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DISASTER AT KIZILDERE 305
pers, and would leave operational decisions to AnkaraY
Unbeknown to Nixon, the airmen were allowed to listen to the
radio, and his comments sent them into a deep depression. They
feared their chances were now 'down the drain'. The US
Ambassador in Turkey, William J. Hanley, received a cable from
Washington on the same day underlining Nixon's tough position
and opposing any ransom payment, for fear that it would
encourage further kidnappings. Nevertheless, the Turkish
government broadcast a version of one of the TPLA's Marxist
proclamations, in order to play for time. Meanwhile, MIT masterminded
an extraordinary security operation. Thirty thousand
troops and police were mobilised in a massive sweep of several
sections of Ankara. The security forces combed the poorer areas
of the city and revisited parts of the university campus. One
member of the Turkish Cabinet declared, 'You don't bargain
with bandits.'IB
Behind the scenes, the US Information Service arranged for
Turkish television to interview the pregnant wife of one of the
airmen, Jimmie Sexton, and sent photographs of their thirteenmonth-old
son Anthony to local newspapers. Her direct and
emotional appeal had a substantial effect on public opinion.
Later, under police questioning, the kidnappers would concede
that they had felt the tide of public sentiment turning against
them. Once the deadlines expired, the five kidnappers became
more nervous. They chose to relieve their anxiety by cleaning
their guns in full view of the airmen, and took pleasure in
aiming their unloaded weapons at them and pulling the trigger.
They clearly loved their abundant weaponry: one of them was
so festooned with belts of ammunition and hand grenades that
the airmen christened him 'the walking arsenal'. The kidnappers
Legan to discuss taking their captives away to the east and
then out of the country. At one point the airmen feared they
would be taken to Syria, and then perhaps even on to the Soviet
Union. I9
At about 10 o'clock in the evening of 8 March, by complete
chance, local police were called to investigate a domestic quarrel