European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 25, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Tuesday Avcin Sedny december 25- 26,. 1990 the Quot stars and stripes Page 3crisis in the flu Liall the luxuries of Home almost available at cafes . Middle East Bureau. In Eastern saudi Arabia it s net Macy s on the Day after Christmas but there s nothing unusual about standing in line for 45 minutes to enter the bastion of . Troop Corosu Merisme. And because of Ever increasing tides of incoming troops local managers at the army and air Force Exchange system done to expect the crush to subside even when the Christmas Rush ends. A if anything it s going to increase Quot said William Nieves assistant manager of the store at a major air base. The Exchange rivals the base s overburdened Post office As the main attraction in. A compound where other Small niceties for Remote living Are. Found a haircut local souvenir boutiques a wrapping and mailing service and american fast food. This Center of Commerce Humble As it is is one of the few places where troops without civilian clothes can spend rest and relaxation time. And since its an Oasis of american goods complaints about what it does t have Are much Milder than they would be at exchanges with More Bountiful stocks. A red like a Coleman stove and a Walkman cassette player. They re Nice to have when you re up on the front lines a said army staff sgt. Michael Rowland who visited the Exchange for the first time after 60 Days in saudi Arabia. For master sgt. Ken Badillo of the 24th inf div Mecha minor complaint was selection and timeliness of cards. / a a. A a a a last month when the Christmas cards first came in you get a card for Mother. Now that it s too late to mail you can get a card for Mother a he said a but they try. They try soft drinks and chips Are the exchanges bread and butter. To shirts stuffed animals and desert shield greeting cards sold Well during the Holiday shopping season Nieves said. The store rang up $ 10,000 a Day in Catalon shopping sales Over the last eight weeks Nieves said. He would not say what the exchanges total daily sales average is. A a it a a lot a he said. A a that a about As far As i can he also would not comment on cafes profits at its desert shield locations. \ a. A whether we make or lose Money that a beside the Point. We re Here a service a Nieves said. The selection is admittedly limited although it has grown by leaps and Bounds since . Troops began arriving in Force last August. The variety is not Likely to substantially increase because space limitations wont i a amps Lynda Davidson Daniel Berger of cob 3rd in. 8th Cav regt. Who de Loyed from Geln Hauson Germany checks out the 3.50 haircut he received at the base Exchange in Eastern saudi Arabia. S allow much of increasing the variety managers instead chose to bulk up the Stock of fast moving items like soda pop and snack foods., there May be an exception however in the Case of desert uniforms. Troops say they be been told that much sought after a chocolate chips clothing should be available in the new year a but that could be december of next year for All i know a said sgt. Albert Bolshazy of cob 3rd in 8th Cav regt who deployed from Geln Hausen Germany. An additional store to help ease overflow traffic has been created at another location on base. But expanding the main store or moving it to a larger space Isnit practical because of uncertainties about the future of the . Presence. A a. A a a / a Quot a a a six months from How this May be a desert town again a Nieves said. A the main Exchange May be needed in v Gulf briefs world is behind you Bush message tells gis from s to it my i wire reports Washington president Bush in a Christmas message to . Troops worldwide reiterated his vow Tot re to bring those serving in the persian tin if Home without a shot fired and de flared. A the world is behind a in this season of peace it is your commitment and your courage that makes peace possible a Bush said in the taped message that was being broadcast on armed services radio. A Aback Liotine. Some talk of the Cost no War. But it is you w to understand the Price of peace Quot he said. Bush who with his wife Barbara spent thanksgiving visiting troops in saudi Arabia recalled that visit in his talk. A and when i got Hack i spoke. To the american people told them of your we very and reminded them Why we re Quot we re in the Gulf a the president said a because the world must not Reward aggression because our vital interests Are at stake and because of the Brit Talvity and danger of Saddam 1 just weeks away from the United nations Jan. 15 deadline Lor Saddam to leave Kuwait Lush said a when you come Home and we Hope it s soon you la he welcomed As what you arc All american Robin Williams broadcast to help gis Greet 1991 in saudi Arabia comedian Robin Williams will wish troops involved in operation desert shield a Quot Good morning saudi arabian on Jan. I As Purl of armed forces radio and Telvi. Sion service s new years Day programming arts also will broadcast four major collegiate bowl games Jan 1 and 2. Williams who starred As a Zany army disc jockey in the film Quot Good morning Vietnam a will play Host on a five hour radio show produced for military members beginning at 1 . New years Day. The program will feature Williams introducing the top music of the past two decades. Arts will broadcast the Citrus bowl Georgia tech is. Nebraska at 9 30. . Jan. 1, the fiesta bowl with Louisville facing Alabama will air at 12 30 . Jan. 2. The Orange bowl Pilling lop ranked Colorado against notre Dame will be broadcast at 4 . Jan. 2, and Tennessee is. Virginia in the sugar bowl is scheduled to air at 7 3 1 . Al times listed Are for saudi Arabia and servicemen Mhendi in other areas should Check arts listings for the times and frequencies Forl heir locations. Washington a saudi arabians National airline has declined a postal service request that it waive International mail rates in favor of the lower fees observed by . Airlines for carrying mail to american troops in the saudi desert James e. Orlando head of International services for the postal service confirmed that saudi arabian airlines had charged the service nearly $1,9 million to deliver about 1.05 million pounds of mail addressed to desert shield troops during the sept. Loet. 17 period. Rep. Benjamin Gilman in yet had cited those figures in a letter of protest to the saudi ambassador and the postmaster general saying that was too much to pay. Orlando questioned by a reporter said the amount was reasonable in that it complied with the rates set by the Universal postal Union an International organisation of postal administrators. But he noted the saudis had declined a postal service request that the airline instead observe the mail Rafe schedule set by the department of transportation for .-flagged carriers. The Upu rates Are Abou Tzvi times higher than the . Rates. The mail has been phenomenal for the a a a a a a a. A amps Lynda Davidson a Dock at a military Post office in saudi Arabia overflows with mail for , troops. 28 1,0 10 american Servie members in the Gulf averaging 400 tons per Day or at least five plan loads. Gilman ranking Republican on the House Post office service committee said in his letter bearing in mind the Congress had provided free mailing privileges to our military Personne Iii. Saudi Arabia permit me to express my Strong disapproval. And to recommend that the , postal service work with the department of defense and the state department to ensure that saudi airlines absorb these mail expenses a Orlando said a the Whoie Issue that congressman Gilman had we should be paying that rate level to the saudi government in View fact that we re Over there defending them As far As 1 m concerned is a legitimate Issue for the Congress and the id ministration but not for the postal the postal service decided to use the saudi airline Al that time because it had More mail than it could Send on .-flagged carriers which must accept the Dot rate Orlando noted. Since mid november virtually All mail to desert shield troops has been carried by military aircraft Orlundo said
