European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 7, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 a a a the stars  stripes monday january.7,1991 1,t? crisis in the Gulfa a or few troops have Hopes for peaceful settlement by Ron Jensen Mideast Bureau Eastern saudi Arabia if it were pfc. Bruce Smith not Secretary of state James Baker Cyc Balling the iraqis across the negotiation table in Geneva on wednesday the meeting would be Over before the men wrinkled their trousers. A what the president says stands. Get out. Period a Isth message Smith would deliver. President Bush repeated last week that the Only settlement he will accept is a Complete withdrawal of iraqi forces from Kuwait. Smith a Soldier with the 1113th trans co has been m saudi Arabia for 2vz months Long enough to work up a dislike for the iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein. A the Guys a scorpion a he said. A if it gets settled peacefully now hell strike  the news that Baker  iraqi foreign minister Tariq Aziz Are going to talk in Geneva in an Effort to Settle this crisis in the Gulf was met pretty much with shrugs Here. Some like Smith think a peaceful settlement now would mean War later. A a it a Good news but i done to think anything a going to happen a said sgt. Kurt Currie of the 563rd trans det. A Saddam s still got his military. He a started two wars in 10  Iraq is using the negotiations to win More time to strengthen its defences said capt. Maureen Eyssi a nurse with the 28th combat support Hospital trom fort Bragg . -7 it a. V a a he a not ready for the game yet a she said. But she Hopes the talks can. Turn around the military buildup. A a in a for anything to get us Home quicker  prevent us from doing our jobs a she said. Staff sgt. John Komai of the xviii airborne corps also thinks Iraq is simply stalling a i think Hussein is trying to buy time with the meeting a lie said. A i think hell try for a slow pullout a couple divisions at a time.�?�. A a in a very pessimistic a said staff sgt. Steve Clements a signalman with the British army. �?o1 done to think there a going to be a great Deal come of  7 some have Hope that the two men can reach a peace Ful solution. A excellent. Hopeful. Pleased a was How spec. A1 Satterfield of he co 1st corps support come described his feelings. A a in Man Optimist a said Satterfield who also has been in the desert 2vz months. A live been an Optimist All  / he thinks in fact that it would be Worth it to let Saddam keep the Oil Field he took when he overran Kuwait. A a it Sall open organization of Petroleum exporting countries. Why can the keep an Oil Field is that going to break Kuwait he asked a ctn it being  spec. Richard Salaices guard thought head be hey re being greedy. They re of the California National fighting Forest fires As a guardsman instead the forklift Driver has been driving trucks in y saudi Arabia. A if they can Settle this without losing any More american lives than have already been lost great a he said. A my theory is i would go ahead  give him that portion of the Oil  a a 7 /777 -7, a an army staff sergeant who  give his name sees a financial Ben Rosario edit to settling the crisis one Way or the other. A a in a not an advocate for War but you re wasting my time Uncle same a time  the peo pies tax dollars a he said. A you know damned Well taxes Are going to Rise next year  it la be because of desert  Quot one citizen of saudi Arabia who also did t give his name said the talks showed some reason for Hope. A i think they should come up with something a he said. A i wont say if they will or  the american educated Man said the meeting Date is a Good sign. A i think there is always room for talking before taking military action a he said. A a let a not wait until it is too  but perhaps spec. Luis e. Rosario a fuel truck Driver with the 623rd trans co a Reserve unit from new York has the Best reason for hoping Baker  his counterpart shake hands on an agreement. A being front new York a he said a a in a rather die in new York than  contributing to this report Vince Crawley  Rob Jagodzinski in saudi Arabia a a a a a /. A a a a a a a a Baghdad As Baghdad Iraq apr a mood of gloom has settled Over the City of the a thousand  one  nightclubs Are closing  the belly dancers have gone Home. No one jokes about the Prospect of War As they did a few weeks ago. There Are no signs of panic but Many iraqis now believe armed conflict is inevitable As jan.�?T15, the ., deadline Tor Saddam Hussein to leave Kuwait or face possible attack nears. Some iraqis believe that wednesdays planned meeting Between foreign minister Tariq Aziz  Secretary of state James Baker in Geneva will at Best Only delay hostilities. A America will never accept Palestine  unless they do there s nothing to talk about Quot an iraqi merchant said on condition of anonymity. Saddam has said he would negotiate a withdrawal front Kuwait if Israel pulls out of the occupied West Bank  Gaza strip. Washington rejects any such linkage. Many people in Baghdad believe Saddam will not relinquish Kuwait  that the countdown to iraqis second  a decade has begun. The country fought a bruising 1980-88 War w Ith Iran. Quot since the aug. 2 invasion of Kuwait  its subsequent annexation iraqis have been bombarded by a propaganda Blitz on state run Media that the Oil Rich emirate is part of Iraq. It seems to have had its effect although Many iraqis would not be sorry to see their army pull out  Avert a War. Although already War hardened few iraqis relish the Prospect of another armed conflict  the casualties it will bring a there Are few Young men on the streets. They be been mobilized to join Saddam a million Strong army deployed mostly in Kuwait or along the Borders with saudi Arabia Turkey  Syria which Gre aligned against Saddam. Baghdad the fabled City of the a thousand  one nights Quot. Was once peppered with cabarets featuring Oriental dancers. But it has seen its fast paced nightlife fade since the  Embargo imposed five months ago tightened economic conditions in the City of 3.8 million. Still there Are no visible signs of panic in Baghdad which was founded in . 762  known As the Center  civilization in the eighth Century under the legendary Caliph Haroun Al Rashid. Schoolchildren Are studying for midterm examinations next month. People shop for whatever they can buy despite the Trade embargo. Do Friday the Muslim Sabbath families were out picnicking in Parks along the Banks of the Muddy Tigris River that w kinds through the capital. Most drank Date juice which has become something of a National drink since the Price of soft drinks has skyrocketed because of the Trade sanctions. Many iraqis stay Home  watch state run television programs  defense  what to do in Case of an air raid. Signs of War preparations Are everywhere. _ few iraqis however admit to being scared of the  multinational Torce with its massive Arsenal of High tech weaponry. Saddam will save us a a store of cur said As his staff dusted microwave ovens plundered from Kuwait. A the saved us Lor eight Long years. 1 fell save us  saudi briefs . Paid Over $250,000 for damage claims in Gulf Riyadh saudi Arabia a amps a . Forces have paid nearly $250,000 in damage claims to saudi arabians  other persian Gulf Quot re is dents for incidents ranging from vehicle mishaps to accidental Camel killings. In All the . Central come has paid $283,788.63 since the mass deployment to the Middle East began in August All but $34,000 of it to foreign claimants. Central come reported that the air Force has paid 630 desert shield claims the army 148  the Marine corps 18 As of dec. 31. A Many of the claims have involved damage resulting from Auto accidents a said a Central come spokesman. A other types include lost baggage accidental killing of  officials could not pinpoint the largest claim paid to Date but said it probably stemmed from a vehicle Accident death. A the most expensive claim of this Type has been $26,666.66, or 100,000 saudi riyals a the spokesman said. Claims Are processed by military judge advocates. But the spokesman said a the saudi police determine fault in vehicle Accident cases  to that extent Are also involved in the adjudication  a California firm offers free maternity outfits Washington a amps a pregnant wives of men deployed to the persian Gulf can get a free maternity outfit from a California company the owner said  when you re pregnant it is such a Tough time to be alone a said Dana Cappielo owner of Dax amp Coe in Belmont Calif. The company supplies Saks  Bloomingdale. And other Well known fashion stores she said. The free outfits manufactured in the United states Are made of 100 percent Cotton knit material Cappillo said. To Send for an outfit women must Supply a copy of their husbands military orders  a doctors note verifying their condition. The women who qualify will not get to choose the outfits color but they must give their size Small 4-6medium 8-10 or Large 11  up. Send requests to Dax  Coe 541 Taylor Way 2, Belmont Calif. 94002. Cappielo said her company can accommodate about 5,000 orders. Japanese  team quits citing Lack of support Tokyo apr Japan a Lone  Teal in saudi Arabia has returned Home ending a mis sign plagued by too few volunteers  what critics say is the japanese Peoples unwillingness to consider the iraqi invasion their problem. The seven doctors  nurses who made up the medical assistance team left dec. 28, the foreign ministry said last week. 7 the two ministry officials who accompanied the team Are the Only japanese personnel still among the More than half a million . And Allied troops massed in the persian Gulf Region. Critics say Japan a inability to put together a 100-member medical team As promised in september reflects an insular mentality that has undercut government efforts to do More than offer $4 billion in  to Gulf peace efforts. Japan imports 70 percent of its Oil from the Gulf but appears to be Little concerned about which country is Selling it. The medical team was Hamstrung by the governments refusal to allow it near combat areas. Returning members said they did Little More than give occasional lectures to saudi doctors