DATE=7/2/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234920
TITLE=CNN NERVE GAS - L
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CABLE NEWS NETWORK HAS RETRACTED A STORY SAYING U-S
FORCES USED DEADLY NERVE GAS DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. V-O-A'S JIM
RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON, THE NETWORK STORY ALSO CLAIMED
THAT AMERICAN FORCES WERE TRYING TO TRACK DOWN U-S DEFECTORS.
TEXT: THE C-N-N STORY SAID A COVERT OPERATION BY U-S FORCES IN
LAOS USED DEADLY SARIN GAS IN AN OPERATION DESIGNED TO FIND AND
KILL AMERICAN DEFECTORS.
WHEN THE STORY CAME OUT, HUNDREDS OF VETERANS OF OPERATIONS IN
THAT AREA AND MANY FORMER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAID THE STORY WAS
NOT TRUE.
C-N-N SAYS IT HIRED A LAWYER TO INVESTIGATE THE STORY AND DECIDED
THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE ALLEGATIONS. THE
NETWORK APOLOGIZED TO ITS VIEWERS, AND TO THE U-S SERVICEMEN
INVOLVED IN 'OPERATION TAILWIND.'
THE ONE PAGE STATEMENT WAS SIGNED BY C-N-N NEWS CHIEF TOM
JOHNSON, AND READ ON THE AIR BY A C-N-N ANCHOR (JEANNE MESERVE).
/// MESERVE ACT ///
WE ACKNOWLEDGE SERIOUS FAULTS IN THE USE OF SOURCES WHO
PROVIDED NEWSSTAND (CNN) WITH THE ORIGINAL REPORTS, AND
THEREFORE RETRACT THE TAILWIND STORY.
/// END ACT ///
WHEN THE STORY AIRED, DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN ORDERED
OFFICIALS TO SEARCH THE ARCHIVES AND INTERVIEW SURVIVORS AND FIND
OUT IF ANY OF THE ALLEGATIONS WERE TRUE.
PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS THAT REVIEW IS STILL UNDERWAY,
BUT HAS NOT PRODUCED ANY EVIDENCE THAT U-S FORCES USED NERVE GAS
OR TRIED TO KILL DEFECTORS. HE ALSO SAYS THERE WERE ONLY TWO
DEFECTORS DURING THE WAR, NOT THE LARGE NUMBER MENTIONED BY
C-N-N. MR. BACON SAYS THE RETRACTION AND APOLOGY ARE A GOOD
START.
/// BACON BRIEF ///
THE ORIGINAL SHOW WHICH RAN ON JUNE 7TH, RAN WITH A LOT
OF HYPE AND HOOPLA AND A LOT OF PROMOTION (WAS HEAVILY
ADVERTISED TO ATTRACT VIEWERS) THAT SERVED TO CARRY
THESE ALLEGATIONS ALL AROUND THE WORLD. AND I HOPE THAT
C-N-N IS AS ENERGETIC IN MAKING THIS RETRACTION AND
CLARIFICATION.
/// END ACT ///
WHEN THE TAILWIND STORY AIRED ON C-N-N, OTHER NEWS ORGANIZATIONS
RAN STORIES QUOTING THE ALLEGATIONS. BUT C-N-N'S COMPETITORS
SOUGHT AND INTERVIEWED MANY EXPERTS AND WITNESSES WHO SAID THE
STORY WAS WRONG AND PUBLISHED THAT AS WELL. (SIGNED).
NEB/JR/TMD/JO
02-Jul-98 4:30 PM EDT (2030 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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