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Page 2.- The Michigan Daily - Thursday, October 11, 1984
'60 Minutes' libel suit begins today
NEW YORK (AP) - Jury selection the head of a 1967 conspiracy to piece of reporting" for a "60 Minutes
was completed yesterday in retired deliberately understate enemy troop story on wounded soldiers. Wallace said
Gen. William Westmoreland's $120 strength in order to maintain political he still has the letter, but does not know
l l l it nain t CSvp the asn t fn the a if it will be introduced at the trial.
minion iDe1 sui against t os ver Le
network's broadcast of a documentary
about his actions in the Vietnam War.
Westmoreland and CBS News
correspondent Mike Wallace, who
narrated the 1982 documentary, sat a
few feet apart in the courtroom but did
not speak to each other.
WESTMORELAND, who comman-
dedtAmerican forces in Vietnam during
the key war years of 1964 to 1968, claims
CBS falsely and maliciously defamed
him in its CBS documentary, "The
Uncounted Enemy: A Vietnam Decep-
tion." The broadcast depicted him as
support or ne war.
Wallace said it was the first time he
had seen Westmoreland since he inter-
viewed the general for the documen-
tary in 1981, except for a chance en-
counter in a Washington restaurant.
Yesterday, Westmoreland walked
past without stopping as Wallace sat at
the defense table.
OUTSIDE THE courtroom, Wallace
paused to display a quotation from his
book "Close Encounters," in which he
quotes from a 1972 letter he received
from Westmoreland. The general
congratulated Wallace on "a first-class
Josten 'S
Personalized
Signet Ring
Your College Ring designed
M with a personal touch...
The retired general's lawyers say the
CBS broadcast was a deliberate per-
sonal attack on the general, not a
dispassionate report on his official con-
duct.
Westmoreland, whose case is backed
by several conservative political foun-
dations, has said he would donate any
judgment to charity.
IN ADDITION to CBS and Wallace,
Westmoreland is suing producer
George Crile and ex-CIA analyst Sam
Adams, who served as a paid con-
sultant to CBS and appeared on the
broadcast.
The CBS show contended West-
moreland pressured subordinates to
keep estimates of communist troop
strength in Vietnam below 300,000 men,
when one CIA analysis estimated the
true figure was close to twice that num-
ber. The discrepancy, the show said,
left U.S. forces unprepared for the
strength of the communists' Tet Offen-
sive in early 1968.
Westmoreland says that when he was
interviewed for the program he was not
told ahead of time that the interview
would require a detailed discussion of
the enemy strength controversy. He
says the network did not broadcast par-
ts of his answers that explained his
conduct and contradicted the
program's thesis:
He also has charged that interviews
with other key witnesses, including
former National Security Adviser Walt
Westmoreland
... ignores Wallace
IN BRIEF
Compiled from Associated Press and
United Press International reports
Kidnappers free Spanish envoy
BEIRUT, Lebanon-Kidnappers with automatic rifles abducted the
Spanish ambassador in Beirut yesterday, but he was freed unharnied four
hours later after Lebanon's largest Moslem militia intervened.
The Lebanese prosecutor general said Ambassador Pedro Manuel de
Aristiegui, 57, returned to the Spanish Embassy after being released. He
later went to his home.
Lebanon's state television said the kidnappers staged the abduction
"because they have relatives held in Spanish jails. There is no other
political motive for the abduction."
The report apparently referred to two Lebanese Shiites held in Spain in
connection with the shooting of a Libyan diplomat in Madrid last month.
On Sept. 15, an anonymous caller said the terrorist group Islamic Jihad, or
Islamic Holy War, would take "necessary measures" against Spain if the
two men were not freed. The caller said the two were guerrilas allied with
Islamic Jihad.
After the threat, the Spanish Embassy told all seven of its diplomats in:.
west Beirut to live at de Aristegui's residence in Hadath.
Rostow, would have undermined
conspiracy theory but were left off the
air.
Westmoreland, as a public figure,
must not only prove that the CBS
statements were false but that they
were made with malice. The Supreme
Court has ruled that to prove malice, a
plaintiff must show that a news
organization either knew the charges
were false or reported them with
'reckless disregard" of whether they
were false.
CBS maintains that no high-level U.S.
government official has ever been
allowed to collect libel damages for a
report on his public conduct, and that to
allow Westmoreland to do so would
have "chilling effects" on the press.
Opening arguments were expected to
begin today before U.S. District Judge
Pierre Leval, who selected 12 regular
jurors for the case Tuesdayandchose six
alternates yesterday.
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$
o
Duarte prepares for peace talks
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador-Secretary of State George Shultz flew to
El Salvador yesterday to confer privately with President Jose Napoleon
Duarte about the president's impending peace talks with rebel leaders.
Shultz was expected to reaffirm the Reagan administration's opposition to
any agreement that would give the guerrillas-who have been fighting to
overthrow the government for five years-any role in government unless
they participate in elections.
Duarte has said he also opposes any such move, and wants to encourage
the insurgents to compete freely in the democratic process.
The secretary of state stopped in the capital of this embattled nation en
route to Panama City, where he will represent the United States at the,
inauguration today of Panama's president-elect, Nicolas Ardito Barletta.
The visit came a day after Duarte returned from the United Nations in
New York, where on Monday he offered to meet with rebel leaders. The
guerrillas accepted the offer Tuesday.
The president of Colombia, Belisario. Betancur, has agreed to a rebel
proposal that he act as a go-between in preparing details for the meeting,
scheduled to be held Monday in La Palma, a mountain town 51 miles north of
San Salvador and six miles from the Honduran border. The area has long
been controlled by rebel forces.
Congress remains at impasse
Nobody leads in Diag
race for White House
i.
Order from your Josten's College Ring Specialist
(Continued from Page'.)
Some students were agreeable to the
Diag's change of pace..
"I like it. It certainly is a change
from (preacher) Mike," said LSA
sophomore Andrea Kopack.
"I think its great," said Dan Weber-
man, a gradaute student studying
public policy. "Politically speaking, it's
a very unique perspective on the
presidential race."
Supporters of the Nobody for
president campaign were quick to point
out the merits of the program. "Nobody
actually won the race in 1980," said one
member of 'Nobody's Commando Cor-
ps.' "Of the total number of registered
voters, less than half, actually voted, so
Nobody really did win in 1980."
"I don't think the electoral college
would have approved," said campaign
follower Stacy Schecter. "But
(Nobody) is a true candidate. In
Madison, WI, someone tried to
assassinate Nobody with a squirt-gun."
Schecter said, pointing to an unshaven
character in a sports coat. "This is why
we have security now."
The Unreal Band will be playing at
Joe's Star Lounge tonight to raise
money for the continuation of the tour.
"Contribute money to get us out of Ann
Arbor," was the cry from the campaign
members who were selling bumper
stickers and buttons outside of the of-
ficial touring vehicle of the campaign;
"Nobody One," a 1947 Greyhound bus.
DATE: Today thru Friday
TIME: 11:00 to 4:00
PLACE: Michigan Union
EMBLEM SHOP
WASHINGTON-After a week of stalemate, House and Senate negotiators
made a final attempt yesterday to end disputes over water projects and U.S.
aid to Nicaraguan rebels, the two issues that have stalled adjournment of the
98th Congress.
The disputes have held up a compromise on an omnibus money bill to keep
the government solvent, the major unfinished business of the congressional.
session.
"I'm hopeful we can conclude (the money bill) today," said Senate
Majority Leader Howard Baker, (R-Tenn.). Like most legislators who had
looked forward to Congress adjourning last week, Baker said he was
"anxious to leave this place."
"We're engaged in a very interesting game of chicken and we're all
looking like turkeys," said Sen. Warren Rudman (R-N.H.).
If agreement could not be reached on the omnibus legislation, Speaker
Thomas O'Neill (D-Mass.) said he would seek a stopgap measure providing
money until late January. In lieu of that, he said, he would seek a measure
that would expire Nov. 27 or 28, assuring a post-election, "lame duck"
session of Congress.
The House and Senate, for the fourth time in a week, passed stopgap
legislation Tuesday night to keep the government solvent until Thursday
night and avoid a shutdown of federal offices, as occurred for a half-day last
week when funding lapsed and about 500,000 workers were sent home.
Head of UAW joins Ford talks
DEARBORN - United Auto Workers President Owen Bieber led his
union's bargaining team yesterday in talks with Ford Motor Co. with less
than two sides' informal deadline.
The presence of the UAW president at the bargaining table traditionally is
a sign that the talks are accelerating. Bieber is expected to participate in the
negotiations until their conclusion.
The company and the union have picked noon tomorrow as their target for
completion of the talks. However, the current pact with Ford has been ex-
tended indefinitely and Ford's chief bargainer has indicated the negotiations
might go on after the deadline is reached.
Ford on Tuesday presented the union with proposed changes in a job
security program that is part of a tentative agreement with General Motors
Corp. There were reports the Ford proposal calls for a certain portion of
Ford's 114,000 member workforce to be flatly guaranteed their jobs.
The deadline for voting on the contract is Sunday. Bieber has said a
nationwide strike will result if the pact does not win approval from the
350,000 member GM workforce. He is predicting the pact will be approved.
Police disrupt Panamanian riot
PANAMA CITY, Panama - Riot Police clashed with about 1,000 demon-
strators during a protest over alleged vote fraud yesterday, the day before
the inauguration of Nicolas Ardito Barletta as Panama's president.
Witnesses said police injured or arrested dozens of demonstrators chan-
ting "Fraud, fraud," in the capital's Cathedral Plaza.
Secretary of State George Shultz will head the U.S. delegation to the
inauguration ceremony today. Ardito Barletta was elected May 6 by a
margin of 1,713 votes out of about 640,000 ballots cast. The count took place
behind closed doors.
Vol. XCV - No. 31
The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967X) is published Tuesday through Sunday
during the Fall and Winter terms and Tuesday through Saturday during the
Spring and Summer terms by students at the University of Michigan. Sub-
scription rates: September through April - $16.50 in Ann Arbor; $29.00
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address changes to The Michigan Daily, 420 Maynard Street, Ann Arbor,
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The Michigan Daily is a member of the Associated Press and subscribes to
United Press International, Pacific News Service, Los Angeles Times Syndi-
cate and'College Press Service, and United Students Press Service.
4
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Editor in chief ........................ BILL SPINDLE.
Managing Editors ................. CHERYL BAACKE
NEIL CHASE
Associate News Editors ............ LAURIE DELATER
GEORGEA KOVANIS
THOMAS MILLER
Personnel Editor........................SUE BARTO
Opinion Page Editors..................JAMES BOYD
JACKIE YOUNG
NEWS STAFF: Laura Bischoff, Dov Cohen, Stephanie
DeGroote, Lily Eng, March Fleisher, Bob Gordon,
Rachel Gottlieb, Thomas Hrach, Gregory Hutton, Sean
Jackson, Carrie Levine, Jerry Markon, Eric Mattson,
Curtis Maxwell, Tracey Miller, Kery Murokami, Liso
Powers, Elizabeth Reiskin, Charles Sewell, Dan
Swanson, Allison Zousmer.
Magazine Editor....................JOSEPH KRAUS
Sports Editor
. MIKE MCGRAW.
Associate Sports Editors ..............JEFF BERGIDA°
KATIE BLACKWELL
PAUL HELGREN
DOUGLAS B. LEVY,
STEVE WISE
SPORTS STAFF: Dave Aretho, Mark Borowski, Joe
Ewing, Chris Gerbosi. Jim Gindin, Skip Goodman,
Steve Herz, Rick Kaplan, Tom Keaney, Tim Makinen,
Adam Martin, Scott McKinlay, Barb McQuade. Brad
Morgan. Jerry Muth, Phil Nussel. Mike Redstone.
Scott Solowich. Randy Schwartz. Susan Warner.
Business Manager...
Advertising Manager..-
Display Manager.
Nationals Manager .........
Sales Manager.......
.STEVEN BLOOM
MICHAEL MANASTER
.......LIZ CARSON
. .. OE ORTIZ
.DEBBIE DIOGjUARDI
I"J