News-Info-Alerts

Re: Kansas Senator Wants Meeting on Speicher

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: January 06, 2003

"Senator from Kansas seeks meeting with Iraq on Gulf War pilot
By DAVID GOLDSTEIN
The Kansas City Star


WASHINGTON - Sen. Pat Roberts has written a letter to Iraq's Saddam Hussein asking for a meeting to negotiate the release -- if he remains alive -- of a missing Gulf War pilot.

Roberts, a Kansas Republican, said he had asked to meet with Iraq's United Nations envoy but said in an interview that he would meet with Hussein himself to try to settle the fate of Navy Capt. Scott Speicher, a native of Kansas City.

Noting that the Iraqi president has in the past released jailed Americans and other foreign nationals -- including a missing Saudi Arabian pilot -- Roberts wrote, "There is once again a compelling argument for your humanitarian intervention in this prisoner of war case today."

Speicher was 33 years old when he was shot down in the early hours of the Gulf War on Jan. 17, 1991. He has been the subject of persistent rumors and intelligence that he survived the crash and has been held prisoner in Iraq.

In recent weeks, reports from "nonintelligence" sources about Speicher's whereabouts have become "rampant," Roberts said.

Roberts and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida -- where Speicher's ex-wife and two children live -- have been among his most vocal supporters. They have pressed the government to investigate the incident, particularly in light of evidence that the military never aggressively pursued the case in the first place.

Speicher initially was declared "killed in action." As reports surfaced casting doubt on that conclusion, his status was changed to "missing in action." In October, the Pentagon upgraded him further to "missing-captured," which is the same as "prisoner of war," a term the military doesn't use.

Roberts said that given the current tensions between Iraq and the United States, it might be to Hussein's benefit to be accommodating about Speicher.

"We think there is probability that he is alive," Roberts said. "If (Hussein) thought that releasing Scott would be in his best interests, I don't see any downside risk."

Roberts said that he and Nelson had considered traveling to Baghdad but that White House officials had "strongly dissuaded" them. Asked whether White House officials knew about his letter, he said, "They will now."

To reach David Goldstein, Washington correspondent, call (202) 383-6105, or send email to dgoldstein@krwashington.com."