OBSERVATIONS AND THOUGHTS OF DESERT SHIELD

File: aacbe_03.txt
Page: 03
Total Pages: 6

        Principal threat: terrorist attack. Outside Iraqi missile and
        probable air interdiction capability.
         Col Chan doing a fine job of leading. Unit integrity is obvi-
        ous,  the lines of communication quite good, morale high.
           Relayed to CENTAF a number of perceived needs:
        Suction,  volume ventilators,  pulse oximeters,  cardiac
        monitors/defibriIlators. Two additional flight surgeons,  and
        since working a satellite clinic-one of an IDMT,NP, or PA.
           Strategic concern:
        Food is catered,  water sources also commercial. Clearly
        vulnerable to BW attack, or to simple poisons. Assets being
        guarded and inspected, but in my view, still very easy to
        sabotage. Need a  SON on botulism toxin detection for food and
        water [SAC working, others need to play]. Clearly its business,
        but I'm suggesting to CENTAF a policy of reversion to field
        conditions [controlled sources of food and water, US only],  with
        24-48 hrs warning of hostilities, or upon actual enemy attack
        anywhere. Same issues for non-urban areas,  where water supplied
        by pipeline or well- so virtually an universal concern. While I
        have a real sense of urgency about the issue,  it occurred to me
        only after I'd lost the opportunity to discuss it directly; it
        may well be that CENTAF indeed has such a plan.

        TAIF
	[(b)(2)]
        Primary threats: terrorist attack,  air and missile attack.
        Medical facilities are near hardened assets, where they will go
        if under active bombardment.
        Another excellent example of medical leadership. Medical
        personnel are all over the base,  volunteering anywhere needed to
        get things done,  and leading in extracurriculars like golf (no
        kidding). Col Cotlar is also making inroads with people at two
        Saudi military hospitals nearby. As is the case elsewhere, its
        taking some time for our hosts to begin to feel comfortable with
        our medical presence' and to begin to allow any real integration
        of resources,  but progress is being made.
        Maj Mike Lischak,  an attached SAC FS from Alconbury,  made a
        good call. He'd observed recce flyers going to the coast and
        diving,  then returning to the base [7000' elev] same day. Put a
        stop to same before decompression sickness an issue Had also
        put good OIs in place per use of hyperbaric facilities at Jiddah'
        should the need arise. CENTAF,  in turn,  confirmed that the
        hyperbaric capability was indeed a good one there. Maj Lischak
        also passed along that the recce crews,  in his view,  were flying
        at maximum number safe daily sorties. This was later shared with
        SAC DO, XP. There is no plan to further extend their flying.
           Strategic concern:
           Lots of local effort has been expended to prevent the we/they