Interviews to Focus on Unit Accused of Vietnam Killings

NY Times ^ | February 16, 2004 | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[neverdem]

Interviews to Focus on Unit Accused of Vietnam Killings By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: February 16, 2004

TOLEDO, Ohio, Feb. 15 (AP) — Military investigators will interview former members of an elite Army platoon accused of killing unarmed Vietnamese civilians in 1967, according to a newspaper report.

The newspaper, The Blade, first reported in October that the Army's 101st Airborne Division's Tiger Force killed unarmed civilians, including women, children and elderly farmers, for seven months in 1967. Tiger Force was created to spy on forces of North Vietnam in South Vietnam's central highlands.

The interviews are "part of the review and assessment of the original investigation," Lt. Col. Kevin Curry, an Army spokesman, told The Blade for its Sunday editions.

The review will be conducted under the direction of Les Brownlee, the acting Army secretary, who was asked to look into the matter by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.

Investigators are expected to report their findings to Mr. Brownlee by March, said a spokesman for Representative Dennis J. Kucinich, Democrat of Ohio, who has been pushing for a Congressional investigation.

Army officials have not said how many witnesses will be interviewed, when the inquiry will end or whether charges will be sought against former soldiers and officers, the newspaper said.

Investigators are expected to take statements from a former Army journalist, Dennis Stout, and a former Tiger Force medic, Rion Causey, both witnesses to the reported atrocities, The Blade said.

Mr. Stout and Mr. Causey told the newspaper they were surprised when they were contacted last week by an Army investigator.

"I've waited years to talk to them," Mr. Stout, 58, said. "I saw people killed who didn't deserve to die."

Mr. Causey, 56, said he was prepared to talk about attacks on villagers.

[neverdem]

This sounds like a typical Kucinich initiative.

[ambrose]

"I committed the same kinds of atrocities as thousands of others," ... "in that I shot in free-fire zones, fired .50-caliber machine bullets, used harass-and-interdiction fire, joined in search-and-destroy missions and burned villages." - John F'n Kerry

http://www.baltimoresun.com%2Fnews%2Felections%2Fbal-te.antiwar14feb14%2C1%2C1535166.story





So, will they be interviewing Kerry?

[LADY J]

"So, will they be interviewing Kerry?"

They had better be investigating him. We want to see his records about what he said he did when he killed the women, civilians and the baby and how he earned those medals.

He's the one that wanted records compared and we must demand to see them.

We need to have some backbone about this. We always complain that the Republicans cave. It's time that we did something that could make a difference.

Our very lives could depend on it.

[Mark]

Military investigators will interview former members of an elite Army platoon accused of killing unarmed Vietnamese civilians in 1967, according to a newspaper report.

Gee, I can't remember who was Commander In Chief back then. It must have been a Republican, because no DemoncRAT president would over look this attrocity.(/lib spin OFF)

[AD from SpringBay]

More importantly - can he prove that he hasn't done the things he said he did? I think Katie Couric should interview him. Let's see some of Kerry's records - the ones proving he's not a war criminal.

[cwb]

If I were a Vietnam Vet, this is another reason why I wouldn't want Kerry as president. While many of his claims may have been fraudulent, who knows what he may want to dredge up to appeal to his base...opening up old wounds with further investigations.

[Lady In Blue]

Bumping for a read tomorrow. Thanks!

[Lady In Blue]

ping

[Natural Law]

I can't speak about conditions in '67 or '68, but when I was there in '72 & '73 I witnessed American casualties because we could not retun fire into areas that might result in civilian casualties. I also witnessed the aftermath of terror and retribution raids conducted by the communists where village elders and teachers were tortured, killed and mutilated. I am certain that because of the actions of the likes of John Kerry there were similar actions conducted by the communists that were blamed on GIs in an attempt to further erode the political will of the US to resist. As far as I am concerned Kerry was a willing accomplice.

[matchgirl]

The link is www.baltimoresun.com/news/elections/bal-te.antiwar14feb14,0,2360661.story?coll=bal-election-headlines.

[neverdem]

Thanks, I tried the earlier link and got into an endless error response.

[neverdem]

PING

[leadpenny]

So, will they be interviewing Kerry?

To he!! with f'n Kerry! As I remember the series of "Gotcha" articles from leftie Toledo Blade, they were attempting to lay all of this at the feet of the Nixon Administration.

I want to know if the Army investigators will interview - scratch that - interrogate Robert Strange McNamara and any of his Pentagon Whiz Kids who are still around? Maybe Daniel Ellsberg could also be put under oath?

[leadpenny]

Also, is Westmoreland still alive?