CNN Retreats ...

CNN called this a "retraction', but we call it a cowardly retreat. A lame, limp-wristed, sorry, pathetic excuse for a screw-up of monumental proportions. Read it carefully and you will see that it neither 'retracts' nor 'aplogizes' for it's manufactured lies, disinformation, and deliberately fabricated story.

Not one word about "No, Americans did not commit war crimes by killing women and children.", not a word about "No, nerve gas was not used on this operation, or anywhere else in the Vietnam War", nothing about "There were no American Deserters there"... and on and on about this....

How about an apology to the incredibly brave men who participated on this mission. Wounded to the last man, surrounded by overwhelming enemy forces, who fought with tremendous honor, heroism and integrity to make this one of the most successful missions of the entire Vietnam War.

No, you won't find any of that or 'We're sorry we printed a total fabrication and apologize to the brave men whom we lied about" included here.... They say they 'owe' an apology, but never get around to making one.

You will find a lot of cowardly capitualation and nothing more than a shallow statement that essentially says, "Well, we just can't prove it at this time..." ..."Not supported..." ... "Cannot confirm..."

Too bad we couldn't have just sent CNN's lawyers to Vietnam and we all could have stayed home.

You read it and see if you think they're one bit sorry for this, or any other, manufactured lies and distortions that they've produced about the Vietnam War for the past 30 years.

The Official CNN Retraction...

CNN News Group Chairman Tom Johnson's statement on CNN's Tailwind coverage

On June 7, CNN's NewsStand broadcast a report that in Laos, during the Vietnam War, the U.S. used nerve gas in an operation aimed mainly at American defectors. CNN Interactive also carried that report.

Critics disputed those conclusions, and CNN asked attorney Floyd Abrams to investigate. His report has just been released ... and CNN News Group Chairman Tom Johnson is releasing this statement:

"Nothing is more important to a news organization than its reputation for accuracy, fairness and responsibility.

"Building and maintaining high standards of journalistic excellence have been critical to the success of CNN since its launch 18 years ago.

"As chairman of the CNN News Group, I am responsible for assuring our staff and viewers that we get the story right.

"CNN NewsStand's recent coverage of Operation Tailwind, a covert action conducted by U.S. servicemen in Laos more than 28 years ago, reported that a deadly nerve gas was used and that American defectors were a primary target of the military action.

"The original report came to us from personnel involved in the Tailwind Operation and was supported by individuals who were in a position to know about the operation.

"Since the first NewsStand Tailwind broadcast, hundreds of veterans and other former government officials have denied the reports.

"As a result, CNN commissioned an independent investigation of NewsStand's reporting on Operation Tailwind, led by a highly respected outside media attorney, Floyd Abrams.

"The report concludes that NewsStand's broadcast on Operation Tailwind cannot be supported.

"There is insufficient evidence that sarin or any other deadly gas was used.

"Furthermore, CNN can not confirm that American defectors were targeted or at the camp as NewsStand reported.

"CNN alone bears responsibility for both the television reports and for the printed article in the June 15 issue of Time magazine.

"We acknowledge serious faults in the use of sources who provided NewsStand with the original reports and therefore retract the Tailwind story.

"We apologize to our viewers and to our colleagues at Time for this mistake.

"CNN owes a special apology to the personnel involved in Operation Tailwind, both the soldiers on the ground and the U.S. Air Force pilots and U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilots who were involved in this action.

"CNN's system of journalistic checks and balances, which has served CNN exceptionally well in the past, failed in this case.

"The fault lies with the editors, producers and reporters and executives responsible for the report, the program and its contents.

"We are taking vigorous steps to strengthen our internal procedures to assure that mistakes of this type do not occur in the future."