...for as long as it takes
With so much attention focused on the blockbuster classified Russian document
that Dmitri Volkogonov stated spoke of a program to transfer US POWs to the
former USSR, the Russians have decided to create a distraction and release
some Korean War files.
The USG apparently welcomes the diversion, praising the release as a 'dramatic
breakthrough.'
What incredible timing! Such an ironic coincidence that only TWO DAYS after
the Washington Times broke the Volkogonov statement, the Russians would feel
so compelled to divest themselves of 5,000 pages of documents and some
archival film footage that they have kept secret for 45 years.
Which begs us to ask... Why Now?
They've had 45 years to tell the truth and shed some light on dark questions.
They haven't. Dr. Paul Cole and Peter Tsouras both wrote incredibly detailed
reports of the USSR's penchant for taking and keeping US Korean War personnel.
And the Soviets denied it. Phil Corso and Jan Sejna swore to the knowledge of
US POWs being held back or transferred by the Soviets. The Soviets denied it.
All of a sudden, they release 5,000 pages of material that SHOULD have been
turned over to the US-Russian Commission years ago, but wasn't. Information
that is said to contain; records of shootdowns; date and place of loss; kinds
of AC and identification numbers; observations of pilots ejecting and
captures.
The American side of the US-Russian Commission, which is currently in Moscow,
state that the Russians have offered assurances that 'interrogation reports'
from the Second Indochina War would be forthcoming in 6 months.
Do these interrogation reports have anything to do with the 'evil secret'
document that Volkogonov described?
The news reports do not say. However they do say that the Soviets were not
permitted to directly interrogate US POWs in Hanoi, but had to pass along
questions to their captors.
Mule Muffins. We know from Korea that claim is a myth at best. During the
Korean War, the Soviets DID interrogate US POWs ... directly. We know from the
statements of Orlov, Cole, and others that the Soviets exploited Mongoloid
Soviet military personnel who were used to 'pass' as Chinese or North Koreans
to interrogate the POWs. We have 451 Soviet interrogation protocols of men who
NEVER RETURNED to prove it.
We have to wonder how many 'interrogation reports' of Vietnam War POWs who
NEVER RETURNED will see the light of day.
It is a good thing that Russia is handing over this material. 45 Years too
late for certain, but welcomed nonetheless for the answers it may offer. But
we still keep wondering...
after all these years, why today?
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Date: November 11, 1998
AIIPOWMIA Editorial sent in by AIIPOWMIAI
