News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: Foreign Claims Settlement Commission

Date: November 08, 2000

"In order for the assets to be distributed, Congress must pass and the President must sign a law detailing a distribution plan.  Until then, the assets remain under the control of the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission, part of the Treasury Department.

There is strong legal and historical precedent dating back to the 1700s for the distribution of seized assets to veterans from wartime enemies.  Shortly after the Revolutionary War, land and assets seized from Royalists supporting England were handed over to U.S. soldiers.

In a similar precedent, the U.S. seized the assets of Japan and Germany during World War II.  Since these nations violated international laws by mistreating U.S. prisoners of war, the seized assets were distributed to former U.S. prisoners of war.

During the Gulf War in 1990 and 1991, Iraq violated international law by manufacturing and then threatening to use weapons of mass destruction such as chemical and biological warfare agents.  As a result of the threat, U.S. and Coalition troops were forced to destroy large stockpiles of Iraqi chemical weapons.

In some cases, low levels of chemical warfare agents drifted into U.S. military positions, exposing as many as 100,000 U.S. troops, according to the DoD, and as many as 124,000, according to the VA.

Gulf War veterans (or surviving family members) may still register a potential claim against Iraq, according to the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission. In 1999, legislation was introduced by Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) establishing the right of Gulf War veterans to receive priority consideration for claims filed against the seized Iraqi assets.  On June 21, 1999 his bill, HR 618 was added as an amendment to HR 2415 by a vote of 427 to zero.  At the time this Guide was prepared, there was no final outcome on the bill in the Senate.  The NGWRC has endorsed the legislation introduced by Rep. Doggett.  For further information, contact:"

Iraq Registration Program
Foreign Claims Settlement Commission
600 E Street, NW; Suite 6002
Washington, DC  20579
(202) 616-6985