ABC and Koppel weren't had. They were a participant to a fraud. More so than Dan Rather and CBS.
The Viet Namese Government at first refused and then several months later they agreed....Time for ABC to prepare a list of questions they'd ask and the Viet Namese to develop answers and teach the villagers how to respond.
Koppel said they had to have a minder with them at all times. When he discussed the other men who came, one with a camera, there was no mention of a minder with them. He said they did not know who the men were or where they went. But did know they were critical of Kerry.
Would the Viet Namese goverment allow someone else other than ABC into the area without knowing who they were and what questions they asked and where they went?
This was all too pat. All of the right answers. Always someone who remember the specifics of one battle after 30+ years. They remember exact locations. How many people can remember things on their own property 10 years ago. Memories fade. There was to me too many specifics and too little real journalims. It was a Kerry Whitewash. It was planned and executed between ABC and the Viet Namese. Why wouldn't they make Kerry out to be something he wasn't. To them he is a hero.
To bolster your point, the Vietnamese became the world's experts in media manipulation and postmodern warfare propaganda. They knew exactly what buttons needed to be pushed for ABC to buy their previously non-existent version of events and for Kerry to be framed as the hero he is to them.
Vietnam and ABC used each other to perfection, except Swiftees and Freepers are too smart to be hoodwinked.