By Ula Ilnytzky
ASSOCIATED PRESS
June 23, 1998
NEW YORK -- Time and CNN announced yesterday they'll investigate
the accuracy of their controversial report that said U.S. forces
used nerve gas to hunt down defectors during the Vietnam War.
The report, compiled by CNN journalists, aired two weeks ago on the news station and Time published an article based on the report a day later.
Both organizations are owned by Time Warner.
Last week, CNN military analyst Perry Smith, a retired major general, quit in protest, calling the report "sleazy journalism."
Defense Secretary William Cohen has ordered an investigation into the report's allegations, but said there's no evidence the gas was used in Vietnam.
In a letter to readers this week, Time managing editor Walter Isaacson said the magazine believed the initial CNN report and article "were based on substantial evidence."
"But we feel that the doubts raised deserve full exploration. So we plan to keep reporting this story," he said.
Noting the Pentagon investigation was expected to be completed soon, Isaacson told readers: "When we get more of these facts and, we hope, a clearer picture of what may have happened, we will report them to you, correct any mistakes and try to clarify any disputes that remain."
Steve Haworth, chief spokesman at CNN's Atlanta headquarters, echoed Isaacson's comments Monday.
"We believe the story was well sourced and researched over a long period of time and we continue to investigate further to be sure that it's true and to bring new facts to light, if they're out there," he said.
The report accused the military of using sarin gas during Operation Tailwind in Laos, in which two U.S. defectors were supposedly killed, and in other missions. It quoted several Special Forces soldiers as saying they were involved.
In addition, the report quoted retired Adm. Thomas Moorer, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff from 1970 to 1974, as confirming the use of sarin.
However, after the report, he said he had simply heard unconfirmed stories about it and had no independent knowledge.
The CNN story by correspondent Peter Arnett was produced by April Oliver.
According to yesterday's New York Times, Oliver excluded information that one soldier she interviewed had repressed all memory of the events for 24 years until she began questioning him.
Jack Smith, a longtime CNN producer who worked with Oliver on the piece, told the Times he "felt very strongly" that the soldier was telling them what really happened in that camp.
In a weekend interview on National Public Radio, Arnett stood by the story.
"What the team of CNN producers and investigators did was to talk to more than 200 sources, including many of the participants in that operation," said Arnett. "I think we can prove documentarily that there was" nerve gas used during Operation Tailwind.
Copyright 1998 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.