The Mayaguez recapture was not ‘successful’
August 14, 2020 at 5:12 p.m. EDT
Regarding the Aug. 8 front-page obituary “Cold War to Gulf War, key adviser to 2 presidents”:
Brent Scowcroft was certainly the model of a fair-minded and judicious national security adviser, but it was wrong to say that the military recapture of the American merchant ship Mayaguez in 1975 was “successful.” Forty-one service members lost their lives in storming Koh Tang Island, where the Pentagon wrongly believed 39 crew members were being held.
Moreover, the crew was released as the rescue operation was underway, and all were safely recovered. The CIA’s Foreign Broadcast Information Service informed the White House of the crew’s release in time for the operation to be halted, but national security adviser Henry Kissinger wanted to send a signal to Vietnam and North Korea in view of the U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam. Then-Defense Secretary James Schlesinger blocked aspects of the operation, which saved the lives of the crew and reduced casualties among the Marine rescue team. Nevertheless, then-President Gerald Ford wrongly fired Schlesinger for insubordination. Many lessons were learned from a miserable operation managed by the National Security Council.
Melvin A. Goodman, Bethesda
Recent News and Latest Book
Iran and the US Say Enough, Will Israel Go Along?
The emphasis now should be on a cease fire in Gaza; release of the hostages; a surge of humanitarian assistance to Gaza; and talks with Iran that could lead to diplomatic recognition.
Spies and Their Lies: the Trials and Tribulations at Guantanamo
U.S. prosecutors have asked the Court of Military Commissions to reinstate the confessions, and the rest of this year will be taken up with this issue at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The new judge, Colonel Matthew Fitzgerald, is the fourth to preside in this case, and he was still in law school when the U.S.S. Cole was attacked and 9/11 took place.
