European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 26, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Saturday september 26, 1987 the stars and stripes Page 5 Gulf Force Freer to meet threat continuing Iran Iraq War keeps tension High a grim faced revolutionary guard pre pares to head far the War front. By c of news service Washington the rules or engagement govern ing act Ion by . Commanders in the persian Gulf apparently have became much simpler i i recent Days if threatened shoot. Rather than a codified Book the rules .m1 actually a series of classified Mes sages usually kept together by the ship Captain in a Loose Leaf folder. The rules provide detailed operating instructions to follow in the event of an incident threat or confrontation. They spell out the appropriate reaction id a provocation and establish who in the Chain of command must approve in. To Ltd ship s Crew is briefed and drilled on operational details of the rules before entering the Gulf and again after arrival. In the Case of monday s attack on an iranian Landing Craft caught placing mines the incident was regarded As Clear Case of hostile action and approval came from the Middle East Force com Mander on he scene. Neither the Pentagon nor the while mouse was consulted prior to the attack defense department spokesman Fred s. Hoffman said at n recent briefing. According to sources at Llic Pentagon while the rules have remained consist Cal for several months ship commanders inthe Gulf Are currently Reading from inc last Page meaning there is Milc room for warnings before Force will be used. The rules change in a crisis As you go from one level to another. What you do in the face of an action one Day Milit change is the nature of the crisis changes the source said. As an example the source cited cur rent . Naval Maneu vers in the norwegian sea. Code named Ocean safari the Maneu vers have attracted an usual number of soviet observation aircraft and surveillance ships they sometimes turn i hair radar onus just to Sec what inc response would be and we have done the same to them. These Are practice runs both sides Are familiar with. In a crisis neither Side would permit in the source said. Given the current political Circum stances similar use of radar in the per Sian Gulf by iranian forces would result in . Forces opening fire the Soutch said. No warning shots across the Bow. No flares. They would shoo he said. Details of the rules Are classified. In general the rules of engagement provide that if an aircraft or vessel demonstrates hostile action or hostile intent . Commanders on Ilie scene Are a Thori cd to Lake appropriate Means la defend themselves. The determination of hostile Ini in is up to each ship s Caplin. The Delmi nation of a hostile act is More clearly defined. The laying of mines in International Waterways is a hostile act and As Inch the United Stales would have been legally justified in not Only firing on the Ioni an Landing Craft and later boarding it. But in sinking Ilas Well according to International Law professor Ned former w. Thomas Mali son in Wail Irig Lon. The Navy s rules of engagement inthe Gulf would seem to track International Malison said both those Iluigi Are codified by the Geneva Convent inn on armed a sea in 1949 and bythe so Callej customary Law of Consen sus that Mosi nations have practice Formant iranian frogman left Phalo and uniformed buys March in Tuhran to Nark the eighth anniversary of the Iran Iraq War. Frogman arc one of the the rus fact d by , ships. Sands or time in the stars and stripes 40 years ago today ,. Sept. 26, 1947 preside in Truman appealed to americans to waste less food As pan of a program to keep europeans from hunger. 30 years ago today. ,. Sept. 26, 1957 Federal proaps shepherded nine Black students into Little Ruck Ark Central High school As segregationists Truk sted. 20 years ago today. Sept. 26, isi67 the 21-nation Ofuani Avion no american states Soled in Washington la condemn and isolate Cuba for Intersex Liomel and Aggro sync 0 years ago today. Sept. 26, 1977 a Survey of p generals who served in the Vietnam War showed that the majority believed the l Noti j states should Lian. Jui Jcj in uhf Mcnol in nil Liina. Tentative contract ends Oregon strike Sal he. Ore. A negotiators reached a tentative contract settlement thursday in the largest strike by slate employees in Oregon his tit re. The agreement came nine Days after the orc inn i ubic employees Union the Hight so Union of stale workers called a strike in a contract dispute that focused mainly on viands. I Nhin Lumen of the Leiua tie put came More Ihan 15 hours after a bargaining session had Tatum the settlement provides a raise of 2 percent retroactive to july and a 4 percent raise in january l 89. That is equivalent 10 the state s final Uffer. Said itch Miller director of the stale executive Depan ment. The stale s last offer had been fur 3 percent raises in january i less in in a Inu in i is9,
