Loose Lips Blamed for Possible Change of Gulf Escort Date

Angry White House officials said today they may change the date for the first Navy escort of a Kuwaiti oil tanker flying the American flag now that members of Congress have revealed a U.S. plan to begin the run July 22.

Lawmakers mentioned the start-up date upon emerging from a top-level private briefing by Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger on Tuesday evening.

Exposure of the date infuriated the White House, and officials there reacted promptly by saying the schedule might be changed because it was publicized.

“It’s unfortunate that the congressman went out and revealed the details of a classified briefing. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if the dates were changed,” said one Administration official.

A spokesman for Rep. Les Aspin (D-Wis.), one legislator who publicly mentioned the date, said none of the officials who spoke at the meeting “said a thing about it being classified.”