News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: NAF Bits 'N' Pieces

Date: June 05, 2000

National Alliance of Families
For The Return of America's Missing Servicemen
World War II - Korea - Cold War - Vietnam - Gulf War

Bits N Pieces June 3, 2000

They Did It Again - Congratulations to the Ladies and Gentlemen of Rolling Thunder, especially Artie Muller, President of the organization, and his Vice President John Mendes. They, and the members of Rolling Thunder, did an amazing job. The 13th Annual "Ride For Freedom" was a HUGE success. Media coverage was better than ever, with C-Span covering most of the event.

One of the very special guests was Miss America 2000, Heather Renee French. Ms. French, daughter of a Vietnam Vet, has championed the cause of America's veterans and has now added the POW/MIA issue to her agenda. Riding a Phantom Trike, specially designed by Doc Spresser of RT1 PA, Miss America led the bikers of Rolling Thunder on their "Ride for Freedom."

When We Are Wrong... We Admit It - During her Rolling Thunder speech Dolores Alfond spoke of DPMO's new terminology "Isolated Personnel" to replace the designation POW/MIA. We were under the impression that designation was off in the future and she stated the new designation "Isolated Personnel" would be in place by 2004. Wrong!!!!!

The Future Is Now - In a booklet titled "Personnel Recovery and Accounting," published for year 2000, DPMO states their "Vision." The statement reads "Develop, implement, and maintain a joint system for live recovery of isolated personnel, rapid post-hostility accounting and remains identification." You will find those words on page 4 of the booklet. (You can view Page 4 of this DPMO Booklet on our website.)

Another disturbing phrase we must examine is "Operations Other Than War." In the February 12, 2000, edition of "Bits" we wrote -- "A Look Into The Future - Bulletin... In OOTW, we have 3 IP's... Translation: In "Operations Other Than War" we have three "Isolated Persons." That's the new terminology. Wars are no longer wars and captured Americans are no longer POWs. They are Isolated Personnel. This terminology comes from the 1999 Department of Defense Personnel Recovery Conference Report dated October 26 - 28, 1999. (When we last checked this report was available on the DPMO web site at www.dtic.mil/dpmo If the report is no longer there, we have a PDF file (very large) of the report available for email). A scan of the body of this report reveals the phrase "Prisoner of War" is used only once, as is the acronym POW. The phrase "Isolated Personnel" appears, by our count , 13 times."

"Operations Other Than War" and "Isolated Personnel," what do those phrases mean to our service personnel? Are "Isolated Personnel" protected by the Geneva Convention? Is the phrase "Isolated Personnel" mentioned anywhere in the provisions of the Geneva Convention governing the treatment of captured servicemen?

You all remember CWO Michael Durant, captured in Somalia, Capt. Scott O'Grady , who evaded capture for 7 days in Bosnia and Sgts. Steven Gonzalez, Christopher Stone, and Andrew Rameriz, captured by Serb forces during our "OOTW" in Kosovo. Today, DPMO world consider those men "isolated personnel? "

If this government intends to send servicemen and women into harms way, in "Operations Other Than War" we damn well better be able to protect them and reducing their status from POW or MIA to "isolated personnel" is not the way to do it.

This government has done a poor job of recovering its' Prisoners of War, left behind alive as a result of the Korean War, Cold War, and the War in Southeast Asia. What chance do "Isolated Personnel" have?

DPMO Needs To Be Stopped - We cannot allow DPMO to continue their gutting of the POW/MIA issue, while stripping future POW/MIAs (IPs) of their Geneva Convention rights. Here is a brief reminder of DPMO's "Goals and Visions," under its present leadership;

1998 or Early 1999 - The DPMO Five Year Strategic Plan, Goal 4 - "Transition the accounting process for prior conflicts from active operations to reactive efforts triggered by new information by FY 2004." (Available for viewing on our web site.)

1999 The DPMO "Vision" -- "By the end of the year 2004, we will have moved from the way the US Government conducts the business of recovery and accounting to an active program of loss prevention, immediate rescues, and rapid post-hostility accounting." (Available for viewing on our Website)

October 1999 The DPMO "Vision" from the Strategic Plan, revised -- "By the end of the CY 2004, DoD will have moved from t he way the USG now conducts the business of recovery and accounting to an active program of loss prevention, immediate rescues and rapid post-hostility accounting." (Available for viewing on our web site.)

October 1999 The DPMO Strategic Plan, Goal 4 revised -- "Without degrading the current accounting opportunities, transition all historical accounting processes from prior conflicts to efforts triggered by new information by FY 2004." (Available for viewing on our website. )

The DPMO "Vision" 2000 - "Develop, implement, and maintain a joint system for live recovery of isolated personnel, rapid post-hostility accounting and remains identification." (Available for viewing on our Website)

In summary DPMO intends to stop POW/MIA investigations for prior conflicts (Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam and the Gulf) by the end of 2004. Quite simply that means if a POW/MIA is not found by the end of 2004, no one will be looking in 2005, unless Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, China, North Korea, Vietnam, and the former Soviet Union decide to volunteer new information.

While DPMO may think these nations will provide information without being asked, we know better. They are not cooperation now, why would they suddenly volunteer information when we stop asking?

The changes occurring in DPMO are arbitrary decisions made by the DPMO leadership.

It's time we let the Emperor know he's not wearing any clothes.

We Sincerely Hope our readers are as outraged by DPMO's new plans and terminology as we are, because we desperately need your help.

We Need To Stop DPMO - Once again, we ask that you contact your congressional representative. Ask him what protection, if any, American Servicemen and woman will have under the Geneva Convention as "Isolated Personnel" captured or missing in "Operations Other Than War." Ask him why DPMO has been allowed to move forward with plans to end accounting efforts for servicemen missing as a result of the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam, and Gulf War? Ask him why DPMO drafted a Five Year Strategic Plan and then hired an outside consulting firm to evaluate DPMO? Usually, you analyze the problem, then write a plan of operation, you don't write the plan and then examine the problems. Ask your congressional representative why DPMO representatives said the Strategic Plan was on the shelf or "dead" until after the 2000 election, yet their efforts seem geared to the implementation of this plan.

We need every POW/MIA family member, every POW/MIA organization, the families of every active duty serviceman and woman, every Veteran Organization, every individual Veteran, and every Concerned Citizen to contact your congressional representative.

Ask the questions and hold DPMO's feet to the fire. Remember - this is an election year. Make your voices heard.

You are the only voice our POW/MIA's have, and you may be the only voice for our active duty military destine to fight in "Operations Other Than War."

The clock is ticking.

The Pentagon wonders why men and women are not joining the military and they are wondering why men and women already in service are leaving in large numbers?

Maybe we can give them a reason or two. How about poor pay, under equipped and under trained because of budget cuts, low moral, used as guinea pigs for what seem to be poorly tested vaccines, little or no medical care should they become ill from those vaccines and finally should they become a Prisoner in "Operations Other Than War," they will be an "Isolated Personnel" with little to no rights under the Geneva Convention.

Anser and the Mission Area Analysis - On Thursday morning, May 25, Dolores Alfond, Lynn O'Shea and Michael Benge met, for three hours, with representative of Anser. As you know, from previous "Bits," Anser is the contractor hired to conduct the Mission Area Analysis (MAA) for DPMO. This MAA is due for completion in October of this year. We presented our view of what is wrong with DPMO and offered suggestion on improvements.

Anser's representative listened attentively. We can only hope they heard our message.

Heads Up Marine Corp. Is there another Marine KIA/BNR that was actually captured? We don't know for sure, but we have enough information to ask the question.

Marine Corp. We'll give you a hint ... he's not from Operation Kingerfisher or the Ridgeway incident. Might want to check your records.

Why does Johnnie Webb still have his job?

New Legislative Contact - While in De Ceit for Memorial Day Weekend, we met with Russ Thomasson, who is on staff with Senator Bob Smith. Russ is the new POW/MIA person in the office. We were quite impressed with Mr. Thomasson and know he will do an outstanding job for our POW/MIAs and their families.

For those who are unaware, Dino Carluccio was promoted to Chief of Staff. We congratulate Dino on his promotion and wish him all the best.

They Expect Us To Believe This One - In September of 1994, Lynn O'Shea filed a FOIA with the National Security Agency (NSA) requesting all information relating to Lima Site 84. We received our response in April 2000. In 5 1/2 yeas NSA was only able to produce Three Documents. One was generated by JCRC, and two by the Joint Staff in Washington De Ceit. None of these report were generated prior to August 1990.

For those unaware, Lima Site 85 was a Top Secret Radar base located on a mountain top in Laos. The day after the Site fell, nuclear codes worldwide were changed. bombers were sent in to destroy the site, to keep the top secret equipment out of enemy hands. Yet, not one piece of paper relating to Site 85 was generated by the National Security Agency.

What do you think?

National Alliance of Families Eleventh Annual Forum is scheduled for June 22nd -- 24th, 2000, at the Wyndham Hotel, Washington, DC, 1143 New Hampshire Ave. NW (Same as last year.) Room rates are $105.00 per night. For reservations call 202-775-0800. Contributions Are Tax Deductible.

The next edition of Bits 'N' Pieces will be after our Forum.
Dolores Alfond - 425-881-1499
Lynn O'Shea --- 718-846-4350
Email ----------- lynnpowmia@prodigy.net
Website -------- www.nationalalliance.org