Part 43 – AUGUST 14 1988
''Our society finds truth too strong a medicine to digest undiluted. In its purest form, truth is not a polite tap on the shoulder. It's a howling reproach. What Moses brought down from Mt. Sinai were not the Ten Suggestions. They are Commandments. Are, not were.'' - Ted Koppel, Address to the 1987 graduating class at Duke University
The Pentagon report on the July 3 downing of an Iranian airliner by the USS Vincennes recommends very limited punishment against the ship's operations officer.
The officer, who was not identified, will be given a letter of reprimand. The letter will not be made a part of his personnel file.
After having reviewed the report, Adm. William J. Crowe, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will submit it with his comments to Defense Secretary Frank C. Carlucci early next week.
Admiral Crowe and Mr. Carlucci could seek more severe disciplinary actions but this is highly unlikely considering that, in the aftermath of the tragedy, Admiral Crowe said that Capt. Will C. Rogers 3d had acted with ''good judgment.''
Back to the Present
The US and Libya have signed a deal to compensate all victims of bombings involving the two countries.
Libya will fully compensate victims of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing and of the 1986 bombing of a Berlin disco.
On August 6, I wrote that the deal would include compensation for the Libyan victims of two US bombings. This information was based on a statement issued by Saif al Islam Gaddafi and the investigation of former UK diplomat Patrick Haseldine.
"We offered the United States a comprehensive deal putting all the cases in one package but we want them to compensate the Libyan victims of the U.S. strike. This is our condition and they must satisfy it," Saif al Islam Gaddafi had said on 24 July 2008.
Today, Patrick Haseldine's comments to the effect that the talks were to cover Libyan as well as US claims have been vindicated.
The US will compensate victims of attacks on Tripoli and Benghazi in 1986. The deal was signed in Tripoli by US and Libyan officials.
NOTES AND REFERENCES
Limited Punishment Signaled in Jet Downing - August 14, 1988
