There are a number of limitations to this research. Validity is a large one 

Second, the time constraint weighed heavy since this is a project that had to be 

completed in about two weeks time. We were unable to give it the attention a 

subject this important deserves. Third, even though the reliability of the coders was 

high, the coders were involved with the project and they would not have been used 

in a more in-depth study. 

Future studies should look at broadening the research to include print, radio 

where the Department of Defense used the disclosure strategy (like in our example 

at West Point) and where they used a deception strategy to see if the deception 

strategy received more negative coverage by the media. Because of the time 

contraints, this study was a miniture content analysis on only the Gulf War 

syndrome media coverage before and after June 1996. The next study should do a 

content analysis on events where the disclosure strategy is used and further prove 

the hypothesis.

This paper contends that because the Deparment of Defense used a deception 

spike in the number of news stories after the deception was discovered. Had they 

used the disclosure strategy, the news coverage may have been more negative in the 

beginning, but the coverage would have declined to the point where it would 

probably not be a present issue (Graph). 

The response to the concerns for the veterans with potential health problems

through which veterans of the Gulf War can receive medical help. There is no "silver 

bullet" to explain or cure the Gulf War syndrome, which is not really a syndrome, 

but a cluster of symptoms caused by multiple exposure to toxins. Absence of 

precise exposure data can never be recaptured. The best evidence linking chemical 

exposure in the Gulf War lies within our veterans. That evidence has been ignored 

for too long (105th Congress, 1st Session, House Report 105-388).