T V P R O D U C E R D E F E N D S
E X - M I S S I L E T H E O R I S T
(c) 1997 Ian Williams Goddard
Keith Cornell, Senior Editor of the NBC program
Unsolved Mysteries, in response to CNN's charge
that Ian Goddard's promotion of the TWA 800 Navy-
missile theory was a "sham," states that Goddard
"honestly believed" the theory and held a "fair-
minded receptiveness to conflicting opinion."
With that in mind, Mr. Cornell observes:
Regardless of political bent, this is
not characteristic with the sort of
intransigence one normally associates
with "agenda"-driven conspiracy advocates.
Therefore Goddard is neither fraud nor fanatic.
Unsolved Mysteries is not out to promote the
Navy-missile theory; in fact, they did a program
that was very critical of the Navy-missile theory.
In his defense of Goddard, Mr. Cornell concludes:
In short, while I believe that the
"Friendly Fire" theory is wrong, I
have never thought that Ian Goddard
was deliberately perpetuating a "sham".
Here is Mr. Cornell's message to Ian Goddard, for
which permission to republish has been granted:
FROM: Keith Cornell
TO: Ian Goddard
DATE: Thu, 6 Nov 1997 20:46:41 -0500 (EST)
Although Pierre Salinger was unavailable
to us during our brief production schedule,
I contacted you for a possible on-camera
interview. During our telephone conversation,
I challenged you on a few key conflicts
apparent in Salinger's public interpretation
of the alleged radar photos. It was at this
point that you began to express doubt in the
strength of this evidence, and concern that
Mr. Sallinger had not discussed the photo-
graphs with you before giving his statement
to the press.
Subsequently, you and I came to a mutual
conclusion that you were not adequately pre-
pared to represent the "friendly fire theory"
on camera, and we chose to proceed using news
coverage from Salinger's European press con-
ferences.
It seemed to me at the time that you hon-
estly believed in your theory, while main-
taining a fair-minded receptiveness to con-
flicting opinion. Regardless of political
bent, this is not characteristic with the
sort of intransigence one normally associ-
ates with "agenda"-driven conspiracy
advocates.
In short, while I believe that the "Friendly
Fire" theory is wrong, I have never thought
that Ian Goddard was deliberately perpetuat-
ing a "sham".
____________________________________________
Hay, not everyone in the major media is out to get
me. Let's hope that Mr.Cornell does not get fired.
I had never seen the actual radar images until I saw
them on the Paris Match webpage. The radar tapes were
in the possession of Richard Russell, which is why I
told Mr. Cornell I was neither ready nor qualified
to speak on them for his television program.
_____________________________________
Ian Goddard <igoddard@netkonnect.net>