Used and Betrayed
The disrespect and contempt of American veterans is documented. Unnecessary conflicts, multiple deployments, and slowed medical care have irreparably harmed millions of the country’s finest citizens. However, the heinousness of the crimes isn’t limited to that. As documented in the new documentary Used and Betrayed, produced by the acclaimed Empire Files series, the U.S. military has a long and shameful history of utilizing brave soldiers as guinea pigs in a number of horrifying experiments.
The movie analyzes a series of classified documents in order to describe the circumstances and effects of several of these experiments. Each story exemplifies a despicable disregard for the lives of those who serve their country.
The movie’s accounts begin during World War I, over 60,000 African Americans were subjected to chemical experiments in an attempt to gauge their effectiveness on the battlefield. The long-term health effects were not considered until many years after the experiments were first secreted in 1993. The reasons behind the top-secret experiments were then first made known to the public. At that point, around 600 of these soldiers were located and provided medical attention to alleviate the effects of their troubles.
The list of barbaric atrocities continues. The movie’s evidence suggests that the military would perform brain surgeries on veterans suffering from PTSD prior to the recognition of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome. The MKUltra Project was first initiated during the 1950s under the leadership of Allen Dulles, the director of Central Intelligence. The project subjected innocent citizens, including both military personnel and civilians, to a series of drug-induced mental control experiments. As a result of the questionable conditions of combat missions, veterans from the Gulf War have experienced a variety of disorders including memory loss, cancer, and more. In all of these instances, the government has been reluctant to acknowledge their involvement in perpetuating these diseases or to assist with their treatment.
Advocates for Used and Betrayed have damningly expressed anger and urgency regarding the government’s full transparency regarding other missions as well as the history of other missions. Also, compensation should be given to troops and families that have suffered the most as a result. This is the sole method by which we can truly assist the troops.
