DATE=7/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235741
TITLE=CNN - NERVE GAS - PREVIEW - L
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A PENTAGON INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGATIONS THAT U-S FORCES
USED NERVE GAS DURING THE VIETNAM WAR IS DUE TO BE RELEASED
TOMORROW (TUESDAY). THE ALLEGATIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RETRACTED
BY THE CABLE NEWS NETWORK. AND V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS
PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY A THOROUGH EXAMINATION OF THE ARCHIVES OF
THAT ERA SHOW NO EVIDENCE THAT SUCH WEAPONS WERE EMPLOYED.
TEXT: THE ALLEGATION WAS THAT U-S FORCES USED DEADLY NERVE GAS
TO KILL NORTH VIETNAMESE TROOPS AND U-S DEFECTORS DURING THE
RESCUE OF A U-S UNIT FIGHTING FOR ITS LIFE IN THE JUNGLES OF
LAOS.
PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS THE AMERICANS INVOLVED IN
'OPERATION TAILWIND' WERE EXHAUSTED AND HARD PRESSED BY THE
ENEMY. HE SAYS THE AMERICANS WERE SEEKING INFORMATION, NOT
DEFECTORS.
/// BACON ACT ///
EVERY SINGLE MAN IN THAT MISSION WAS INJURED. THEY WERE
RUNNING LOW ON AMMUNITION BY THE END OF THE MISSION.
THEY BELIEVE THAT THE MISSION WAS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL IN
COLLECTING VALUABLE INFORMATION ABOUT THE LOGISTICS
PROCEDURES OF THE NORTH VIETNAM ARMY, THE WAY THEY
RE-SUPPLIED THEMSELVES UP AND DOWN THE HO CHI MINH
TRAIL.
/// END ACT ///
IN A HIGHLY PUBLICIZED STORY, THE CABLE NEWS NETWORK HAD CHARGED
THAT AIR CRAFT DROPPED NERVE GAS ON ENEMY TROOPS DURING THE
DESPERATE RESCUE MISSION. THE ALLEGATION WAS IMMEDIATELY
CHALLENGED BY SOME VETERANS OF THE MISSION, WHO SAID NON-LETHAL
TEAR GAS WAS USED, NOT DEADLY NERVE TOXINS. MILITARY EXPERTS
SAID IT WOULD HAVE BEEN STUPID TO USE DEADLY, DRIFTING,
UNPREDICTABLE NERVE GAS ANYWHERE NEAR TROOPS YOU WERE TRYING TO
SAVE.
LATER, PEOPLE CITED IN THE STORY SAID THEY HAD BEEN MISQUOTED BY
C-N-N. AFTER AN INTERNAL C-N-N INVESTIGATION, THE NETWORK SAID
IT HAD MADE A MISTAKE. C-N-N ANCHOR JEANNE MESERVE READ AN
APOLOGY ON THE AIR.
/// MESERVE ACT ///
WE ACKNOWLEDGE SERIOUS FAULTS IN THE USE OF SOURCES WHO
PROVIDED (THE C-N-N PROGRAM) NEWSSTAND WITH THE ORIGINAL
REPORTS, AND THEREFORE RETRACT THE TAILWIND STORY.
/// END ACT ///
SEVERAL C-N-N EMPLOYEES RESIGNED OR WERE FIRED, AND A SENIOR
CORRESPONDENT WAS DISCIPLINED. BUT THE FIRED C-N-N PRODUCER
MOSTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STORY, APRIL OLIVER, INSISTS THE STORY
IS CORRECT, AND SAYS THE NETWORK GAVE IN TO PRESSURE FROM
VETERANS AND THE GOVERNMENT.
WHEN THE NERVE GAS STORY AIRED, DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN
ORDERED PENTAGON HISTORIANS AND OTHER OFFICIALS TO COMB THE
ARCHIVES, INCLUDING SECRET ONES, TO FIND ANY RECORDS THAT COULD
SHED LIGHT ON THE ALLEGED INCIDENT. HE IS SET TO BRIEF REPORTERS
ON THE FINDINGS OF THE STUDY ON TUESDAY. SEVERAL OFFICIALS
FAMILIAR WITH THE REPORT SAY IT CONTAINS NOTHING TO SUPPORT THE
NERVE GAS ALLEGATIONS. (SIGNED).
NEB/JR/LTD/MMK
20-Jul-98 1:44 PM EDT (1744 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
