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| Report Shows Why Peru Shot Down Missionary Plane |
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Posted by FoM on August 02, 2001 at 13:09:41 PT By Jonathan Wright Source: Reuters 
The Peruvian Air Force identified the U.S. missionary plane shot down by mistake in April but the message never reached those responsible for deciding whether it was on a drug smuggling mission, according to a joint U.S.-Peruvian report released on Thursday. The mistake was one of many, compounded by language barriers and communications overload, which led to the death of missionary Veronica Bowers and her infant daughter during the flight over northern Peru on April 20. After the accident, Peru and Colombia suspended their U.S.-backed programs to intercept drug courier flights in the Andes, easing the pressure on the traffickers who supply most of the cocaine to the U.S. market. The report, from a team led by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Rand Beers and Peruvian Air Force Maj. Gen. Jorge Kisic Wagner, did not assign blame but concluded that the people running the program had diluted over the years the procedures set out in a 1994 agreement. In the Peruvian program, U.S. surveillance planes staffed by Americans and Peruvian Air Force fighters are meant to work together to deal with suspect flights over the jungle. The report said: "By the late 1990s references to the full range of procedures ... became less detailed and explicit in implementing documents." "The language limitations of Peruvian and American participants -- particularly under stress -- played a role in reducing the timely flow of information. No Flight Plan "Communications systems overload and cumbersome procedures played a role in reducing timely and accurate compliance with all applicable directives," it added. Other factors were that the pilot of the missionary plane, Kevin Donaldson, did not file a flight plan for his trip from Islandia to Iquitos and did not hear vital messages from the Peruvian fighter because his VHF radio was turned off. But perhaps the biggest surprise in the report is that the Peruvian fighter co-pilot correctly reported the registration number of Donaldson's plane -- OB-1408 -- at least eight minutes before the fighter opened fire on the missionaries. The crew of the U.S. surveillance plane, including the Peruvian who traveled with them, did not hear this message because they were busy with other conversations. Earlier in the flight Peruvian personnel on the ground had asked air traffic controllers in the region for the location of OB-1408 because they wanted to be sure it was not confused for a plane suspected of carrying drugs. But the air traffic controllers told them erroneously that the missionary plane was still at Islandia. When the fighter plane did open fire, Donaldson had already spoken to the Iquitos control tower. He told them that military aircraft were in the area but the control tower did not respond to that part of his message. On several occasions during the complicated exchange of messages, the language barrier between the Spanish speakers and the English speakers mean that they did not receive vital information or respond to requests. The 12-page report does not make any recommendations about the future of the interdiction flights. The former U.S. ambassador to Colombia, Morris Busby, is preparing a separate report on that, but State Department officials say they do not know when it will be ready. Source: Reuters Related Articles & Web Site: Colombia Drug War News U.S. Shares Fault In Peru Incident U.S. To Review Anti-Drug Plan Treachery Over The Andes Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #7 posted by DIEBUSHDIE on August 03, 2001 at 09:40:18 PT |
| This is really a minor offence of the US gov. on nations. All victims in war are innocent. http://www.spintechmag.com/2001/ph072701.htm [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by freedom fighter on August 02, 2001 at 22:11:11 PT |
The smell of burning wreck And the snow kept on falling Madder than yesterday Piercing Bower's back The smell of burning wreck
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| Comment #5 posted by qqqq on August 02, 2001 at 21:33:29 PT |
| I like that term Kap..... ..Perhaps the congress or senate should set up a new commitee [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #4 posted by kaptinemo on August 02, 2001 at 19:33:19 PT:
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| "Diffused Responsibility". They knew, right from the git-go, that this would happen. They effin' knew. But like every government project I've witnessed go sour, there will be plenty of dithering, tons of paper wasted, testimonies taken, sanctimonious blather for the sake of the camera, and then...nothing. No heads on platters, no prison sentences (in real prisons, mind you, not the country clubs at Allentown and Maxwell AFB) not even a heartfelt "We're sorry", because to do even that pathetically small amount is to admit culpability...and cause the same questions that are being asked right now to be asked again...only much louder. Such as "Is it worth it?" "Should we be doing it?" "Is there a better way?" "Is it right and proper that these people died purportedly to save them from drug use?" And most important of all: "How many more will die because of this?" Any answer would be condemning the entire DrugWar. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by dddd on August 02, 2001 at 17:49:27 PT |
| They added that ;"the report did not say who was to blame for the incident". When you think of it,,it is so bizarre to think that they are even condoning This is beyond an outrage. dddd [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #2 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on August 02, 2001 at 17:01:34 PT:
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| Both CBS and NBC had gut-wrenching video of this atrocity. To say that the CIA spooks were not fluent in Spanish is akin to saying that Hitler was not partial to Jews. These jokers had no business doing the job. Heads should roll, but none will. Every senator and congressperson should be forced to watch the footage, and then be offered the opportunity to cut off funding for this alleged cooperative policy. However, it is only a matter of time before the skies will be patrolled again, and another plane shot down--- [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on August 02, 2001 at 13:46:04 PT:
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| Es muy facil a aprender castellano. ?Quien es suficientemente estupido a enviar norteamericanos que no hablan castellano en Peru? La falta es seguramente la guerra contra drogas. !Muerte a la guerra! !Viva paz! [ Post Comment ] |
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