Readers Vow Not to Forget Case of Missing Navy Aviator

0 Comments | Insight on the News, Sept 30, 2003

Byline: INSIGHT

Readers Vow Not to Forget Case of Missing Navy Aviator

Thank you so much for publishing Timothy W. Maier's article on Capt. Michael Scott Speicher ["'Secret' Report Adds to Mystery," Sept. 16-29]. Maier is one of the few who have given

Speicher fair and balanced coverage. The latest negative news leaks, which are inaccurate and are not helping Speicher's case, make me so angry! This Navy aviator was left behind and deserves more media coverage to help get him home.

Thanks again for the good journalism. Please continue to keep Speicher's name alive so that the U.S. government can't try to cover up this horrible mistake. He and his family deserve much more.

Donna Hardin

via the Internet

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Thank you for the latest news regarding Capt. Speicher and for reporting on the negative spin that someone in Washington is trying to put out in hopes of stopping the public-awareness campaign with which "Friends Working to Free Scott Speicher" is involved. Thank you also on behalf of Scott.

Beverly Stockton

Killen, Ala.

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Anyone calling Bill Nelson a "showboater" does not know the senator who grew up in Brevard County, Fla., and who is trying to find out the truth about what happened to Capt. Speicher. I only wish there were more Bill Nelsons (i.e., honest politicians) in Congress instead of the bunch of hypocrite elites who currently claim to represent the middle class.

Joe Roy

Rockledge, Fla.

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I read Insight's report on Capt. Speicher with interest. The thought occurred to me that Saddam Hussein might be holding Speicher hostage in case Saddam is hemmed in by U.S. forces. He has used the hostage tactic before. At any rate, I do hope Speicher is still alive and in good health and that he will be rescued.

Gary Waters

Tupelo, Miss.

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Thank you for writing this article about Capt. Speicher. A lot of us are waiting for the truth to come out.

Paul Horvath

via the Internet

IDB Firmly Denies Allegations Included in Recent Article

This is in response to the article regarding the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) published in Insight ["Congress Squeezes Development Banks," Sept. 2-15] and later revised on Insight Online. The article contains numerous falsehoods and presents conclusions that are not supported by facts.

First, the article states that "Congress sent a clear message to the IDB to clean up alleged corruption and mismanagement [and] recommended deep funding cuts." President George W. Bush recommended the Inter-American Investment Corporation be funded in the amount of $30 million. The House and Senate have marked up the foreign-operations appropriations bill, reducing funding for many institutions and accounts in the bill to free up funds for the

HIV/AIDS fund and the president's new Millennium Challenge aid program. Neither the House nor the Senate bills made any reference to "corruption and mismanagement" at the IDB.

Second, the article claims that the IDB is the focus of "extensive congressional and criminal investigations." The bank is unaware of any such investigations. Your continued suggestions are an offense to IDB staff.

Third, the article claims that the IDB "improperly used taxpayer funds ... to bail out the Inter-American

Investment Corporation (IIC)." Insight has repeated this falsehood despite an April 29 letter in which the IIC referred the magazine to the reports of independent auditors (available on the Internet) that clearly refute the allegation. The text of that letter still applies: "Any attempt by your magazine to have verified this claim would have shown it to be untrue, and your magazine's allegation of chicanery to be completely false."

Fourth, the article alleges that executives of the bank operate without having to account for expenses because independent audits are not required. This is totally untrue. All bank employees, regardless of rank, file detailed expense reports that must be processed and approved in accordance with bank procedures.

These procedures include supervisory review and an audit by the administrative accounting unit of the bank of all expense reports. Moreover, the bank's Oversight Committee on Fraud and Corruption enables bank staff or members of the public to report anonymously inappropriate actions by IDB employees. The committee has procedures to protect whistle-blowers from reprisal.

Fifth, the article implies that the IDB's procurement process unfairly excludes companies for unspecified reasons. In fact, the

IDB's procurement rules (available on its Website) are similar to those of other multilateral institutions and require open, competitive bidding when bank resources are used. IDB bidding procedures also mandate that when a bidder files a protest the bidding process is immediately halted to allow for a review of the case. All complaints are carefully reviewed by the bank's Procurement Committee, which includes members of upper management.

As stated in previous correspondence, the IDB does not consider itself to be beyond reproach. Indeed, we welcome credible criticism that can help us to improve our processes. President Enrique V. Iglesias re-emphasized the bank's comprehensive strategy for continued improvement at its last annual meeting.