European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 21, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 24 a a the stars and stripes sunday october 21,1990 news Brief soviet activist refuses to Back party s charter Moscow apr the opening Congress of the democratic Russia movement designed to rival the communist party got off to a Rocky Start saturday As a key player said he could not support a proposed founding charter. Nikolai Travkin the founder of the democratic party and one of the key activists in the non communist movement said he did not support the formation of yet another party and would prefer to see a loosely organized mass movement instead. Travkin whose party runs candidates against the communists appeared to be hesitating at the last minute to subsume his own tightly disciplined organization into another group. One Delegate said that Many of those attending the Congress had formed their own Small groups and were reluctant to give up their new found Independence after 73 years of communist Rule. A people have a fear of parties a said Vyacheslav Shostakowsky one of the leaders of the exodus from the communist party last  Page 1 the Marine commandant Gen. Alfred m. Gray jr., tentatively planned to rotate entire units not individuals As was done in the Vietnam War. A we essentially want to replicate the Force that a there now and maintain cohesiveness a Peck said. The marines have about 33,000 troops in saudi Arabia and 11,000 More on ships in the Gulf. The 82nd airborne div a rapid deployment Force that was among the first units sent to saudi Arabia after Iraq invaded Kuwait on aug. 2, is expected to be replaced by a heavier armoured unit better suited for combat against iraqi tanks. Army officials said the 82nd airborne a Light assault unit could return to its Home base at fort Bragg n.c., by years end. One problem army planners Are pondering is whether to Send units Back to the United states with All their equipment or have them leave the gear in saudi Arabia for replacement troops. The Navy following its regular deployment schedule is sending the aircraft Carrier Midway and six other ships from their Home port in Japan to replace the aircraft Carrier Independence Battle group now stationed in the Gulf of Oman. Powell who is making his second trip to saudi Arabia in a month plans to visit american troops and discuss a Range of issues including the command Structure of the multinational Force with the head of american forces in the Gulf Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf. Powell is scheduled to spend monday and tuesday in saudi Arabia before flying to Brussels Belgium for a nato meeting on  Page 1 Settle. However the Bills have several provisions that Are nearly identical. For example both would raise taxes on hard liquor Beer wine tobacco and airline tickets and impose a 10 percent tax on part of the Cost of High priced cars planes boats furs and jewelry. They would also raise to As much As $100,000 the amount of annual wages a now $51,300 a to which the 1.45 percent medicare tax applies. Negotiators must decide whether to raise gasoline taxes a the Senate voted a 9-cent increase the House none. Another hot Issue in the House Bill is whether the income taxes of All lower and Middle income people should be increased by eliminating next years scheduled inflation adjustment. A surtax on High income taxpayers is one option that has support among members of both parties. The House Bill would impose a 10 percent surtax on people with taxable incomes Over $1 million a year. Some democrats Are pushing for a 20 percent surtax and an increase in the number of people to which it would apply. They would drop the threshold to As Low As $200,00u and Hope to persuade republicans to accept $300,000. Cheney claims sanctions against Iraq taking hold Paris apr defense Secretary Dick Cheney said saturday that . Sanctions against Iraq Are beginning to work and eventually will hamper iraqi forces occupying Kuwait. Cheney also reiterated the . Position that no additional authorization by the United nations is required to take military action against Iraq if that becomes necessary. A we Are very hopeful we will be Able to achieve our objectives peacefully a he said. A at the same time we be made it Clear we will look at other options. Quot we also have made Clear that Given the request by the government of Kuwait under article 51 of the . Charter about self defense that we do not need any additional  he said iraqis announcement Friday that it will begin gasoline rationing Means the sanctions Are beginning to take hold. A we believe it is beginning to have an effect and that it will have an effect not Only on the iraqi Economy but on this massive military machine he iraqi president Saddam Hussein has in  although Iraq is a major Oil producer Cheney said a they need additives to make gasoline. Cheney appeared with French defense minister Jean Pierre Cheve nement on the Steps of the defense ministry for a Brief session with journalists after three hours of talks on the Gulf other Middle East conflicts and future arrangements for european Security. Asked about Frances policy of keeping its forces in saudi Arabia Independent of . Command the two officials noted that each country had made its own arrangements with the s audis. The meeting came As about 15,000 people marched through Central Paris to protest the armed Western presence in the Gulf. The demonstration the first of significant size since the crisis broke out was organized by the French communist party and left Wing labor unions. Cheney arrived in Paris on Friday after a four Day visit to Moscow where he praised soviet cooperation in the Gulf for helping dispel his scepticism toward the Kremlin there was also protest in the United states against the troop buildup in the persian Gulfi despite polls showing americans overwhelmingly support the . Deployment of More than 200,000 soldiers m the Gulf Region opponents of the buildup planned protests saturday in at least 15 major . Cities. On monday Cheney plans talks at the French foreign ministry and then with president Francois Mitterrand before departing for Washington. Defense authorization Bill in t As drastic As feared by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington a the defense authorization Bill unveiled by House and Senate conferees last week is something of a bitter Pill for Pentagon personnel managers but its not As bad As it could have been. The Bill would Cut 100,000 military slots a figure based on a Senate armed services committee recommendation. However 30,000 of those positions Are already vacant meaning the actual reduction in Force in fiscal 1991 would be about 70,000 people. The legislation still must be approved by the full House and Senate and signed by president Bush. Congressional and military sources said it is unlikely that significant changes would be made in the personnel portion of the Bill. The House committee had pushed hard for a Cut of almost 130,000 people. The Pentagon has adhered to the administrations Call for a Cut no larger than 38,000, although defense Secretary Dick Cheney recently said the military could accommodate a Cut As Large As 80,000. Pentagon spokesman Bob Hall said thursday that the Bill cuts too deeply especially because of the persion Gulf buildup. Its a familiar Pentagon pitch but lawmakers apparently Are not buying it. A a lot of people on Capitol Hill look at it As posturing a a congressional staffer said. A a it a just a tradition that if the people at the Pentagon done to get what they want they moan. Cheney himself has said the army could take a Cut of 35,400 in fiscal �?T91. As of the end of August the army was under its authorized fiscal �?T90 ceiling by 13,000. Our Bill would reduce that ceiling by 42,000. A so in reality the army has to Cut 29,000 personnel in fiscal �?T91,�?� the staffer said. A Cheney himself has said the service could Cut As Many As 6,000 More people than that. So what a the problem a the other services also have been reducing personnel strength to minimize the Impact of congressional cuts. The air Force for example would need to Cut just 27,000, and the Navy is almost Halfway to its fiscal 1991 cuts of about 20,000. The authorization Bill Calls for a phased five year draw Down that would leave the military with 425,800 fewer people on Active duty by 1995. The army would take the biggest Cut 207,500. Lawmakers directed the Pentagon to restrict recruiting and encourage Early release of first term and retirement eligible personnel before cutting mid career serv ice members. The Bill would provide a safety net for those forced out of the military although Pentagon officials have said the bulk of the 1991 cuts would be through attrition and less recruiting. The benefits package includes a separation pay. Offered to those who have six or More years of service and Are not on their first enlistment. A medical coverage. Personnel with less than six years of service could use military medical facilities for 60 Days after separation while those with More than six years of service would have 120 Days. A commissary and Exchange benefits. Personnel could use the facilities for two years after separation. A i Bill benefits. Departing service members could buy into the Montgomery i Bill program even if they had not signed up for the education package while on Active duty. The benefits package also contains relocation and transition assistance services. The conferees approved benefits for military personnel deployed in operation desert shield including free postal service Ana reimbursement for leave accrued Fly reservists while on Active duty. Imminent danger pay approved by Cheney on sept. 20, would be retroactive to Early August. The Bill also would give the services the authority to Grant medical special pay and variable housing allowance to activated  Page 1 anti missile shield provided last year for the commonly known As Star wars. The measure also cuts 100,000 troops from the 2.1 million now in uniform worldwide. Cheney had urged Congress to hold the cuts to 80,000. Meanwhile 22 House republicans wrote rep. Les Aspin d-wis., chairman of the House armed services committee criticizing the exclusion of the panels ranking Republican from the final Days of negotiations. Elsewhere the House by voice vote adopted the Bill that provides $8.4 billion for military construction and family housing in this fiscal year. The package is $764 million less than what Bush sought. In a step certain to rile the president the Bill bars spending any Federal Money from the nato infrastructure fund for building a base in Croton Italy to House the air forces 401st tac fighter Wing. The Bill slashes the administrations request for the nato infrastructure fund from $420 million to $193 million. Spain has said the Wing of 72 f-16 Multi role fighters must be moved from Torrejon a and Italy agreed two years ago to provide a new Home under nato auspices. Lawmakers have questioned the Wisdom of constructing a base in Europe when Cheney plans to close others overseas and at Home