European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 7, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 letters the stars and stripes Friday. August 7,1987 an replies to viewer complaint criticism on May 8, an was showing inc highly  very important political developments concerning Gary Han. This incident was very important. While the Media was car nmn Ilij on the situation arts pulled inc plug on the viewing audience the commentators were deciphering the political Jar gon in whal had just transpired. Why did arts pull inc plug did they think that the viewers were no interested in the opinions of the Media were they in disagreement with the opinions of the commentators we will never know. The broadcast was terminated and the Ever informative an evening news was broadcast. An news showed an excerpt on a highly important Rhine River cruise a very exciting Art display and closed with a group of drinkers in a German  must be mature of International interest in the eyes of an. Where is the professional television station that an always refers to in letter rebuttals every time a viewer writes to an about inc poor service that i provided an always lays the blame on arts. If there is a less than perfect audio in a broadcast it i always with the original ing  whenever a sporting event ends and esp or whatever network is shown cuts to the exciting finish of another game inc satellite link is immediately terminated and replaced with video  would it really kill an to show the end of another sporting event it would probably Only take five More minutes of Lime but then we could not see inc same videos Over again for the umpteenth time. While i am chastising an Tel me ask another ques Tion. Why does an place useless commercials in the Middle of the movies some of the captive viewers like to record inc movies. Commercial networks show advertisements to make Money for operating costs an could follow he examples of German television an show the commercials and Public service announce ments at the beginning or end of a show but that would be Loo professional. An also shows advertisements for non profit organizations soliciting Money through the combined Federal Campaign. In my opinion these Are just the same As advertising for a commercial retail product. How docs an decide what commercials arc Legal an illegal sri. A her Sperier Wuerzburg Germany editor s note Tom Baxter chief to operations Liq an Europe replies an contacted the arts broadcast Center in Losangeles concerning the loss of signal that occurred Dur ing coverage of former sen. Gary hut s withdrawal from the presidential rare. Unfortunately an arts operator error caused the outage in los Angeles which affected All overseas television networks. Such errors Are rare but they do occasionally happen. An relies on he major networks for stateside and International news. The an newscast which usually follows a can newscast about National and International events deals with Neucom military and european issues. An is not staffed to provide duplicate coverage of National and International news which is already available on our satellite. When arts or an receive sub land and audio or video Lewert Are advised of the problem As a Courtesy. In  cases when an is unable to Correct the technical deficiency we do not wish the audience to Call Trou ble numbers or adjust their tvs unnecessarily. It during sporting event the originating network provides coverage of other events in Progress arts will also carry thai coverage. Arts cannot join Par Lions of concluding telecasts if the required broadcast rights authorization or contractual agreements hate not been obtained. At the conclusion of sporting events the arts Loco signifies the end of arts coverage of that event. That feed in then terminated on the satellite and is no longer available to an. The video Juke Box programs Are used by an to fill until the starting time of the next regularly scheduled entertainment pro Gram. At the present time an does not place commercials 1 or command information announcements in mov ies. These announcements Are inserted into the tape by arts prior to distribution and must be aired in accordance with department of defense Dod regulations. Overseas networks have the option of inserting additional Loots when necessary to ensure the audience has the Opportunity to see local command information messages. The distribution of command information 1$ the Rea son Why there is an arts outlet in Europe. Without these message there would be no arts broadcast service supported by Dod or the Congress. The number of information spots inserted in movies is far less than the 12 to 16 minutes of spots aired each hour by state Side commercial stations. An carries spot announcement from recognized Public service agencies explaining their services but no on air fund raising is Ever authorized. All announce ments aired by an meet either Dod or local com Mand information objective As determined by the appropriate Public affairs authorities. An As a single Channel television program service can never expect to satisfy All the diverse viewer preferences that exist All the time. However arts and an Combine to provide Many More option than any single television Channel in the United states. In this Way an make highly efficient use of available re sources in a most professional manner. Reader demands an apology from an i was watching saturday night live on an recently and was really set Back on my heels to hear the song about it. Col. North Sung to the tune of the Marine hymn no less. I always thought an stood for armed forces network. Where were these people who pick and Monitor the show this night it is bad enough having the whole world Lake pot shots at us without an dragging us across the coals. Sure there Are those who give us a bad name but Why highlight bad ones you Don t see the politicians who make the rules first we had the Marine spies condemned before trial. Now we blame the marines for the Iran scum. 1 can l say for anyone else but i spent 20 years in the service of my country. I m Damn proud of it Sodon t drag me through the rout1. An owes the Mil Lions of soldiers sailors Marine and airmen an apology. Norman Martin Vern Helm Germany editor s note Paul d. Van Dyke program director he an Europe replies saturday Nigel live la obtained by the armed forces radio and television service arts department of defense activity and released by video tape to All us. Military to stations around the world. The position of an arts and by Extension the department of defense is id broadcast the same pro Grams being seen and heard in the United Stales . Forces overseas Are entitled to the same free flow of information and entertainment programming As they would experience if they were in the United Stales. An cannot determine the air worthiness of pro Grams provided to us based upon the political beliefs of the performers writers and directors programs provided to us Are broadcast As received ensuring that a free flow of information is maintained. These guidelines Are clearly established in the Dod and department of the army regulations under which we must operate. An regrets any offence you May have experienced. It was not the intent of the department of defense arts or an. Apparently excessive air fare explained shoplifting Laws differ ref if there is someone in chant of inc Gate awhile on leave in South Carolina in May 1 found myself Short of funds. So off i went to the nearest Post fort Jackson. To my Surprise they were going to charge me 191$ for a one Way airline ticket to Frankfurt second class. This is what they transportation we recharged to move one person to Frankfurt. No Way 1 walk first. Can anyone explain How when the Gramm Rud Man or grab tight Man Bill is cutting throats including the army Smy government will pay j9i5 fora ticket i can buy for Between 1250 and j361? name withheld Frankfurt editor s note maj. Michael Jarvis Traw jew Dialion staff office of the Deputy chief of staff logistics. He Usa eur replies Yon question is difficult to Miner became we do not know All the facts. However it is valuable to explain How the system works and to stress some important ohm concerning travel support for stranded Tokier. First As you found out leave travel Tares offer sol Diers on leave a  savings.  Mili tary furlough or leave fans and commercial fare with Carrier restriction May not be mud by the Toven Antni for official travel requirements. Strand usage us soldiers an expected to Lake sufficient funds to defray All it Ais dated with their leave travel. However the government recognizes that Fomeen problems May arise or a Soldier snort of fund May need to my help for return transportation. Therefore return transportation arrangement May be made through the nearest installation transportation office Ito. However the $915 for the one Way Cost charge ticket offered by the fort Jackson Ito appears excessive but not unrealistic in today s deregulated Environ ment. The Price Range for air travel often shows a Varia Tion of hundreds of dollars. However its issuing government transportation requests ctr or tickets on a Cost charge basis to soldiers who Are travelling without funds Are required to use the lowest commercial Dis count fare available to the government. Currently it one Way leave fare from Columbia s.c., to Frankfurt is $353, but the appropriate government rate is $383 for the same route. The airline however May offer seats using a differ ing fare basis than the Normal government Rale if they have booked All the seats originally offered to the government commercial airlines limit the number Al seats offered at the government negotiated rates quoted above this is especially True during Peak travel seasons. Airlines have other seals subject to space availability and Competition factors and the Ito at fort Jackson May have been offered the More expensive seat when in could not find other suitable arrange ments on another airline. Therefore the $915 Rale offered May be because the teats at the government Rale were filled. The Ito will buy More expensive service if that is the Only Way to meet the traveler s requirement , arrival on time. The Bottom line the government Dors not provide fret transportation for Soldier stranded while on leave you the tidier ultimately pay that Bill. This is accomplished when the transportation officer forwards the paper work to the United states army finance and accounting Center for collection when a Soldier req urls Cost charge transportation. I her s Someon n charge f inc Gateway loge Many program 1 have a suggestion. Along with the helpful hints on life in Germany Why not include the German Law regarding shoplifting As i understand it if one lakes on item out of it department or holds an item and moves away from the nearest Cash Register even if one stays within inc department in is considered shoplifting. Due to the difference in shoplifting Laws. Americans arc frequently accused of shoplifting when their True crime is ignorance. Although Security personnel usually release americans in  an incident in cannot help but create unnecessary ill will. Educating americans through Gateway or some other medium could avoid Many misunderstandings. Jennifer Protell Frankfurt no Legal Job is too Low i saw on the midday news How the mexicans Are coming across the Border and taking jobs that As the newscaster Dan rather put in americans won t or can l do. Where Are All those americans on welfare Whereat All those hungry homeless people if i have to pick apples or Cut cabbage to feed my family i will. No jobs too Low if in puts food on the table As Long Asil is Legal. Don t Tell me Hal people can l gel jobs when Foo prices Are going logo up before workers can be found to bring in the crops. As was said in another it. I you Don t work you Don t  name withheld Stull Gart