This Day In 1970's History: Tuesday January 26, 1971
- Congress is upset about the use of U.S. airpower in Cambodia and attempts by the Nixon administration and the Pentagon to get around the congressional ban of U.S. ground forces in Cambodia. The U.S. replaced 45 Cambodian air force planes which were destroyed in a raid.
The State Department thinks that Secretary of Defense Laird and the Pentagon botched explaining U.S. actions in Cambodia. However, the Pentagon's distinctions between trainers, instructors and advisors is considered artificial, and there is the fear that military equipment delivery teams are in violation of the Cooper-Church amendment. [CBS]
- A bomb exploded in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and fighting was reported near the city. There was a cease-fire for the Vietnamese New Year, but many violations were reported.
Saigon released 800 more North Vietnamese POWs and called on North Vietnam to reciprocate. James Low, an American prisoner of war who was returned by North Vietnam, described being tortured by the North Vietnamese and said that the films released by North Vietnam of U.S. POWs at Christmas were not typical of his experience -- there was no group activity, and POWs were punished if they communicated with others. [CBS]
- Israel Defense Minister Moshe Dayan claims that Soviet high-altitude missiles are being deployed in Syria. [CBS]
- The new ruler of Uganda stated that ousted President Obote is a Communist. Obote, who is now in Tanzania, says that the coup was engineered by Israel and other foreign forces. [CBS]
- Wilbur Mills, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, attacked President Nixon's revenue sharing plan. Mills says he does not intend to give money which the federal government doesn't have to states and cities which are not raising those funds; Mills said that "we have nothing to share." [CBS]
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