European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 11, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 28 the stars and stripes saturday August 11,1990 suit says Georgia runoffs discriminatory Atlanta not the Justice department has filed a lawsuit challenging Georgia s election system which requires candidates to participate in a Runoff i none receive 50 percent of the vote in primary elections. In its first Effort aimed at ending the use of runoffs for state and county offices the department contends in the suit filed thursday that Georgia s system Vio lates the voting rights act of 1965 because it discriminates against Black candidates. Many Blacks including the Rev. Jesse l. Jackson have Long argued that runoffs work against Black candidates. They say that Black candidates May be Able to win in a Multi candidate Field when White candidates split the White vote but that in a subsequent Runoff White Vot ers often rally around the remaining White candidate causing the defeat of the Black. But some politicians have argued that elimination of the Runoff could be counterproductive for Blacks who tend to be democrats and ultimately beneficial to the Republican party. If Black candidates Are not required to survive the test of winning 50 percent of the primary vote the nomination might go to weak candidates unable to Winin the general election these politicians argue. John Dunne the assistant attorney general for civil rights said the department chose Georgia because it Felt it had a very Strong  in recent elections in 20 counties in Georgia 35 Black candidates for office had been successful in the first primary but were Defeated in Runoff elections. He said that such results had a chilling effect on Black political  Dunne said that in the past there had been action brought under the voting rights act by private groups in Georgia Arkansas and Mississippi As Well As new York City charging that runoffs and majority vote requirements were discriminatory. But this is the first such Case brought by this department Dunne said in a Telephone interview. And other states should be aware that this is not just the Federal government against Georgia but the Federal government against All actions that dilute minority  although nine states require similar Runoff elections Dunne said the department was stopping Short of saying that All Runoff provisions and majority vote requirements were illegal. But he added that the experience has been that such requirements can be a source of  Blacks represent slightly More than 25 percent of the Georgia s registered voters. Nine states All in the South have Laws requiring that a candidate have a majority vote to win election or nomination. In addition to Georgia Alabama Arkansas Florida Mississippi Oklahoma South Carolina and Texas re quire runoffs. North Carolina also recently adopted a measure Al lowing a second place finisher to request a Runoff if no candidate receives at least 40 percent of the vote. . Speeds buildup in Gulf Dod hints total May reach 250,000 from Page 1 local air National guardsmen were hurriedly called from their civilian jobs to help ferry . Troops and gear the 5,000 Miles to saudi Arabia. A Pentagon source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the United states was prepared to put Many divisions in saudi Arabia in the face of a continued iraqi buildup in Kuwait. We have contingency plans that could result in the insertion of up to 200,000 to 250,000 ground forces be fore it s All done said the  moves could take up to two months the source said. The Pentagon earlier reported that 50,000 iraqi combat troops were mov ing South inside Iraq and that if they entered Kuwait the total invasion Force would number about 170,000." Only a Day earlier the intelligence Esti mates had put the iraqi Force at100,000 men. Arab leaders desperate to defuse the crisis gathered in Cairo in search of peaceful Resolution possibly an All Arab Force to act As a Border Buffe Between the saudis and americans on one Side and the iraqis on the other. The Summit was postponed a Day until Friday. The official reason for the postponement was some late arrivals. But unconfirmed reports said the Summit hit a Snag because the Iraq delegation brought its own representative for the new Baghdad installed kuwaiti government. The iraqis Accord ing to some reports refused to accept the presence of Kuwait s Emir. Taha Yassin Ramadan the Leader of the iraqi delegation in Cairo asserted that the . Force in saudi Arabi would be used to attack Iraq. Any such move will be answered decisively he said. Iraq s ambassador to Greece suggested the iraqis would unleash Poison Gas on any attacking american troops. While the Arab presidents an sheiks marked time in Cairo Ameri can diplomacy pressed Forward in world capitals Secretary of state James a. Bake Iii in Ankara told turkish leaders they could depend on their nato Al lies in any showdown with neighbouring Iraq. In Paris a . Envoy reassured a21-nation Energy conference that Washington would tap its huge Emer gency Oil stockpile if the crisis cause shortages. France promised to Send an aircraft Carrier to the Gulf and strengthen its naval and air forces there. At the u.n., the United states helped Shepherd a Resolution through the Security Council rejecting Iraq announced annexation of Kuwait. On monday the Council ordered a world wide economic embargo against Iraq. The iraqi invasion of Kuwait aug. 2ostensibly was rooted in grievances Over Oil Money and land. Saddam complained that Kuwait overproduction had driven Down world Oil prices and Iraq s Oil  also rejected Kuwait s demands that Iraq repay an estimated $15 Bil lion in Loans. And he reasserted longstanding claims on kuwaiti Terri tory. On thursday a Day after Annex ing the wealthy emirate the iraqis announced they were cancelling their debt to Kuwait. World opinion led by the unite states has almost universally condemned the invasion. Iraq s neighbor and longtime enemy Iran joined the chorus thursday declaring it will not tolerate the Kuwait annexation. On wednesday president Bush announced the deployment of .troops to buttress the out manned saudi military and declared we must resist aggression or it will destroy us a v an iraqi takeover of saudi Arabia a key source of . Oil would endanger the . Economy he said. On thursday however Pentagon spokesman Pete Williams said the iraqi troops in Kuwait seem to be in a defensive  sources in the Middle East said the . Units were being deployed at strategic airports and bases across Saud Arabia but the main grouping was in the Remote northeastern Region of hair Al Baten near iraqi occupied Kuwait. Travellers leaving saudi Arabia an speaking on condition of anonymity said the flow of american forces to the order Region appeared to be increasing thursday. The dimensions of the global . Operation Many of whose details were being kept secret could be see thursday at the Lajes air base in por Tugal s azores islands where eyewitnesses reported 17 . Air Force Aeri Al tankers lined up on the runway at one Point. On wednesday diplomatic sources said hundreds or . Marines had been flown to saudi Arabia s Northeast Corner and deployed at Khanji just seven Miles from Kuwait. But on thursday a Pentagon source denied that saying no marines were in saudi Arabia at this  Gas from Page 1 sunup after the iraqi invasion of Kuwait on aug. 2. Service station owners applauded the action. Many were expected to eventually pass on their savings to motorists. A random sampling shows that some already have lowered their prices 1 or 2 cents a gallon said Joseph i. Koach executive director of the service station dealers of America in Washington. A spot Check of Gas stations thursday by the american automobile association found prices continued to increase nationally but at a much slower rate than in recent Days. Aaa said the average Price of self service unleaded regular was $1.237 a gallon up i to 2 cents from wednesday. Unleaded Gas has risen More than 16 cents a gallon since Iraq invaded Kuwait. On wednesday Atlantic Richfield  its wholesale Gas prices for a week and Phillips Petroleum co. Cut prices by4.5 cents a gallon. Among changes announced thursday Texaco Cut its Price to resellers by Smuch As 3 cents a gallon. By Cut prices at its Gas pumps by 3cents a gallon. Conoho lowered its wholesale prices for gasoline by 3 to 4 cents and its Price for diesel fuel 1 cent. Getty froze Gas prices for a week. Nocal froze prices until aug. 16. Other companies including exxoncorp., Mobil corp. And Shell Oil co., said they had t raised prices in recent Days and would practice restraint. All the companies said any pricing decisions would directly reflect Market conditions. Oil companies have been criticized frequently since Gas prices soared from about 39 cents a gallon in 1973 to 53cents a year later following the Arab Oil embargo. Prices climbed to 69 cents by 1978, before surging above $ i when Ira Nian supplies were Cut off after its 1979 revolution. Iraqi from Page 1 reach targets deep into saudi Arabia. French exocet missiles like those that heavily damaged the Navy frigate Stark in 1987. Rogers believes the iraqi army be cause of its 8-year War with Iran has about 380,000 to 400,000 men not 1 million As Many reports have stated. And col. Andrew Duncan of Lon Don s International Institute of strategic studies said that Iraq s soldiers Are prob ably not very skillful. An awful lot of them probably do very menial tasks Duncan said. Philip Towle the Deputy director of Cambridge University s Center for inter National studies bolstered Duncan s View. There is a Good Deal of incompetence said Towle who studied the bloody Iran Iraq War in detail. A lot of the pundits Are saying that they Are a formidable fighting Force. I think that View is  Duncan also believes Iraq is maintain ing a sizable Force on the iranian Border. They must have an awful lot of them sitting in holes looking at iranians in other Little holes Duncan said. Francis Tusa the european editor of the american Magazine armed forces journal disagreed. He said Iraq has a Force that should worry saudi defenders. Of particular interest he said Are Iraq s 550 modern French made fighters. I Don t think anyone should assume that the West would have air superiority he said. Tusa also noted that near the end of its War with Iran Iraq was virtually walk ing into its Eastern neighbor. The iranian armed forces were being shot to pieces Tusa said. In the confrontation with the saudis most analysts said the iraqis Only Opportunity to launch a successful attack on saudi Arabia ended when . Troops and planes began to arrive. If they Are rational they would get out now Towle said. Tusa contends the outcome will be determined by Arab Pride with Saddam doing whatever is necessary to save face. No matter what the outcome Rogers believes the Iraq Leader is doomed. He thinks a military coup May be in store. Towle agreed. If nothing else he believes Iraq will have a hard time main Taining its military Force that was financed largely by the kuwaitis and the saudis. I think he is facing Complete economic strangulation Rogers said. It May be the end of Saddam