European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 25, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 a a a the stars and . Apple if Reagan a testimony just another sad footnote Ronald Reagan always seemed like a regular Guy on the Silver screen or in the White House. It was one of his strengths. But in the videotaped testimony that was played wednesday and thursday in the Washington courtroom where John m. Poindexter is on trial he seemed Ordinary. Stripped of his 3-by-5-Inch note cards and his corps of advisers far from the Marine band and air Force one the former president looked smaller older less sure of himself. His Energy level seemed lower than Ever. The old Charm flickered from the television screen from time to time and he was his old amiable self when asked to spell out his name. His almost too amiable gesture to Poindexter upon entering the courtroom an exaggerated stage Wink that seemed to suggest that his testimony would be less than impartial was not shown to the jury his winsome trademark habit of tucking his Chin into his Chest As he answered served him Well As always. But his smile that Boyish look that seemed to take everyone into his Confidence Wasny to much in evidence. In the Flat illumination of the courtroom instead of the special lighting that was provided for presidential broadcasts leaning Forward in his chair instead of sitting Bolt upright As he always did in the Oval office the 79-year-old Reagan seemed More like a retired real estate Salesman or a Small town druggist than a retired president. What he really lacked most of All was the Star Quality that had so Seldom failed him in his Long career. His brow furrowed his eyes moving from Side to Side he seemed puzzled and sometimes More than a Little lost. At one Point he protested poignantly a there were so Many  at another Point he told one of the lawyers a you tempt me beyond my  the lawyers were polite enough addressing him most of the time As a emr. President Quot but there was something i decorous All the same about such Pushy pressing probing questions asked of this elderly Man by Mere lawyers the youth Ful looking Dank. Webb for the Independent prosecutors office and the Stern baldish Richard w. Acc Klyr defending Poindexter. A listen to my question or. President Quot one of them said. The words carried the undertone of a up Acarl Rowan f0 arms amp the Mam exciting adventures and. Foreign lands the gripping Story of a Man arid his obsession his close associates special Funis and a shaky memory Bank stat of tax Ai pumps s7z>py pm rap of amps s7z>py to a 5vz amps Story pop 07tva/zs thumps or film users Cross up it lips closed �?<5sorge Susa. Attention to me a or a try to concentrate Quot that seemed to exasperate him but he uttered not one syllable of complaint Reagan a inability to recall Maior Points of policy which he sometimes referred to As a details a had been thoroughly documented in the transcript of the testimony released shortly after the former presidents courtroom appear ances on feb. 16 and 17. But actually seeing him and hearing him in 150 variations on a single theme a a i can to remember a made a much stronger impression. He  remember who the senior military officer in his administration was he  recognize one of the main Contra leaders he somehow did no to recall that Robert c. Mcfarlane one of his closest advisers a Man he saw every Day for months on end pleaded guilty in 1988 to withholding information from Congress. Almost unbelievably Reagan said wonderingly about the main conclusion of the Tower commission report the politically explosive report on the most damaging episode of his eight years in the White House a this is the first time i have Ever seen  did he really mean that he had never read the report not even highlights a report that had the capacity at least to undo his whole presidency there was an occasional sign that Reagan might know More than he was letting on in the courtroom. Questioned about an arms delivery he replied a was i say i heard of France being connected with such a  his questioner said a emr. President i think you mentioned  and Reagan answered a if i did that was a slip of the Tongue. I done to know How that sneaked  although no one can be absolutely sure yet How Reagan a testimony will affect the trial of Poindexter his former National Security adviser Reagan never even hinted that he had ordered Poindexter to deceive Congress. That can to help the defense much in rebutting charges of obstructing a congressional investigation and making false statements to Congress. And except for its implications for the trial the former presidents rambling inconsistent account lacked All drama. It seemed a Mere footnote an afterthought too old for today a politics too new for tomorrows history. C new York times behaviour of few affects and jeopardizes Many my favorite airline Story is of the Pilot who accidentally leaves his microphone on and passengers can hear him saying to his co Pilot a a in a just too pooped to Fly this baby this morning. What i need is a warm woman and a cold  As a Young flight attendant rushes to the cockpit to Tell the Pilot he a being overheard a Little old lady in the front Row taps her on the Fanny and says a miss Don t forget the Martini a this bit of airline a thu More probably never had flight attendants rolling Down the aisles of Boeing 747s in laughter and i find it a lot less funny in the Wake of recent behaviour of a Northwest airlines Crew. There was a flight from Fargo n.d., to Minneapolis with 91 passengers aboard where the entire cockpit Crew was legally drunk according to the Federal aviation administration. Its obvious that anyone who flies a lot is going to be outraged by this Story of an entire Crew drinking heavily in violation of rules that prohibit them from consuming alcoholic beverages within eight hours of their flight. A frightening a some will say that the three Man Northwest Crew was arrested by Faa inspectors when they reached Minneapolis St. Paul with tests showing that each in the Crew still had blood Levels of alcohol of More than 0.04 percent the Federal limit for flying. The Faa revoked the pilots flying licenses and Northwest has suspended the Crew pending results of an internal inquiry. The Faa has issued clarified rules making it Clear that its inspectors can ground flights where there is a a tip a As there was in Fargo that the Crew is booked up. That flight from Fargo to Minneapolis took off while an inexperienced Faa representative was making a Telephone Call to find out what he had the authority to do. The Saddest thing about this Northwest Crews behaviour is that they have Given one More dreadful reason for government agencies to use draconian Laws and regulations to try to control the behaviour of citizens who often have the Well being the very lives of Many people in their hands. Some of us deplore the fact that life in America has sunk to the Point where airline pilots train engineers bus Drivers Long haul truckers a and soon damned near everybody a must submit to random tests Lor the use and abuse of alcohol illicit drugs and even prescription medicines that might impair their abilities to do their jobs. Some of us might have the st9mach to oppose these mounting invasions of privacy if Only one violator of the booze Rule had been on that Northwest flight but when a whole Crew is putting at risk 91 passengers the Cabin Crew an airlines costly Boeing 727 and the airlines reputation you know that something has to be done. The Faa has told Congress that it will move to ensure that no such potentially imperilled flight Ever takes off again. It is a pity that so Many pilots flight attendants and other airline personnel must become suspect subjected to All sorts of searches seizures and bad jokes because a few in their ranks behave so stupidly Ana dangerously. 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