DATE=6/8/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233549
TITLE=PENTAGON / NERVE GAS (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN IS ORDERING AN
INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS THAT U-S FORCES USED NERVE GAS IN
THE VIETNAM WAR. IN ONE ALLEGED CASE, THE GAS ATTACK KILLED SOME
AMERICAN DEFECTORS. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS.
TEXT: THE ALLEGATIONS GROW OUT OF NEWS REPORTS BY "TIME" MAGAZINE
AND C-N-N (CABLE NEWS NETWORK). THEY SAY NERVE GAS WAS USED UP
TO 20 TIMES DURING THE WAR, SOMETIMES TO BLOCK ENEMY TROOPS
DURING RESCUES OF DOWNED AMERICAN PILOTS.
THE STORIES ALSO SAY U-S FORCES USED DEADLY SARIN GAS ON A
VILLAGE IN LAOS WHERE AMERICAN DEFECTORS WERE HIDING WITH THE
ENEMY. DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS PENTAGON OFFICIALS
ARE WORKING TO FIND OUT IF THE ALLEGATIONS ARE TRUE.
/// COHEN ACT ///
I HAVE FOUND NO EVIDENCE, AT LEAST THAT HAS BEEN
PRESENTED TO ME, THAT WOULD VALIDATE THAT REPORT. BUT
IT IS A SERIOUS ALLEGATION, AND SOMETHING THAT I HAVE
ASKED THE (ARMED) SERVICE SECRETARIES, AND THOSE ACTING
IN THEIR PLACE, TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION.
/// END ACT ///
PENTAGON SPOKESMAN BILL DARLEY SAYS OFFICIALS HAVE SEARCHED (OLD)
NORTH VIETNAMESE RECORDS AS WELL, BUT FOUND NO EVIDENCE TO
SUPPORT THE ALLEGED USE OF NERVE GAS BY U-S FORCES. HE SAYS
HANOI WOULD HAVE RECOGNIZED THE PROPAGANDA VALUE OF SUCH AN
INCIDENT AND QUICKLY BROUGHT IT TO WORLD ATTENTION DURING THE
WAR. HE SAYS THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. LIEUTENANT COLONEL DARLEY
SAYS THE WITNESSES MAY HAVE MISTAKEN GASES DESIGNED TO
INCAPACITATE ENEMIES FOR DEADLY NERVE AGENTS. (SIGNED).
NEB/JR/WDC/RRM
08-Jun-98 4:52 PM EDT (2052 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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