DATE=7/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235853
TITLE=OPERATION TAILWIND (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TWO U-S TELEVISION PRODUCERS OF A REPORT FOR THE CABLE
NEWS NETWORK (C-N-N), ALLEGING U-S FORCES USED LETHAL NERVE GAS
TO KILL DEFECTORS IN LAOS DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, ARE STANDING BY
THEIR STORY. THEY MET TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WITH JOURNALISTS IN NEW
YORK TO DENOUNCE C-N-N'S DECISION TO RETRACT THE STORY OF
"OPERATION TAILWIND" AFTER IT WAS AIRED IN JUNE. VOA
CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON HAS DETAILS:
TEXT: PRODUCERS JACK SMITH AND APRIL OLIVER WERE FIRED BY C-N-N.
THEY SAY THEY CAN LIVE WITH LOSING THEIR JOBS, BUT NOT WITH WHAT
THEY DESCRIBE AS A LAPSE OF JOURNALISTIC ETHICS BY THE NETWORK.
MS. OLIVER INSISTS C-N-N BOWED TO PRESSURE FROM VETERANS' GROUPS,
FORMER U-S OFFICIALS AND DISGRUNTLED VIEWERS WHEN IT RETRACTED
THE NERVE GAS STORY:
//OLIVER ACT//
C-N-N HAS DECIDED, HAS MADE A CORPORATE DECISION TO KILL
THE STORY. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL THEY DON'T WANT MORE
REPORTING ON IT. I HAD TO SIT THERE AND LISTEN ON THE
DAY I WAS FIRED TO A SPEECH BY A MANAGER SAYING WE'RE
GOING TO DRIVE A STAKE THROUGH THE HEART OF THIS STORY
SO IT'S DEAD AND NEVER COMES BACK AGAIN. I DO NOT
BELIEVE THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE JOURNALISTIC POSITION FOR
ANY JOURNALISM COMPANY TO TAKE.
//END ACT//
THE TWO PRODUCERS NOTE THEY HAD INTERVIEWED THE PEOPLE INVOLVED
IN THE TAILWIND OPERATION. ONE OF THEM WAS RETIRED ADMIRAL
THOMAS MOORER -- FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF --
WHO MS. OLIVER SAYS EVEN READ AND APPROVED HER SCRIPT BEFORE IT
WAS BROADCAST.
NOW, THE FORMER C-N-N PRODUCERS POINT TO NOTHING BUT WHAT THEY
CONSIDER A SERIES OF BETRAYALS. SOME OF THE AMERICAN PILOTS THEY
SPOKE WITH -- AND EVEN ADMIRAL MOORER -- HAVE PUBLICLY DENIED THE
NERVE GAS STORY. AND THE PENTAGON THIS WEEK ISSUED ITS OWN
REPORT SAYING IT COULD FIND NO EVIDENCE THAT U-S FORCES USED
NERVE GAS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.
PRODUCER JACK SMITH SAYS HE IS NOT SURPRISED. HE SAYS THERE IS A
LOT OF FURY AND PRESSURE OUT THERE AS A RESULT OF THE C-N-N
BROADCAST:
//SMITH ACT//
THE PRESSURE THAT WAS BROUGHT TO BEAR ON PEOPLE THAT
WERE IN THE STORY HAS BEEN ENORMOUS. THIS COMES FROM
THE VETERANS' ORGANIZATIONS, THE SPECIAL FORCES GROUP,
THE COMMANDOS' ASSOCIATION...THIS HAS NOT BEEN A CRICKET
GAME OUT THERE FOR THESE MEN WHO HAD THE COURAGE TO COME
FORWARD AND TALK TO US. THEY HAVE TAKEN AN ENORMOUS
AMOUNT OF HEAT.
//END ACT//
THE FORMER C-N-N PRODUCERS SAY THEY PURSUED THE NERVE GAS STORY
FOR EIGHT MONTHS, MUCH OF IT THROUGH CONFIDENTIAL SOURCES, AND
WERE CONVINCED OF ITS AUTHENTICITY. THEY STILL BELIEVE IN IT AND
WANT OTHER JOURNALISTS TO CONTINUE THE INVESTIGATION. FOR THE
MOMENT, THEIR OWN CAREERS ARE ON HOLD. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/EJ/LSF/PLM
22-Jul-98 1:06 PM EDT (1706 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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