Pubdate: Sun, 05 Aug 2001 Source: Tennessean, The (TN) Copyright: 2001 The Tennessean Contact: http://www.tennessean.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/447 Author: Garrett Dawson CIA'S COMMAND OF SPANISH TRAGIC To the Editor: An American missionary family had its plane shot down in the jungle of Peru by a joint CIA/Peruvian Air Force drug patrol resulting in the death of the mother and one of her children and serious injury to the husband. Lest anyone make comparisons to the federal Ruby Ridge debacle, national news programs are in concert airing video of the event in which CIA personnel are heard in an unsuccessful scurry to stop the Peruvian attack due to the fact that, apparently, the only Spanish words they know are ''bandito'' and ''amigo.'' If this weren't so tragic it would be comical. I have a question for the news directors who would have me believe this account to ask the CIA: How do these guys communicate with Air Traffic Control in Peru so nobody mistakes them for drug runners? Maybe we should send our tax relief checks back so the CIA can teach its Peruvian operatives Spanish! Garrett Dawson Antioch - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens