News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: Another Senator Calls For Answers

Date: March 15, 2001

"Thursday March 14 10:39 AM EST

Sen. Graham Joins Call For Info On Missing Pilot
Florida Sen. Bob Graham asked U.S. officials Wednesday to press Iraq about the fate of Navy Lt. Cmdr. Scott Speicher.

The Jacksonville-based pilot was first considered the first casualty of the Operation Desert Storm when his FA-18 jet was shot down over Iraq on the first night of the Gulf War. After reports surfaced that Speicher may have survived, his status was changed to missing in action.

Graham, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Wednesday that Iraqi owes the United States an explanation about all military personnel unaccounted for.

Earlier this week, Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts asked the Pentagon to change Speicher's status to prisoner of war after reports by British intelligence that the pilot may still be alive, 11 years later.

When asked Wednesday if Saddam Hussein was still holding Speicher, President George W. Bush replied, he "wouldn't put it past him."

The Associated Press reports that Vice President Dick Cheney is in the Persian Gulf region, trying to build the case against Iraq. Bush said Saddam has a record of killing his own people, developing weapons of mass destruction and breaking agreement to allow weapons inspectors into the country.

"He is a problem, and we're going to deal with him," Bush said. "