Perhaps they are. Let's look at GWS. The facts are that a toxic mix in the Gulf AO caused an inordinate amount of Americans and local nationals to have a number of illnesses, including early ALS, cancer, a host of nasty and thus far incurable maladies - and higher birth defects especially in and around areas like Fallujah. I can go deeper into the subject, but not here. The U.S. Government, the VA in this case, shucked and jived and lied and stone walled and bull****ted and ****ed over all the people coming home with GWS, telling them they're lying, goldbricking, it's all in their head. They did the EXACT same thing regarding Agent Orange. The government that waved the flag and called them heroes shoved it up the butt when they came home sick as a result of their deployment. The same government denied them continued medical treatment and compensation for their disabilities and their disabled children. Could the Bush Administration have then lied to Americans, New Yorkers about air quality? Oh, hell yes, and did. It is therefore equivocal, there is a pattern, well established and documented.