Inside the Beltway: Political tidbits and other shenanigans from the nation's
capital
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
An official with the Defense Intelligence Agency, spy arm of the Pentagon,
has informed congressional staff members that, in his opinion, a
shoulder-fired missile brought down TWA Flight 800.
The same DIA official, described as an expert in missile technology, told
the staff members last week that he personally was called in by the FBI in
the days following the explosion of the TWA jet to assist with witness
interviews, a source present for the congressional briefing told Inside the
Beltway yesterday.
Even now, the DIA official said he spends as many as two or three days a
week on Long Island, near the site of the explosion and recovery efforts.
Our source refused to reveal the identity of the DIA official.
"In his opinion, the plane was brought down by at least one
shoulder-fired missile," said the congressional source, who spoke on the
condition of anonymity.
"When he said that, we all took a deep breath," the source added.
When asked by the congressional team what new evidence has been found to
bolster the missile theory, the DIA official acknowledged "none," and he
said perhaps none will ever be found. But he reminded those present that not
all sections of the downed Boeing 747-100 have been recovered.
The FBI has long considered a surface-to-air missile attack, of the kind
that might be launched from a shoulder-launched Stinger, as a possibility in
the massive explosion of the aircraft.
An Air National Guard pilot flying in the area at the time of the
explosion told FBI investigators that he saw a bright, flarelike object
streaking toward the jet seconds before it blew up.
