This is the latest updated news on Michael Scott Speicher dated March 28, 2003

Senator: 1991 POW May Be Alive in Baghdad

March 28th, from the Associated Press by Ron Word " Citing unspecified reports, a U.S. senator said Friday that an American pilot missing since the 1991 Gulf War may have been seen alive and in the custody of Iraqi authorities in the past month."
"Sen. Bill Nelson mentioned the reports while releasing an unclassified summary on the fate of Capt. Scott Speicher, who was shot down over Iraq on the first night of the Gulf War and has been unaccounted for ever since. Nelson did not elaborate on the recent reports. "I believe he is still alive," Nelson said. "The question is: Can we find him and bring him home alive?"

"....The Pentagon is required to report to Congress on Speicher every 90 days under the National Defense Authorization Act, which was enacted in December. The unclassified summary Nelson released is the first to be filed and details some of the evidence that led military officials to conclude Speicher likely survived the shootdown. The report mentions Baghdad's false suggestion that remains returned in 1991 were Speicher's and officials' claims that the aircraft wreckage was tampered with before a 1995 crash site excavation."

"Still, the unclassified version, dated March 3, provides no conclusive information about Speicher's fate and does not address the recent information about a possible sighting. "We assess Capt. Speicher was either captured alive or his remains were recovered and taken to Baghdad." In either case, the Iraqi government has concealed information about his fate, the report said...."

Note: the new verison of the declassified Intelligence Community Assessment of the Speicher case is available on the web site of Senator Bill Nelson. We've tried and failed several times to download this "pdf" file. If anyone is successful in retrieving this file, please email us a copy at lynn@nationalalliance.org

DUSTWUN - That was the official status of the 8 Army personnel unaccounted for from the 507th Maintenance Group and the Marines missing from Nasiriyah in Iraq, as of March 28th.
We've written much about the fact that the Defense Dept. (DOD), on December 18, 2002, issued Instruction 1300.18 dealing with "Military Personnel Casualty Matter, Policies and Procedures." Among the instruction is a series of new classifications for service personnel, missing and captured. These instructions eliminate the designation Prisoner of War in favor of the more ambiguous status of Missing/Captured.

For our new readers, last October, the Navy changed the status of Navy Capt. Scott Speicher - missing in action since his F/A-18 was shot down on the opening night of the Gulf War in January 1991 - once again. Originally, listed as Killed in Action, his status was changed in January 2001 to "Missing." Pressured by a small group of Senators, the Navy again changed Speicher's designation in October 2002. However, Speicher's new designation was not "Prisoner of War." His status, and the status of all future captured service personnel, is "Missing/Captured" or "MIA-C."
Just as "Missing/Captured" or MIA-C has replaced POW, DUSTWUN or "Duty Status and Whereabouts Unknown" has become a holding or temporary designation for service personnel from AWOL to Captured, giving command 10 days to make a determination of status.

The definition of DUSTWUN, per DOD Instruction (DODI) 1300.18 6.1.2.2 "DUSTWUN Cases - Duty Status and Whereabouts Unknown is a temporary designation when a members' actual status is uncertain. As such, the NOK (Next of Kin) will be kept informed of progress in determining the members' actual status. Casualty assistance is not provided unless the member's actual status is determined to be deceased or missing."
Give us the day, POWs were officially POWs, and those whose location were unknown after battle were immediately listed MIA.

So Why Does DOD Continue To Use The POW Phrase wouldn't they look dumb referring to service personnel viewed on televisions around the world, as "Missing/Captured" or MIA-C
Words paint pictures. The phrase, "Prisoner of War," paints a clear picture. A picture, like the ones aired around the world, of seven bruised and battered American soldiers now in Iraqi hands. The phrase, "Missing/Captured," suggests nothing but a question mark.

The Geneva Convention Article 13, pertaining to "Humane Treatment" reads: "Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated. Any unlawful act or omission by the Detaining Power causing death or seriously endangering the health of a prisoner of war in its custody is prohibited, and will be regarded as a serious breach of the present Convention. In particular, no prisoner of war may be subjected to physical mutilation or to medical or scientific experiments of any kind which are not justified by the medical, dental or hospital treatment of the prisoners concerned and carried out in his interest."
"Likewise, prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity. Measures of reprisal against prisoners of war are prohibited."

Article 14 regarding "Respect and Honor" reads: "Prisoners of war are entitled in all circumstances to respect for the persons and their honour. Women shall be treated with all the regard due to their sex and shall in all cases benefit by treatment as favourable as that granted to men. Prisoners of war shall retain the full civil capacity which they enjoyed at the time of their capture, The Detaining Power may not restrict the exercise, either within or without its own territory, of the rights such capacity confers except in so far as the captivity requires."
No where in the Geneve Convention do we find the designation Missing/Captured or "MIA-C"
The Geneva Convention provided for the treatment of Prisoners of War. It makes no provisions for the combatants listed as Missing/Captured.

When Does Freedom of Speech Cross The Line And Become Aid And Comfort To The Enemy take your blood pressure meds before reading this one. The following article is from Fox News "Columbia Prof Calls for Deaths of American Troops" - An academic furor was brewing Friday over a Columbia University professor who told thousands of students and faculty that he would like to see the United States defeated in Iraq and suffer "a million Mogadishus" referring to the 1993 ambush in Somalia that killed 18 Americans."
The professor, Nicholas De Genova, told a "teach-in" on Wednesday that "the only true heroes are those who find ways that help defeat the U.S. military." De Genova also asserted Americans who call themselves "patriots" are white supremacists."
"De Genova's hopes for the defeat of the United States were cheered by the crowd of 3,000, according to newspaper reports. But his mention of the Somali ambush -- "I personally would like to see a million Mogadishus" -- was largely met with silence."

"A call Friday to De Genova, 35, was answered with a recording that said his voice mailbox was full."
"Columbia University on Friday issued a statement that distanced the school from his comments but did not condemn them."
"Assistant Professor Nicholas De Genova was speaking as an individual at a teach-in. He was exercising his right to free speech. His statement does not in any way represent the views of Columbia University."
"History professor Eric Foner, who helped organize the teach-in and spoke after De Genova, said Friday: "I disagreed strongly and I said so. If I had known what he was going to say I would have been reluctant to have him speak." Foner said De Genova was a last-minute invitee, was just one of about 25 speakers and "did not represent the general tone of the event, which was highly educational."
"I thought that was completely uncalled for," Foner was quoted as saying, referring to De Genova's allusion to the Mogadishu ambush and firefight, known for the graphic image of a slain American soldier being dragged through the streets. "We do not desire the deaths of American soldiers...."
The National Alliance Of Families Fourteenth Annual Forum is scheduled for June 26th - 28th, 2003. Our forum is conducted to coincide with the Governments annual Vietnam POW/MIA Family Briefings. We urge all family members to attend this years government briefings. A separate briefing for Korean/Cold War families will be held in July. The government will provide free airfare to two family members to attend the government briefings. There is no charge or registration fee to attend the government briefings and you do not have to belong to an organization to attend these briefings.
This year the Alliance meeting will be held at the Sheraton Crystal City located at 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway, in Arlington Va. Rate for single or double occupancy is $99.00 per night plus tax.
Many of you will remember this hotel from the previous Alliance meetings (1994 - 96). The hotel is located across the street from both the Crystal City Underground Food Court and the Metro Stop. The Sheraton is within walking distance of the hotel hosting the government briefings. The Alliance is working on transportation between hotels for those who prefer to ride. To make your reservations, call 703-486-1111 and remember to say you want the special National Alliance of Families rate.

The Alliance is an all volunteer organization. Our meetings are open to all, without charge. At this time of year, we actively seek contributions to finance our forum. If you wish to contribute, donations may be mailed to:
National Alliance Of Families
P.O. Box 40327
Bellevue, Wa. 98015.
Remember all contributions are tax deductible.
Lynn O'Shea
Director of Research
National Alliance of Families
for the Return of America's Missing Servicemen
World War II - Korea - Cold War - Vietnam - Gulf War

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