European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 7, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Friday March 7, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 5 6th Fleet shows resolve against terrorism Aroath the Gadat Nna f a a c to or aboard the Saratoga a sixth Fleet warships that have conducted drills off Libya s coast in a display of . Military muscle now Are part of an Ameri can Campaign to Check terrorist activities in the Mediterranean says rear adm. David e. Jeremiah. The commander of a 15,000-member . Task Force that also includes the Carrier Coral sea and More than a dozen other warships refused to discuss details of the Leet s anti terrorism Effort. But Jeremiah said its role is consistent with National Security objectives and compared it to the United states use of military Force to assist anti drug smuggling Effort sin Central America. The Admiral spoke As the 76,000-ton Saratoga cruised North of Algeria toward Malaga Spain where it arrive wednesday for a port Call. The Saratoga scored against terrorists oct. 11, when its f-14 Jet fighters intercepted an egyptian Airliner carrying the suspected hijackers of the italian cruise ship Achille Lauro. The f-14s forced the Airliner to land at the nato air base at Simonella Sicily and the suspects have been jailed in Sicily pending trial. That was the first time someone has dealt with it in the Way i think we want to Deal with terrorism Jeremiah said As jets roared on and off of the ship s four flights decks. We took some people without harming any one and brought them to Justice he said. I think that is what the president has consistently said you try and find the specific people responsible for something Nab them an take them to the Saratoga and Coral sea have conducted two sets of exercises off Libya in the past two months. Reports from Washington said the ships will hold another Man Euver in the area later this month when they Are joined by a thir Carrier the America. The United states has been conducting exercises off Libya s coast in a show of resolve Ever since president Reagan accused libyan Leader col. Moa mar khad Afy of aiding a palestinian terrorist group believed responsible for dec. 27 attacks that killed 20 people at the Rome an Vienna Austria airports. The Saratoga with nearly 5,000 naval personnel car Ries 69 planes including Jet fighters bombers surveillance Craft and helicopters. It has been at sea since August when it left its Home port of Mayport Fla. Its sea duty is being extended apparently because of the scheduled exercise later this month. Pilots and other Crew members said the repeated a Nevers which often mean 14 to 16-hour Days Are taxing. It. John widay of Herkimer n.y., an f-14 radar intercept officer said everybody gets a bit edgy after a month of fairly common encounters Between Carrier based aircraft and libyan jets. The ship s operations officer Warren b. Christie of Mayport estimated there were 60 encounters Between . And libyan jets off the libyan coast this year. Al were peaceful. It. Mike smack of Newark del., a radar intercept officer said that during the last Maneu vers in february . And libyan planes would come into visual contacts it. Cmdr. Igor Mike Denkler of Washington d.c., also a radar intercept officer said those flights were a lot More challenging and what we Are doing May mean something for the rest of the world Denkler said. We re Here to Tell the terrorists something by our officers and Crew members on the Saratoga said the interception of the egyptian Airliner after the Achille Lauro hijacking boosted morale and brought them Wel come recognition at Home. The ship s commissary sold out terrorist Buster Slick ers in four hours after the interception and the sailors were applauded by american tourists at a port Call in Dubrovnik Yugoslavia. Messages of congratulation poured in. But officers said they feared the interception also could bring unwelcome attention from terrorists seeking Retalia Tion. The Saratoga Crew has been ordered nol to Wear cloth ing with the ship s insignia during port Calls or talk about the ship in Public. The sailors Are instructed daily on the ship s closed circuit television about other precautions. We Are telling our boys not to be flashy when they go out said it. Cmdr. Steven Burnette of Goose Creek s.c., a officer. They should keep a Low High ranking officers also have been told to avoid con Vij. Fri Muff in Usu Vii a i Iii Viou i Vij Viavia i ii ii i Amin a i ii Isi a Cytlou Ilavu ucci1 Iuliu in Pavulu vol perhaps a mile apart then they would turn around and we spi Culous meetings with any relatives who visit them at would turn european norts. Accordino to the Shin s off a
