Faraj." said the Colonel, dropping his cigarette and grinding it into the sand with his boot. Then, looking up, he saw Faraj's car approaching.
They waited for Faraj to join them at the entrance to the decontamination station. He had a stern look on his face. Faraj detested meeting with so many infidels at once. He slowly strolled, purposely, to annoy them. The setting sun cast a long shadow that preceded him. When he reached the group, he looked only at the Colonel, who stared at Nick.
"OK, doctor, give us a tour of this place."
Nick walked into the first section and began the tour.
"The soldiers will come to this first station where they will have their chemical suits washed down if they were lucky enough to have one."
He moved to one side and continued.
"The suit is removed for disposal." Pointing to a section near the outer wall that had been framed but not completed.
He pointed up at what looked like a row of showerheads mounted on a length of pipe. Similar pipes ran along the sides of the structure. In the middle of the floor was a massive drain.
They continued walking through this human car wash. Sheets of thick plastic were hung, separating the first section from the next.
Nick continued his narrative.
"This is Station Two. Here, the soldier's uniforms will be washed down and removed. Again, hospital personnel in protective suits will assist with the process."
Nick noticed Captain Faraj was now paying more attention. His hands were shaking, a sign of agitation. But he didn't ask any questions.
Nick resumed.
"Special care will be necessary here if there are any additional medical problems such as gunshot wounds, burns, etc.."
He paused for a moment, looking toward Faraj.
"Now, at station three, the final layer of clothing will be removed and disposed of, and the soldier will be washed down with special solutions and then put on a sterile suit at the end and exit over there."
Nick was pointing to the far end of this section.
At this point in the presentation, Faraj became visibly disturbed. He turned to the Colonel and spoke rapidly in Arabic. Their dialogue continued back and forth, becoming increasingly heated. Finally, after a few minutes passed, the Colonel addressed a question to Nick. He looked at Nick as if he wanted his support.
"Doctor Nick, Captain Faraj wants to know if it is vital that the man will have to take all his clothes off. Does he have to do this?"
Nick looked puzzled.
"Of course he does, Colonel. Chemicals or biological agents could have soaked into the underclothing, creating a risk for further contamination."
Faraj angrily broke into the conversation, speaking in English.
"But the other men working here will see him with no clothes; they will see him naked!"
He hesitated before finishing. When he did speak, his statement was emphatic.
"This is Haram! I will not allow this!"
Captain Faraj's voice rose as religious zeal began to control his emotions, finishing with a forceful statement.
"It is against our religion for a man to see another man without clothes on. I will not allow this, khallas!" (This is finished)
With that said, he quickly started walking away.
Julian broke in, looking directly at Faraj and raising his voice to match the captains.
"Hold on, Captain, hold on! These men must be decontaminated, or they risk their own lives and the lives of those around them. You'd be condemning them to death. They'll die just because they can't see his willy. Dammit, that's the most cold-hearted thing I have heard in a very long time."
Nick spoke up as well.
"We're here to save lives, not condemn them to a needless death."
Faraj stared through the two men.
"Julian, doctor, the Holy Quran, and the Prophet, peace be upon him, have spoken. It is simple; this is not allowed! I won't allow it! I don't expect you to understand this, but this is the law."
With that, he turned and walked toward his car.
The Colonel spoke briefly with Captain Salim in Arabic and then to the Westerners.
"Wallah, the Captain is right. As you all know, there are certain things that our religion does not allow, and I have no power to change these things. The mutawas will support him. I will talk with Riyadh about this. Yanni, for today, there's no more we can do."
The Colonel and Captain Salim walked out, leaving the Westerners alone.
Once the Colonel was out of sight, Julian kicked a nearby post.
"God damn it, God damn them, that bloody wanker Faraj. I hope to hell a SCUD lands right on top of him. This is criminal. He'd rather have a dead man than chance a peek at someone's Willy. Bloody fucking idiot he is. What kind of religion condemns someone to death over some silly rule that is fourteen hundred years old? Talk about your 'dead hand' of the past. This is the dead Willy of the past. Bloody hell."
Brendan laughed, and Nick commented.
"Maybe we can find some blind men to wash them."
They were recalling Faraj's uproar over the body washers. Finally, the men got in their car, realizing they would not win this battle.