European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 15, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 24 the stars and stripes thursday december 15,19bb news briefs october Trade Gap hits smallest level in 3 months Wasi Lington a the . Trade Defi Cit narrowed to $10.35 billion in october the smallest imbalance in three months the Golem mini reported wednesday. The Commerce department said that the Mer Chandise i mile Gar Between what the United slates imports and what it Sells overseas fell by 3.1 percent from a september deficit of is 0.67 billion. The decline represented the second consecutive monthly improvement. But Many analysis were unimpressed saying that after monthly fluctuations the deficit has been essentially Flat for several months. I think the improvement in the Trade deficit has stalled  said Allen Sinai chief economist of the Boston co. We still have a very heavy How of imported goods especially on the manufacturing  Reagan administration was More optimistic. Commerce Secretary c. William Verity cited the Progress made so far noting that exports in pc climbed by 28 percent Over the past 10months. While the rend continues to be favourable our Trade deficit is still very Large. Eliminating it which i our goal poses a major Challenge ver Ity said. German defense official quits in clash Over flights Bonn. West Germany a West Ger Many s no. 2 defense ministry official said wednesday he is resigning because of a clash with his Boss Over a decision to suspend military train ing n Oghli after the crash of a . Attack Jet. The  Between defense minister Rupe Tschol and his chief Deputy Peter Kurt Wurzbach occurred after the crash Ofa , air Force Jet in a residential neighbourhood in the City of Remscheid last week. The crash killed five civilians and the Ameri can Pilot and renewed a Public outcry Over Mili tary training flights in West Germany s crowded skies. Wirzbach went on National television shortly after thursday s Accident and announced the suspension of All West German military training flights below 10,700 feet until the end of the year. Mis decision came at a Lime when Scholz was visiting the United slates. West German news paper reports said Wirzbach s decision was made Over the objection of Scholz and his Resig nation was widely expected. West Germany s nato allies also have sus Pended tactical training flights until Jan. 2 after the pc Mscheid Accident. Walters tells israelis negotiations necessary Geneva a the us ambassador to the United nations Vemon Walters wednesday urged i Wacl to recognize the heed to withdraw fro the territories it occupies and to accommodate legitimate palestinian political rights. The comment came in a speech by Walters thai never explicitly mentioned the Palestine liberation organization or its chairman Yasser Arafat. On tuesday Arafat appealed for negotiations Wilt Israel s leaders in a speech before the . General Assembly in Geneva Soldier killed in car crash identified by army officials Kaiserslautern West Germany ,. Army authorities wednesday released the name the american Soldier killed monday night in a one vehicle Accident in Kaiserslautern. Spec. Steven . Lee 32, of District Heights md., was killed when he was thrown from his car after it left the Road and landed in a ditch said spokeswoman Brigitte Dejesus of the 29th area support group. " Lee was assigned to cob 1st signal in  he is survived by his parents Robert e. And Annie Lee also of District Heights his wire and three children. A memorial service was held wednesday Al Richer Cavern Chapel in Kaiserslautern Cje sus said. Gao from Page 1 recreation panel. The Pentagon plans id undertake its own yearlong review of the policy guidance that governs the stars and stripes to address Points raised in the Gao report said air Force col Geoff Baker assistant director of print Media plans and policy for the american forces information service which oversees stripes editorial and fiscal policy. The society of professional journalists provided us with valuable third hand observations of the Sta Sand stripes and recommendations that will be thoroughly evaluated during the yearlong review process including the concent of putting civilians in charge of the papers Baker said. The panel of journalists examined 4s allegations of censorship and news management at the Tokyo based Pacific edition and 12 allegations at the european Edi Tion based in Darmstadt West Germany. The allegations were gleaned from More than 200 made about the Pacific edition and 20 about the european. In general the european stars and stripes seems to be free of news management or censorship based on the 12 allegations examined by the advisory panel the Gao said. The panel concluded that evidence of news management and censorship was inconclusive for the european paper but was conclusive for the  the two newspapers staffed by civilian and military journalists operate i independently of each other. The Gao recommended that the top positions at the papers be filled by civilians with terms of service fixed from three to five years. The panel of journalists recommended thai the editors have solid journalism credentials _ Pentagon officials instead favor the creation of a civilian editor in chief position to be placed directly under the military commander. As a unique military organization which must meet the information and news needs of the military com Mand during a combat or contingency situation the newspapers must be commanded by a military offi cer Dod officials said. Air Force col. Edwin Montgomery commander of the Pacific edition said he believes it is appropriate for a military newspaper to be edited by a  army col. Jeffrey Cook commander of the euro Pean edition said he believes there is a valid reason to keep a military commander As editor. The principal reason is it s a military organization to begin with Cook said. One of my specific responsibilities is to make sure that the organization is Capa ble of going to War. There Are a Large number of journalists who come from the civilian Media to provide professional  the congressional report also recommended changes in ambiguous policy guidelines which Lead to interpretations that the newspapers arc prohibited from con ducting investigative reporting. The Gao report recommends that the guidelines state that investigative reporting is allowed. The panel of journalists noted in its report that much of what a reporter docs each Day involves in  it also said current guidance allows Mili tary personnel to bring an interview and the Story to a screeching halt simply by accusing the reporter of eng aging in investigative reporting. The Dod responded that investigative reporting can t be made a part of the stars and stripes Mission because the newspapers Are nol an investigative function within the military Community they Are a report ing  Legal problems could arise through investigative re porting because staff members As government employees Are required to report any wrongdoing to appropriate authorities Dod said. Cook said the Issue of investigative journalism is one of the More difficult areas to Deal with and one that should be very carefully reviewed simply because of the fact that it could be  a Basic problem is producing a Good definition of investigative reporting he said. Our identities As government employees put a slightly different cast on what we do and that needs to be  Montgomery said he was disappointed with the panel s findings and cited flaws in its evaluation. One troubling aspect was their definition of censorship which was defined As killing or shortening stories for any reason other than National Security he said if that s the Case then every newspaper that kills a Story because of space or news worthiness is engaging in   society s panel admitted that some of the 45 allegations from the Pacific provided by the Gao were Normal second guessing that goes on at any newspaper while in other costs Montgomery improved the Origi Nal stories.  -. But the panel noted a troubling pattern among the remaining allegations and members cited numerous examples of what they Felt was news management or censorship by Montgomery. Cook said the review was probably Good for the organization and the system although Fie expressed regret that the panel of journalists did not visit the newspaper. ,. Montgomery also Felt that the final report would have been More thorough if he had been Given a Hance to provide his reasoning on the allegations directly to the panel s members Yeutter from Page t. The Flo by the United states. He said he wants Clear unmistakable unambiguous declarations thai Cheplo renounces terrorism recognizes Israel and will work within key in  other issues Bush spoke highly of former Texas sen. John Tower Long rumoured to be his top Choice for defense Secre tary. Tower s appointment has been hanging for sever Al Days pending completion of an Fri background Check and the president elect said he had no doubt the former lawmaker could do an excellent Job if decide to go that route.". Sidestepped questions about funding for cleaning up roubles Ai . Nuclear weapons productions plants say Iii he did t know where the Money would come from. Said he had t yet addressed the problem of homelessness with budget advisers. Said he would submit ethics legislation to con Gress very very  his  said vice president elect Dan Quayle would be a key player in National Security affairs if he wants to be. And said there May be specific assignments in other. 4 of Security police sentenced to prison terms on drug charges.-,C7Ramste1n a West Germany Sis a four air Force Security policemen have been sentenced to Pris on terms ranging from one week to four months Fol lowing their convictions on drug charges in special courts martial a Ramstein spokesman said wednes   the cases which were related All involved use of hashish. Senior airman Rich Romero said punish ment for the men assigned 16 the 567th Security police so at Ramstein included demotion to airman Basic fines and the jail terms which will be served atthe army confinement facility in Mannheim. In the most recent conviction airman 1st class Vincent e. Evans 21, was found guilty of three counts of wrongful use of hashish. Evans was sentenced dec 210 seven Days confinement and was forced to forfeit $447 a month for two months. Airman Richard v. Shafer 20, was sentenced to three months in jail and ordered to forfeit $447 a month for three months after being found guilty dec. I on three counts of wrongful use and two. Counts of wrongful Possession of hashish. Airman lit class Arnaudo c. Cruz 20, was convicted nov. 30 on three counts of wrongful use and one count of Possession. Cruz was ordered to forfeit$447 a month for four months and sentenced 10 four months confinement. Airman 1st class Timothy j. Helm 22, was found guilty nov. 23 on three counts of wrongful use and one count of Possession. He was sentenced 10 three month sin jail and ordered to forfeit $200 a month for three months. The. Quantities of hashish involved were not placed into evidence during the trials. No a Ferial agreements were made in the cases Romero said