European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 29, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday May 29, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 7 americans see soviets More favourably Bush profits in shift from Gorbachev poll says new York a growing num Bers of americans View the soviet Union favourably and half support significant . Military cuts to reflect the improvement in superpower relations a Survey says. As president Bush and soviet presi Dent Mikhail Gorbachev prepare for their Summit meeting in Washington this week Strong majorities in the Media general associated press poll continued to approve of both leaders. Gorbachev s Overall rating slipped Only slightly from a similar Survey before last december s Summit. One third of the respondents said however that they now regard him less highly because of his crackdown in Lithuania. With Gorbachev s difficulties the sur vey results indicated that the initiative has shifted in Bush s favor. In novem Ber 41 percent said Gorbachev was doing More to reduce tensions. That now has fallen to 33 percent. At the same time those saying Bush was doing More than Gorbachev to ease superpower tensions Rose from 29 per cent in november to 38 percent now. In both polls about 3 in 10 respondents had no opinion on the question. The new Survey was conducted by Telephone May 11-20 among a random Sample of 1,143 adults across the coun try. It had a plus or minus three percent age Points margin of error. The most striking indication was the growing expression of Good will toward America s old cold War foe. About 4 in 10 respondents said they held favourable views of the soviet Union Well up from 24 percent in november. Well under 2 of 10 in the new poll held generally unfavourable opinions of the soviet Union. The remaining 4 of 10 expressed a Neutral View. In another measure of growing Trust 29 percent believed the soviets seek to dominate the world. That soviet fear fac Tor stood at 35 percent last november and 50 percent in a poll a year ago. The Summit starts wednesday amid continuing upheaval in the communist world. Gorbachev is pushing reforms of the soviet system and sunday night appealed to soviet citizens on National Tele vision to remain Calm in the Wake of increasing food prices. Many prices will soon at least double. And hordes of soviets have been raiding state run stores in anticipation of the in  is also struggling to con Tain Independence movements in some of the soviet republics. His Eastern european allies once viewed As puppets largely have abandoned communism. Fifty four percent said Bush was doing enough to encourage soviet reforms up from 46 percent in november. And 33 percent said he was being too cautious Down from 40 percent in november. The rest were  View of lessened East West tensions 50 percent in the new Survey said the United states should reduce its military spend ing significantly up from 41 percent who previously favored such cuts. Also nearly 4 in 10 said the United states should immediately begin reducing its forces in Western Europe. Though still a minority that was Well up from 25 percent in november. The Survey found some lingering suspicion of the soviets. Half said they can not be trusted to live up to arms control agreements about the same level As in november although Down from 61 per cent a year  Lithuania 46 percent said the breakaway Baltic state should Back off from its claim of Independence from the soviet Union and hold negotiations. Some 31 percent said it should push its claim. The rest had no opinion. There was support for gradual Independence for the Baltic states. Favouring the actions of Lithuania and Latvia which have claimed Independence were 57 percent. Just 8 percent favored the actions of Estonia which wants Independence but has not formally claimed it. Gorbachev has responded to Lithuania a s claim by denying it shipments of Oil and other supplies. Some 34 percent said the embargo has made them think less highly of Gorbachev. Still 48 percent said it had not changed their View. Overall 63 percent had a favourable impression of Gorbachev and 69 percent held a favourable View of Bush. As in ear Lier surveys Gorbachev out polled Bush 79-68 percent among the most educated  overwhelming 75 percent of All respondents approved of the Way Bush is handling relations with the soviet Union. Cutting it close two members of the snowbirds the Canadian armed forces Jet demonstration team Cross paths during an airshow on sunday at the Wilkes bar re Scranton a Airport. American travellers to Philippines warned of terrorist threat Washington a the state depart men t has warned that americans travelling in the Philippines face an increased risk of terrorism As the two countries prepare for a new set of talks on . Military bases there. During this period. Communist elements in tin Philippines arc Likely to expand their current terrorism Campaign beyond . Officials and Active duty . Servicemen to include retired personnel and the places they frequent the department said in a statement Over the weekend. . And philippine negotiators Are preparing to re sume talks on whether to renew a lease on Clark air base Subic Bay naval base and four smaller installations. The leases expire in september 1991. Opposition to the bases is growing because Many filipinos View them As an infringement on National sovereignty. The state department said that most of the major tourist destinations and most Urban areas generally have not experienced the Type of civil disorder noted in its advisory. But it added because of criminal activities travel ers should exercise caution at night in the downtown entertainment districts of major cities and should avoid travel to Remote mountainous  Skinner planning to upgrade aviation Security b i. I by Don Phillips Washington Post Washington transportation Secretary Samuel k. Skinner said he Likely will shift direct control of aviation Security and intelligence matters from the Federal aviation administration to his office. The recommendation was made by the commission that investigated the terrorist bombing of pan american flight 103 in december 1988. Skinner in an interview also said he probably will take the commission s recommendation a step further by moving coast guard and maritime intelligence and Security directly into the transportation department. Skinner said a comprehensive plan for enhancing airline Security will be announced next month some of it building on the pan am commission s recommendations. He said he and Faa adminis Trator James b. Busey plan to meet in Early june to approve a final plan. The plan is now being developed by task forces within the Faa and the transportation department. His comments Are another indication that the government is taking seriously a May 15 report by the president s com Mission on aviation Security and terrorism. Unlike Many dust gathering Federal commission reports the pan am com Mission apparently stung the govern ment particularly with its descriptions of an often lax and confused Security sys tem at one of the world s potential terrorist hot spots Frankfurt West Ger Many. I think it s fair to say we be taken the report very seriously Skinner said. The report was highly critical of the Faa pan am and others involved in aviation Security before and after the dec. 21, 1988, bombing of the pan am Boeing 747 Over Lockerbie Scotland. Among the major recommendations that would affect Skinner directly was one urging creation of an assistant Secre tary of transportation for Security and intelligence to oversee functions now handled within the Faa. The commission said that placing Security and intelligence directly under the government s highest transportation offi Cial would enhance its importance and allow it to interact More easily with other High level components within the intelligence and Law enforcement com  the report said the Cia should Delegate a senior officer to work within the new transportation department office. I am leaning toward accepting in some form probably a form very close to what the report recommends Elevation of the National Security intelligence is sues up to the Secretary s office Skinner said. That would be not Only for the Faa but also for the coast guard As Well As the maritime Industry and any of those things that have National Security issues. I think that s a very solid Sug  Busty now reports to Skinner and the aviation Security and intelligence operations report to Busey. Skinner and Busey have made it Clear that they were not in charge when pan am 103 went Down and probably would have done things differently. Their Dis Tance from the decision making process at the time apparently will make it easier for them to implement major changes. The commission s description of pan am s Security program at Frankfurt and London was particularly scathing especially because the Faa found serious deficiencies for eight months after the Lockerbie crash that were slow to come to the attention of top Federal officials. Only after Busty became aware of the problem and personally intervened with the top management or situation improve. Pan am did the