European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 10, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday november 10, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 5last battleships May be retired by Donna Cassata associated press writer Washington a the Navy is considering whether to Mothball its last two Active battleships the commander of the naval sea systems come told Congress on thursday. Vice adm. Peter m. Hekman jr., mentioned the possibility after congressional investigators recommended that the Navy decommission the two world War in Era ships the Missouri and the Wisconsin unless they can demonstrate unique capability. A i can Tell you that it is under discussion a Hekman said. The Wisconsin is in the persian Gulf As part of the military buildup to thwart iraqi aggression. The Missouri has been conducting exercises off san Clemente Island in the Pacific Ocean and also will be sent to the persian Gulf the Pentagon said thursday. Hekman appeared before the subcommittee on economic stabilization of the House banking finance and Urban affairs committee. The subcommittee is not normally involved with Navy matters but rep. Mary Rose Oakar a Ohio its chairwoman has As constituents the family of the Sailor who the Navy said probably caused one of its worst disasters. The Turret explosion aboard the Iowa killed 47 sailors in april 1989. Because of their High Cost of operation the Pentagon this year mothballed the Iowa and the new Jersey. The general accounting office the investigative Arm of Congress said defense Secretary Dick Cheney should Mothball the last two battleships unless a Middle East operations convincingly demonstrate their unique  a the battleships Are costly to maintain and difficult to Man and until the ships unique contribution in the Middle East can be evaluated Mission related questions concerning their contributions remain a said Frank c. Conahan assistant comptroller general. The Cost of operating one battleship is $58 million a year. Each requires a Crew of about 1,500. An Aegis class antiaircraft Cruiser requires a Crew of about 360. The four battleships were designed in 1939, launched Between 1943 and 1945 and decommissioned in the 1950s. Except for a tour off Vietnam from 1967 to 1968 by the new Jersey they remained in Mothballs until the Reagan administration returned them to the Fleet at a $2 billion renovation Cost in the military buildup of the 1980s. The Navy argued that their heavy Armor and High Speed made them almost Invulnerable launching platforms for anti ship missiles and cruise missiles for use against Distant land targets. On april 19,1989, an explosion in Turret no. 2 of the Iowa claimed the lives of 47 sailors working inside the Turret including gunners mate Clayton Hartwig whom the Navy said probably set off the blast. Investigators claimed that Hartwig Likely inserted a chemical Detonator Between bags of powder in the Breech of the Middle gun of the turrets three guns. But in May another investigation suggested that the explosion May Well have been an Accident. The later findings by scientists at the Sandia National laboratories in Albuquerque n.m., prompted the Navy to reopen the investigation and halt the firing of the battleships 16-Inch guns. The Navy rescinded its order on the firings when it sent the Wisconsin to the persian Gulf in  phone Calls taped by government Miami up a tapes made by the government of Telephone Calls Between deposed panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega and his attorneys were barred from being broadcast by a Federal judge thursday and government officials denied it was illegal for them to Monitor Calls by the former dictator in prison. At least seven of the tapes of Telephone conversations Between Noriega and attorneys preparing for his drug trial were acquired by Cable news network. Can began airing an excerpt from one of the recordings thursday morning. Meanwhile . Officials denied it was illegal for the government to have taped the general As he talked to his lawyer while awaiting trial. Noriega defense lawyer Frank Rubino immediately sought to permanently quash additional broadcasts by seeking a Federal injunction against the network. Early thursday an obviously angered . District judge William Hoeveler issued a temporary order telling can to refrain from using the audio tapes. At a later hearing Hoeveler extended the temporary order prompting can to file an Appeal with the 11th . Circuit court of appeals in Atlanta. Hoeveler also tentatively set a hearing on Rubinos injection request for 4 . Firday and ordered the government to Sands of time disclose How Many conversations Between Noriega and his lawyers it had taped. A before i became a judge As most judges i became a lawyer and i Hope i still am a Hoeveler said during the morning hearing. A i can to conceive of the right of someone else to know what a defense lawyer and his client Are talking  after requesting the permanent injunction Rubino said he planned to file a formal request for a dismissal of charges against Noriega because the former strongman a attorney client right to confidentiality and his right to a fair trial had been compromised. A we Are absolutely shocked and horrified that the . Government would wiretap general Noriega and his lawyers engaging in the most sensitive of communications whatsoever a he said. During the evening hearing Hoeveler asked can in a non binding statement from the Bench to a act within a manner to assure that the defendant is Able to have a fair  can attorney Terry Bienstock denied that his company had done anything that infringes on Noriega a right to a fair trial. In Washington assistant attorney general Robert s. Mueller said the a tapes Are the product of Telephone monitoring by. The Bureau of prisons. They were legally obtained. Noriega attorneys Frank Rubino right and Steve Kollin speak to reporters in  the stars and stripes 40 years ago today. Nov. 10, 1950 a a nationwide strike of Telephone equipment workers threatened a coast to coast tie up that possibly could cripple operator assisted Telephone communications.30 years ago today. Nov. 10, 1960 a Democrat John Kennedy of Massachusetts narrowly Defeated vice president Richard Nixon for president and the democratic party won control of both houses of Congress in yesterdays National elections.20 years ago today. Nov. 10,1970 a the North Atlantic Assembly unanimously adopted a recommendation to the North Atlantic Council to Nave nato members share responsibility with the . 6th Fleet for the Security of the mediterranean.10 years ago today. Nov. 10,1980 a a spokesman for iranian prime minister Mohammad Ali Raiati said that the government had not yet taken control of the 52 american hostages and said he did not know when the turnover might take place. Bomb suspect stands mute innocent plea made for him Atlanta up a mail bombing suspect Walter Leroy Moody or. Refused to enter a plea on thursday to charges of making the devices that killed a Federal judge and a lawyer and government prosecutors entered a plea of not guilty for him. Assistant . Attorney Howard Shapiro entered the plea on the 70-count indictment of Moody who faces seven life terms plus 110 years in prison and $3.7 million in fines if convicted. Moody sat impassively during the 10-minute arraignment before . Magistrate William Harper. The indictment announced wednesday includes charges of murder assault transporting and mailing explosive devices and mailing threatening letters. Moody a Lead attorney Bruce Harvey said the defense Reft ised to enter a plea pending the outcome of a motion to have the Case tried before a judge outside the Federal judiciary. The motion urges the . Magistrates office to ask the Senate judiciary committee to appoint a judge or lawyer outside the Federal system. In an affidavit made Public last week Federal agents said Moody was a chief suspect in the 1989 bombings because the devices resembled a bomb he made in 1972 that exploded injuring his wife. Moody has been in Federal prison since july on charges related to his Appeal of a 1972 conviction for possessing the pipe bomb. Moody 56, of Rex ga., was described As someone Bent on revenge against lawyers and the court system for his 1972 conviction although there has been speculation the bombings were racially motivated. Judge Robert s. Vance 58, of the 11th . Circuit court of appeals died dec. 16 after opening a powerful package bomb at his Home in Mountain Brook Ala. Robert Robinson a 41-year-old Alderman and lawyer died two Days later when he opened a letter bomb at his Savannah ga., office