European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 26, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Saturday january 26, 1991 the stars and stripes k k k Page 7 War in the Gulf statehouse return to business As usual by Peter Villa associated press a single White Candle Burns in the Vermont statehouse. Visitors to Florida s Capitol pass through a Metal Detector to enter the Senate gallery. And in the Colorado legislature in Denver a Large yellow ribbon decorates the empty scat of rep. Mike Coffman a Marine corps Reserve Captain in saudi Arabia. After a week when War dwarfed state budget problems silenced governors and almost quieted the partisan sniping somber lawmakers Are returning to the business of state government. A nothing would make a bully like Saddam Hussein happier than to think he s interrupted the Normal flow of business a a said Arkansas gov. Bill Clinton. For several Days last week that s exactly what the outbreak of War accomplished in statehouse around the United states. In Tennessee second term gov. Ned Mcwherter called off inaugural parades balls and galas saying they could wait until . Troops return from the legislature cancelled its traditionally lavish opening Day party. Governors in Minnesota Maryland and South Carolina delayed state of the state speeches. / in South Dakota for the first time in memory a Small television was allowed in the House chamber to Monitor the War. In Hartford conn., a television system intended to Monitor legislative hearings was tuned to can. Quot in Maryland Senate president Mike Miller said fewer Bills had been filed than at any time in his 20 years at the Capitol. At least eight state lawmakers Are serving in the Gulf. Among them Are Connecticut rep. Christopher Burnham a Marine reservist sworn into office Jan. 9 on the saudi desert by his commanding officer and lawmakers from South Carolina new Hampshire Colorado Ohio and Pennsylvania. A in. Pennsylvania rep. Paul Ellale. A Marine reservist took a leave of absence when he went Back to the Gulf. In virtually every state Capitol Security was increased amid fears of terrorism. Anti War demonstrations also caused some changes in routine forcing police to briefly close capitols in Michigan and Texas. Police cleared the Senate office building in Annapolis my. After a senator running late for a meeting dashed into the building and dropped of his briefcase startling a new Security guard who did t recognize him. A these members Are sitting ducks.1 said Missouri Senate majority l eader . A a Jet a Banks. A we have no Protection up there no in new Jersey several Bills were proposed to. Stiffen penalties for those convicted of terrorism. Mississippi rep. Curt Hebert sought a Resolution urging Congress to Block future immigration of iraqi citizens into the United states Many Legislatures passed resolutions supporting . minister asks japanese to Back Aid plan Tokyo up a a Prinie minister Toshiki Kaifu called on the japanese people Friday to support his plan to contribute $9 billion to the multinational forces in the persian Gulf Region. The plan unveiled thursday aroused Strong opposition from political consumer and pacifist groups and Early polls suggest a majority of japanese May oppose any kind of direct involvement in the War. Kaifu needs parliamentary approval of the plan. In an Appeal to the diet Japan a legislature the Premier warned failure to act would have grave consequences. A refusal to fulfil our obligation and failure to do what we can would mean choosing the Road to International isolation for Japan a Kaifu said a this is surely something we want to 1 referring to the Cost of the new Aid which consumer groups have grumbled will mean higher taxes Kaifu said a i know that this will mean a considerable Burden on the japanese people but i would like to seek your understanding and the Japan socialist party the largest opposition group has already announced it will Light any proposal to Aid the War Effort. Komito the second largest opposition party is split with some members saying they would oppose the plan unless Kaifu assures them the Money would not be used for military purposes. But Kaifu is also proposing the dispatching of military transport planes to ferry evacuees from Jordan to Cairo where they can be put on civilian airliners to return to their Home countries. Opposition parties say the dispatch of military planes would violate Japan a pacifist Constitution which has been interpreted As Banning overseas deployment of the military in anything but a ceremonial role. A i am confident a Kaifu said a that it is entirely consistent with the Constitution for Japan to take the initiative undertaking humanitarian and non military responsibilities in the International the prime minister suffered a humiliating defeat in november when he could not Muster enough support to pass a Bill that would have empowered him to Send noncombat troops to join the multinational forces. Public opinion was clearly against that proposal analysts said and Early indications suggested that japanese were opposed to at least part of Kaifus latest plan too. A poll of just More than 1,000 people conducted by the nation s Public television network immediately after War broke out showed that 51 percent of the respondents opposed . Action in the Gulf compared with 36 percent who supported it. As to How Japan should respond 56 percent said Cash contributions were acceptable but 52 percent were against sending military planes for refugee Relief. Some 16 percent said Japan should stay out of the Gulf conflict altogether. Ground support a construction worker Bobby Ligon shows his support . Lag on his hard hat while working in a drainage for . Troops in the persian Gulf by wearing a Small ditch at a construction site in Raleigh . Unknown element keeping desert medics on their toes Eastern saudi Arabia up the threat of a chemical weapon s attack haunts the medics at the army a 85th evacuation Hospital. A a it a scary a said col. Bob Leaver 50, a neurosurgeon from Hyannis mass. A a it a kind of an unknown element because none of us have Ever faced that Leaver a Reserve officer who was a brain surgeon in a Cape cod Hospital when he was called to Active duty said the reservists a received quite a bit of specific training before they came Here on How to handle chemical warfare victims. But Quot its worrying a he said. A fall of us Are taking pretreatment pills that allow you to treat someone if they Are it. Col. David Tondini of fort Jackson s.c., said wounded who have been exposed to chemical warfare will be taken to a decontamination site outside the main Hospital tent and a a packaged a stripped of their Gas suits and other clothes washed with hypochlorite solution and wrapped in blankets a a before they Are treated for their injuries. The 85th, one of six . Army evacuation hospitals in the theater is the coalitions busiest. The tent compound and its $20 million Worth of medical equipment sits on 18 acres of rolled Sand surrounded by Miles of wasteland. The Mission of the fort Lee y unit is to provide resuscitative surgery and medical treatment of critically wounded or ill patients requiring highly specialized care that will prepare them for evacuation elsewhere. More than 175 outpatients pass through the its climes on an average Day. As a result of the High volume the staff has received excellent training for treating combat casualties. A an infantry unit plays War games to prepare a said Cole Ken Farmer 40, who Hospital and is based out of Eisenhower army medical Center at fort Gordon in Augusta a or. Lairie Stabler 47,.of Denver is the chief of general surgery and in charge of triage the system of As signing priorities for treatment of mass casualties. To escape the pressures of War the medics have set up a disco in the desert a Complete with a disc jockey cassettes and drinks albeit alcohol free. spot is drawing in All ranks. A near Beer for a near Good time a is How capt. Ralph. Otte the unit s chaplain describes the ambience. The dance club skirts the saudi prohibition on male female dancing. A we cover the women in Black a said . Col. Hudson Berry an Ortho Peist. A we done to know who the women Are we re dancing with a said the cleric said he was there Quot to make sure the troops Are behaving themselves.�?�. The club in a tent May be unsophisticated but drinks a re tree there is no cover charge and there Hasni to been a tight yet. Patrons Munch on snacks from care packages and Dow n non alcoholic Beer at picnic tallies. A
