DATE=4/9/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CIA-EMBASSY (L) (CQ)
NUMBER=2-261095
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  The U-S Central Intelligence Agency has 
disciplined several employees blamed for mistakes that 
led to last year's bombing of the Chinese embassy in 
Belgrade.  The bombing, during last year's air war 
over Kosovo, case badly damaged U-S / Chinese 
relations, and brought repeated calls from Beijing for 
punishment.  V-O-A's David Swan has details. 

TEXT:  Eleven months after the deadly attack, the 
C-I-A is moving against those involved.  In an unusual 
public statement, the agency concedes the blame covers 
numerous individuals at all levels of responsibility.

Officials say one mid-level employee was fired (this 
past week).  Six others, including a senior officer 
and four managers, received administrative 
punishments, such as warnings or letters of reprimand, 
which also bar them from raises or promotions for a 
year.

The trouble began when the C-I-A was asked to help 
find targets for the allied planes that were pounding 
Yugoslavia to stop the government's assault on Kosovo 
province.  Investigators determined that CIA 
employees, using an outdated map and faulty 
techniques, mistakenly labeled the embassy as a 
Yugoslav supply directorate that was actually hundreds 
of meters away.

The information was then passed to the Pentagon, which 
used it to launch a nighttime strike on the building 
last May.  The bombing killed three Chinese, wounded 
20 others, and caused a major breach in relations 
between Washington and Beijing.  Among other things, 
the Chinese government demanded punishment for those 
involved.

A C-I-A spokesman (Bill Harlow) says the agency has 
stood up and taken appropriate responsibility for its 
mistakes.  A lawyer (Roy Kreiger) for one of the men 
who was reprimanded disputes that view.  He says his 
client and the others are merely scapegoats and it is 
unjust to blame individuals when a system is at fault.   
(Signed)

NEB/DS/WTW



09-Apr-2000 11:13 AM EDT (09-Apr-2000 1513 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.