News-Info-Alerts

Re: Investigation of Speicher's Whereabouts Still Important

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: March 22, 2002

"Investigation of soldier's whereabouts still important

By Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas

In January 1991, on the first night of the air war in Operation Desert Storm, Lt. Cmdr. Michael Scott Speicher's F-18 was brought down 60 miles outside of Baghdad. Presuming that no one could survive a crash of such magnitude and because the site was deep in hostile territory, the Navy did not attempt to rescue the downed pilot or search for his remains.

Cmdr. Speicher became the only American unaccounted for in the war with Iraq.

He was declared killed in action. He was left behind.

It was not until three years later, when the plane was discovered in the desert, that questions about the fate of Cmdr. Speicher began to surface.

After careful analysis of the wreckage by Navy experts, it was determined that Cmdr. Speicher probably survived the crash, and if he survived, he almost certainly was captured by Iraqis. There are several intelligence reports from a number of sources that indicate he could be alive.

This story was brought to my attention as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. In 1999, I requested that the committee conduct a review of all information gathered on Cmdr. Speicher. That investigation resulted in passage of legislation to improve the reporting of POW-MIA cases.

Additionally, the Intelligence Committee asked the Department of Defense to conduct a full assessment into what happened to this American serviceman.

Based on that reports finding's in October 2000, I requested that the Pentagon change the status of Cmdr. Speicher to missing in action (MIA). This change was approved.

Again, just a month ago, I asked that the designation be changed again to prisoner of war (POW).

The bottom line is this: There is no evidence Cmdr. Speicher was killed when his aircraft was shot down over Iraq in 1991.

To the contrary, intelligence reports from a number of sources indicate he could be alive.

Just before leaving office, former President Clinton indicated Speicher might be alive. I have personally discussed the issue with President Bush and was assured it is high on his agenda.

We owe it to every American service man and woman to pursue absolutely every case of a missing soldier, sailor, airman or Marine as long as it takes to develop evidence of what happened.

Until we have that last bit of evidence on Cmdr. Speicher, we must aggressively pursue every avenue on the assumption he still could be alive."

Copyright 2001, Dodge City Daily Globe.