European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 3, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 28 a a the stars and stripes Friday August 3, 1990criticized for Severance plan by Chuck Vinci i Washington Bureau. Washington a too Little too late is the Way congressional aides Are describing the Pentagon a benefits proposal for Scricc members who fall victim to upcoming troop cuts. In announcing the plan on wednesday defense Secretary Dick Cheney said he had asked Congress for authority to implement it As swiftly As possible. But aides with the House and Senate armed services committees which have badgered the defense department for a proposal for months said lawmakers finally tired of. Waiting and drafted their own plans As part of their defense authorization Bills for fiscal 1991. Senior Pentagon officials have been telling Congress since. February that they were working on a benefits package for displaced . But on july news briefs 13, when the Senate armed services committee began work on its authorization Bill the officials had provided Only an outline for a Severance pay plan and said they were still working on a larger package. That package still had not materialized by july 26, when the House armed services committee began putting together its own authorization Bill. So the panels devised their own plans. The military coalition a group of 22 organizations representing troops family members and retirees contributed to the planning. Although the two committee packages differ in some minor respects they contain All the elements of Cheney a plan and More such As extended commissary and Exchange benefits after separation. A we asked several times for Dod to come up with something but nothing happened a a Senate committee staffer said. A we  wait any More. Its disappointing  a House staffer added a the Pentagon plan is irrelevant particularly since everything in it is already covered by either our authorization Bill or the Senate a. I can to see that we would bother with it at this Point a Cheney a plan would extend medical benefits for 51 Days after separation and cover pre existing medical conditions for up to one year after separation for serv ice members and their families. It also would give anyone involuntarily separated in rough dec. 31, 1993, a final Chance to enrol in the Montgomery i Bill education  Pentagon plan also would provide employment and training information to military personnel and spouses up to 180 Days before separation. In addition serv in members would get unemployment benefits Matching those Given to workers in the private sector a 26 weeks of benefits after a one week waiting period. Currently Scricc members must wait four weeks before applying for a maximum of 13 weeks of benefits. Christopher Jehn the Pentagon a manpower chief said the defense do part mint had outlined its priorities to Congress on separation benefits even though no formal proposal had been forwarded. A we have been working closely and continually with Congress Over the past several months Jehn said in a statement. A i testified before the Senate armed services committee on june 20 and outlined the Pentagon s transition assistance plans. A your highest priority is ensuring an orderly transition to civilian life for military personnel and their families who Are asked to leave the armed forces a terrorist delivered Karlsruhe West Germany apr East German authorities flew top terrorist suspect silk Mair Witt by helicopter to West Germany on thursday to face questioning about the murder of a key industrialist 13 years ago. Mair Witt 40, is the sixth of eight suspected members of the leftist red army faction terrorist group to be delivered to West German authorities in recent weeks after being arrested in East Germany where they had lived undercover for years the Transfer to West German judicial authorities was requested by Mair Witt who faces charges relating to the Kidnap and murder of industrialist Hanns Martin Schleyer in 1977 at the height of the red army terror Campaign. The group has terrorized leading West German industrialists Bankers and Public servants for two . Last week the red army faction claimed responsibility for the bomb attack on Hans Neu Sel the country Stop anti terrorism official. Neusel escaped with minor injuries. New shuttle glitch Cape canaveral Fla. Apr a coolant line on the space shuttle discovery was dented by a work platform that inadvertently pressed against it in the hangar the latest in a series of shuttle problems Nasa said thursday. The line part of the system that Coots the Crew compartment and payload Bay probably will have to be replaced said Bruce Buckingham. Spokesman for the National aeronautics and space administration. The damage was not expected to affect discovery s october Mission. I not want to die defense lawyer says by Rosemary Sawyer staff writer. Bad Kreuz Nach West Germany a staff sgt. Ricardo Valdez failed to get his 8-year-old daughter medical attention but not because he wanted her to die his lawyer said in closing arguments thursday. A the accused did not want his to die a civilian defense attorney Joel Cohen said. The 34-Ycar-old Sci cant did no to take the girl to the Hospital because a the was  a the knows if he takes the in they re not going to be concerned with taking care of the problem. They re going to be concerned with the c.i.d.," Cohen said referring to the army s investigative command. The sergeant from he co 4th in 34th Armor in Mainz has pleaded not guilty in a general court martial to the murder of Michele Valdez. Doctors have testified during the trial that the girl had been severely beaten and malnourished. Michele a Sisters told the court she was forced to stand in the Comer for hours at a time and sleep on the bathroom floor. On thursday Cohen also urged the jury of seven officers to consider Valdez a intent when determining if he is guilty of unpremeditated murder. If found innocent the jury could then elect to convict him of a lesser charge such As involuntary manslaughter. The maximum penalty for involuntary manslaughter is a three year prison term. Unpremeditated murder carries a life sentence. A evidence wont support that his refusal to get medical attention was because he wanted his to die or that he wanted her to sustain grievous bodily harm Quot Cohen said. A there was another 1 person in that House. There was another person in that House that wanted that to die a Cohen said referring to Valdez a West German wife Christina. She is being investigated by German authorities in Mainz regarding her involvement in the incident. The sergeant a believed his would get better without medical intervention a Cohen said. Army prosecutor maj. Michael argued that what Valdez believed or hoped was irrelevant. He said Valdez should be found guilty of unpremeditated Mur Der because he knew Michele was seriously ill. A it would defy All understanding of Mankind to say that the accused did no to know that Michele a condition could Lead to grievous bodily harm or death a said. Valdez also knew what would happen to him if authorities saw Michele s battered body and suspected him of abuse. Child said noting that Valdez had previously had his children taken from him for alleged abuse. A the knew exactly what would happen Here and it was a horrifying thought to him a said. Also Pivotal in determining Valdez a guilt or innocence on the murder charge to whether he inflicted a wound on Michele ship. When doctors at the air Force Hospital in Wiesbaden examined Michele a body on March 28, they found a severely bruised and swollen area on her right hip. Because this injury kept Michele from lying on the injured hip a bedsores formed on the Side she Lay on. Doctors have said that the sore was the Likely Point where bacteria entered her blood and combined with pneumonia to kill her. Cohen contends that it is unclear who caused the Bruise As evidence showed that it could have been Christina Valdez Michele a sister Nelleke Valdez and the girls two stepsisters. Child said however that the sergeant by his own confession caused the injury. In sworn police statements he admitted to kicking Michele twice. Valdez has also been charged with maiming neglect assault on a under age 16 and larceny of military property. Valdez had faced three counts of neglect but military judge col. Craig Jacobsen granted a defense motion wednesday that the counts be merged into one. The jury is scheduled to begin its deliberations Friday morning at bad Kreuz Nacho a Rose Barracks. It Kuwait from Page 1 and blocking Oil and almost All other imports from the country. Oil accounts for 97 percent of iraqi imports into the United states. Several hours later Bush denounced iraqis move As a naked aggression and said he wants to see a the restoration of the kuwaiti leaders to their rightful  the president spoke at a news conference with British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in Woody Creek colo., near Aspen. Asked about a plea from Kuwait a ambassador for military assistance the president said a a we re not ruling any options in but we re not ruling any options  Bush s reply was a departure from his earlier comment m Washington that he was a not discussing  he said however that the United states would a take whatever Steps necessary to defend interests in the Gulf. In Washington american officials said it would be difficult for the United states to mount an effective military response anytime soon. Congress moved rapidly thursday to endorse Bush a economic sanctions against Iraq and some lawmakers said they would support . A military action if it is coordinated with allies in the Middle East. Lawmakers said they believed the american Public would support a total cutoff of . Economic ties with Iraq even it it meant a Short term increase in fuel prices because of fears that an unstable ruler could gain a Long term stranglehold on persian Gulf Oil supplies. It was the first time in modern history that an Arab nation has invaded another and taken Over its government. Kuwait a army was no match for Iraq Battle hardened after eight years of War with Iran. Iraq has emerged As the Arab worlds strongest and most militant Power and Saddam has a vast Arsenal of chemical and conventional weapons. Diplomats said about 350 iraqi tanks wheeled into the capital a few hours after crossing the Border 40 Miles away at Dawn. Witnesses said the bombardment of ports and military airports by artillery and the air Force was vicious. R the invaders surrounded the Palace of Kuwait a ruler Sheik Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah. Residents said the Palace was seized after about two hours of heavy artillery barrages. Egypt in a Middle East news Agency quoted witnesses in Kuwait As saying Sheik i and Al Harned a Sabah one of the Emir a Brothers was killed while trying to depend the Palace. There were about 50 tanks around the Palace and the neighbouring american embassy residents said. Quot the Al Sabah Vannly has ruled the Oitt state Tor almost 250 years. The kuwaiti ambassador said the leaders were sate m saudi Arabia. Operating from an unknown location. Al Ahmed a government responded to the formation of the provisional government by staling. A Kuwait is Kuwait to its people led by the Emir. Sheik Jaber and ins Crown Prince Sheik Saad. God preserve them from All  Baghdad television said Iraq a it withdraw its forces within Days or weeks depending on How quickly the situation stabilized. Kuwait a land and sea Borders were closed As was the Airport. There Are about 4,000 americans among the Large expatriate Community m Kuwait where More than 60 percent h the 1.8 million residents Are foreigners. Iraq first threatened military action against its former ally two weeks ago Washington declared its support Lor Kuwait from the Start. During the Iran Iraq War.  ships protected .-flagged Kuwait tankers from attacks in the Gulf