US commander confirms scrapping raid in Iran

Col. Charles A. Beckwith, who commanded the elite 90-man commando force in the aborted hostage rescue in Iran April24, personally confirmed he recommended the mission be terminated because of insufficient helicopters, Monitor correspondent John Cooley reports. At a briefing for Pentagon newsmen the Army colonel said, "IT was an easy decision to make." He denied dissension between him and other commanders on the scene and praised the members of the commando forces as "brave men." He said that he had no intention of resigning or retiring and that he knew nothing of the reports that he would be questioned by a congressional investigating committee.