15. Operation Tailwind
In September 1970, U.S. Special Forces conducted Operation Tailwind, a covert mission in Laos aimed at disrupting enemy forces along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. In 1998, CNN and Time magazine reported that the operation involved the use of sarin nerve gas and targeted American defectors. Subsequent investigations by the Pentagon and the media organizations found no evidence to support these claims, leading to a retraction of the story. The controversy highlighted the complexities and challenges of reporting on covert military operations. (washingtonpost.com)
