LETTERS: STORY MALIGNED ROBERTSON

To the editor:

The Associated Press story April 28 ("Robertson's humanitarian planes used in gem mining?) is factually flawed and maligns the reputation of religious broadcaster Pat Robertson and Operation Blessing, an international humanitarian organization founded by Mr. Robertson in 1978.

Operation Blessing brought life-changing aid to thousands of people during the Rwandan refugee crisis in the summer of 1994. During that period, Operation Blessing owned two Caribou airplanes, not three as erroneously reported. It became clear that the two Operation Blessing-owned planes were unsuitable for any ongoing medical mission, because they required fuel available only in limited quantities in Zaire. Further, the plans were old and constantly breaking down. The two planes were put up for sale in the fall of 1994.

In an effort to defray costs incurred by Operation Blessing to maintain the idle aircraft, Mr. Robertson provided financial assistance to Operation Blessing through his private company, African Development Co, which was formed to generate economic development in Zaire and produce revenue to be used for further humanitarian work by Operation Blessing and other organizations.

Without Mr. Robertson's intervention, Operation Blessing would have lost a great deal of money from its ownership of the Caribou airplanes.

ROBERT W. FANNING, Chief Operating Officer

Operation Blessing

Virginia Beach, Va.