— Numerous veterans report severe health issues, many tied to radiation exposure

Renowned comedian and activist Jon Stewart is urging the Biden administration to address an oversight in the expansive PACT Act, a veterans assistance bill, which neglected to cover American soldiers who were among the first responders post-9/11, and later fell ill after being stationed at a base heavily contaminated with radiation.

In the months following the September 11 attacks, U.S. special operations forces were deployed to the Karshi-Khanabad (K2) Air Base in Uzbekistan, about three weeks after the tragedy. K2, a former Soviet military installation, was utilized by U.S. troops to initiate strikes against Taliban strongholds in the early days of the war in Afghanistan. The base was laden with toxic remnants of Soviet-era weaponry, including discarded missile parts, broken bunkers, and traces of highly radioactive uranium powder, according to records reviewed by the Associated Press (AP).

The source and reason for the uranium powder’s presence remain unknown, but it has left many veterans who served at K2 with significant concerns. Over the years, thousands of K2 veterans have experienced rare and complicated health conditions, some directly associated with radiation exposure, prompting further alarm.

"Imagine being stationed in the meth lab from ‘Breaking Bad,’" Stewart told the AP. "These soldiers were immersed in a toxic cocktail, with remains of explosions and a site riddled with nuclear contamination."

While the PACT Act, signed into law by President Biden in 2022, addresses numerous health concerns for K2 veterans, it glaringly leaves out coverage for radiation exposure at K2.

Despite repeated Veterans Affairs (VA) requests for aid over the years, no definitive action has been taken. The VA has stated that it's still investigating the radiation concerns and awaiting additional data from the Pentagon before deciding whether to extend coverage to K2 veterans affected by radiation.

VA Spokesperson, Terrence Hayes, emphasized that any conditions recognized by the VA must be justified with solid, factual evidence.

Even though more than two decades have passed since soldiers first arrived at K2, veterans continue to struggle with claims denials — denials that the PACT Act was intended to resolve.

Information obtained by the AP shows alarming results, with uranium radiation levels in K2’s soil soaring to over 40,000 times what could be expected under natural conditions, according to nuclear fusion expert Arjun Makhijani, PhD, president of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research. The contamination was so vast that even in its least harmful form — depleted uranium — results exceeded natural levels by up to 24,000 times. Furthermore, air quality testing returned figures that ranged from 30 to 100 times above the norm.

Makhijani explained that anyone not wearing protective gear would have inhaled dangerous levels of radiation when dust particles became airborne, particularly during activities like trench digging or moving earth around the area.

Former Army Sgt. Matthew Nicholls, part of an environmental health team dispatched in November 2001 to assess conditions at K2, was one of the first to detect the radioactive evidence. The team was ordered to gather samples after local Uzbek workers cleaning up the site for incoming U.S. troops fell sick with symptoms such as nausea, headaches, and vomiting.

As they surveyed the damaged bunkers around the base, Nicholls' team discovered yellowish powder and clumps scattered throughout the soil, as well as small canisters leaking more of the mysterious powder. According to Nicholls, when their Geiger counter detected radiation, it quickly escalated from a faint clicking sound to one resembling a fishing reel being rapidly unspooled.

"There was radioactive material everywhere," Nicholls noted, with AP-obtained photos showing his team gathering the radioactive debris.

Though the health team reported the explosive findings, the military classified the base’s contamination map, highlighting an "enriched uranium contamination site" section to prevent soldiers from placing tents in that zone. Although precautions were taken, several berms and base expansions meant tents were erected dangerously close to the contaminated soil.

Makhijani further explained that uranium exposure has devastating long-term consequences, such as kidney damage, higher risk of bone cancer, and adverse effects on pregnancy as uranium can cross the placenta. He referenced his experience working with "atomic veterans" affected by nuclear test fallout in the Bikini Atoll in the 1940s.

"Uranium accumulates in the bones," Makhijani emphasized.

Despite overwhelming radiation findings, U.S. troops continued to operate out of K2 for four more years. Over that period, the base was set up as a large tent city, and regularly battered by heavy winds and rain that stirred up the toxic remnants. More than 15,000 troops cycled through K2 from 2001 to 2005, when U.S. forces finally departed the base.

Since the PACT Act's enactment, former Army Staff Sgt. Mark Jackson, who served at K2, has been overwhelmed by medical challenges. He is now dealing with severe osteoporosis, the removal of a testicle, and the complete removal of his thyroid. Yet, despite the PACT Act, none of his recent medical claims have been covered by the VA. Jackson will accompany Stewart in Washington to urge the VA for quicker action.

Hayes reassured that the VA is conducting "intense research" to determine the effects of radiation exposure, while analyzing claims made by K2 veterans. "We are treating this matter with high urgency," he added.

The Pentagon, in its late Monday statement, claimed that its studies hadn’t indicated the presence of enriched uranium at the K2 site. However, the agency stated that it is reviewing the data gathered by K2 veterans.

The VA also lacks full statistics on the number of sick K2 veterans, causing the community itself to compile its own data. The K2 veterans organization has connected with roughly 5,000 of its members. Of those, over 1,500 have reported illnesses tied to their K2 exposure, including cancers, neurological issues, reproductive system problems, birth defects, and bone disorders, according to Natalie White, a volunteer advocate. Natalie’s husband, Tech. Sgt. Clayton White, died at 41 after confronting a barrage of health conditions, from grand mal seizures to kidney failure, following his deployment to K2 shortly after 9/11.

Stewart, who has devoted immense efforts advocating for 9/11 first responders and veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, noted that while the PACT Act represents "a substantial step forward," a minor tweak by VA Secretary Denis McDonough could bridge the gap in coverage for K2 veterans exposed to radiation.

Time, however, is running out, Stewart said.

"The most painful part? Veterans at their sickest moments are caught in a system that seems to fight them rather than help," Stewart stressed. "I can’t comprehend why it’s set up this way, but so many are locked in a relentless battle just to get the healthcare and benefits they rightfully deserve."