War IN BRIEF : SAUDI ARABIA : U.S. Soldiers Doubt Chemical Protection

The U.S. military, responding to reports that some soldiers fear their chemical suits have lost their effectiveness, said replacements will be delivered to troops in time. Soldiers in the Army’s 1st Armored Division said they were told before the war that the suits start losing effectiveness within two weeks of first use. Their suits were first used Jan. 18, when Iraq began firing Scud missiles at Saudi Arabia. But the soldiers said that, with replacement suits yet to be delivered, they were being told the suits remain effective for 30 days. A military spokesman said the suits are effective for a minimum of 22 days and that “we’re prepared to replace them after that 22-day period.”