A different view

A Question For Carter re: The Hostage Rescue

I was stationed in Turkey when the fall of the Shah of Iran occurred. Planes flew into Iran from our base rescuing stranded Americans and bringing with them what little they could.

The planes flew round trips into Iran from our base, then were transferred to other planes to be taken up to Germany on their way to various locations.

While we were in a secure area and well protected by the Turkish military, who despite US spin about the Iraq invasion have always been a great friend of the US, we still wore battle garments and worked 12+ hour days.

This military preparedness caused all kinds of rumors to form and whirl around. But one that I'd love an answer to was concerning who went into Iraq for the hostage rescue.

The rumor was that a team experienced in desert operations had been training for weeks to rescue the hostages. They had desert gear, filters on their helicopters, and knew the people and area.

The rumor goes that at the last moment a Vietnam era general had convinced President Carter to send his own (untrained) troops in for the glory. The result was an ill-equipped and trained force that attempt and failed the rescue.

On the Sunday morning talk shows President Carter said the failing was in not sending in an 8th helicopter. But I've wondered if the failing wasn't the ego of a general seeking one more medal at the cost of many people's lives, a truly Vietnam era tradition.

posted by don1one @ 8:55 AM