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  THE ALLEGATIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RETRACTED 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
.